How to Grow Pueraria Phaseoloides

Soak the Pueraria phaseoloides seeds in hot water for 24 hours to improve the germination rate. Plant the seeds at a depth of 1/2 to 1 inch. Pueraria phaseoloides typically grows slowly for the first six months.

Plant Pueraria phaseoloides outside in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 10b and higher, as this plant can only tolerate light freezes for short periods of times. Pueraria phaseoloides stops growing when the temperature falls below 55 degrees Fahrenheit and is moderately tolerant of shade.

Grow Pueraria phaseoloides in any soil type with good drainage, except for heavy clay. Add peat moss to the soil if needed to reduce the soil pH to the range of 4.0 to 6.5. Pueraria phaseoloides does not tolerate salt in the soil.

Water Pueraria phaseoloides with 2 inches of water per week throughout the year to keep the soil constantly moist. This plant grows well without supplemental watering in areas that receive 60 inches of rainfall per year, and it requires at least 40 inches per year.

Fertilize Pueraria phaseoloides with a high-phosphorus fertilizer after planting according to the manufacturer's instructions. This legume fixes its own nitrogen and therefore does not require supplemental nitrogen. Provide additional applications of fertilizer at half the initial dosage each month during the first growing season until the plants establish their root system.