Edamame are green soybeans of East Asian origin that belong to the legume family. These versatile warm season green beans have a long growing season and are easy to grow and harvest in your own vegetable garden. Grow edamame yourself: we offer you useful tips for a rich harvest.
Edamame belongs to the legume family
What is edamame?
Edamame are young, green soybeans that are harvested early—unlike mature soybeans, which are dry and firm—and used to make soy products like tofu and soy milk. Edamame beans are ideal for refining soups, stir-fries, pasta and salads.
Edamame are young, green soybeans that are harvested early
How to plant edamame?
Edamame plants grow best when air and soil temperatures reach at least 15 to 20 degrees Celsius and there is no danger of frost. Once your soil is workable, you can start growing.
Growing edamame in your own garden is actually not that difficult
- sow seeds. Plant the edamame seeds one to two inches deep in the ground, about three inches apart in an area of your garden that gets full sun. The rows should be one meter apart.
- Stagger the sowing. For a continuous harvest, replant the seeds at least 10 days after the last sowing.
- Use companion plants. Corn, squash, celery, and strawberries make good companions for your edamame plants. Marigolds can help attract beneficial insects that deter pests like the Mexican bean beetle and whitefly.
Corn, squash, celery, and strawberries make good companions for your edamame plants
Grow your own edamame. That’s how it works
Edamame is a low-maintenance plant that requires only a few basic tendencies.
- Make sure the soil is slightly acidic. Edamame grows best with a soil pH of 6.0. Use compost to get nutrient-rich soil. However, as green beans, edamame are capable of fixing nitrogen on their own, so fertilizer isn’t usually necessary.
- Fertilize the plants. When the plants are about two inches tall, you should thin out the excess leaves until there is six inches between plants.
- Weed carefully. Edamame plants have delicate roots, so be careful not to damage them when weeding.
Edamame plants should be watered throughout the season, including after flowering
- Water regularly. Edamame plants should be watered throughout the season, including after flowering. Keep the soil moist but not too soggy.
- Check for pests. Aphids, slugs, Japanese beetles, and snails are all garden pests that can feed on your soybean plants. Regularly inspect foliage and soil for signs of pests (such as holes in the leaves or slime trails) and take steps to eliminate these threats. You can remove snails and slugs by hand and control other pests with an organic insecticide.
Check foliage and soil regularly for signs of pests
How To Harvest Edamame?
It takes between 90 and 150 days from seed to pod. Edamame are ready to harvest when the pods are bright green, filled with bulging seeds, and at least two to three centimeters long. When harvesting edamame, you should clip the soybean pods from the plant or use scissors – do not tear the edamame pods from the plant. Pods that turn yellow are overripe but can still be eaten, but will have more of the texture and flavor of lima beans.
Edamame beans are ideal for refining soups, stir-fries, pasta and salads
Edamame are ready to harvest when the pods are bright green, filled with bulging seeds, and at least two to three centimeters long
