Soybeans Planting Calendar
Month-by-month soybean growing calendar for US farmers.
USDA zones: Zones 3-9
Month-by-month soybeans schedule
- January — Planning: Select varieties, review inoculant needs
- February — Soil Testing: Check pH and potassium levels
- March — Seed Treatment: Apply seed treatments, calibrate planter
- April — Burndown: Apply burndown herbicide to no-till fields
- May — Planting: Plant when soil temp is 55°F+, target 140K seeds/acre
- June — Weed Control: Apply post-emerge herbicide before canopy closure
- July — Flowering: Scout for aphids, apply fungicide at R3 if needed
- August — Pod Fill: Irrigate during pod fill if dry, scout for stinkbugs
- September — Maturity: Leaves yellowing, pods drying down
- October — Harvest: Harvest at 13% moisture, minimize header loss
- November — Post-harvest: Soil sample, apply fall fertilizer
- December — Off-season: Analyze yield data, plan next rotation
Tips for growing soybeans
- Soybeans fix their own nitrogen—don't over-apply N fertilizer
- Narrow row spacing (15") often outyields 30" rows
- Inoculant is critical for fields without recent soybean history
- Harvest losses at the header are the #1 yield robber at harvest