How to Grow and Care for Edamame Plants for a Fresh Vegetable Garden Upgrade

Edamame, Glycine max, is an edible soybean originating in Japan. It's something of a niche market in the U.S. but gaining popularity as a high protein, low fat snack food for the home garden. In addition to its nutritional value, edamame is ideal for crop rotation and well-suited to organic practices.

For home use, edamame is most often harvested young once the pods fill out with two to three beans. Pods are boiled whole then the sweet, nutty beans are removed and eaten much like boiled peanuts.

They can be used in place of beans in many recipes including soups, stews, and dips such as hummus. If you can grow green beans in your home garden, you can grow edamame. Here's how.

When to Plant Edamame

Edamame is a warm-season crop directly sown after the final frost. Soil temperatures should reach 55°F and air temperatures remain at 60°F or higher. Cold, wet soil causes seeds to rot.

Plants are sensitive to day length which determines how much time is needed from planting to harvest. Depending on the variety beans may be ready for picking from 65 to 110 days. Seed packets should give information about when to plant for your U.S. hardiness zone and days to harvest.

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How to Plant Edamame

Choose an area that receives at least six hours of sun daily. Work in aged compost two to four weeks before planting, then sow seeds 2 to 4 inches apart in rows 2 feet apart. Set them 1/2 - to 1-inch deep and cover with soil.

Plants emerge in one to two weeks. When they reach 4 inches tall, thin the crop to 6 inches between plants.

Aim to provide an inch of water weekly in lieu of rainfall. Edamame are somewhat drought tolerant but insufficient water causes lower yields. Moisture is most important during flowering and when beans are forming and maturing. Mulch with hay, leaves, or compost to retain soil moisture and control weeds.

Like most legumes, edamame are nitrogen fixers which means they don't need additional fertilizer as long as the soil is nutrient-rich. They have a growth habitat similar to bush beans, reaching 1 to 3 feet tall, and generally don't require staking.

Types of Edamame

• Agate: An heirloom variety introduced to the U.S. in the 1920's. Small cream to olive green beans with dark saddles ready to harvest in 65 days. High-yielding and adapted to short growing seasons.
• Envy: Most popular with home gardeners this variety matures in 75 to 85 days with two to three light green beans in each pod.
• Midori Giant: Traditional variety used in oriental recipes. Two to three green beans in large pods with high yields. Ready to harvest in 70 days.
• Chiba Green: Adapted to all U.S. growing zones, pods mature in 82 days with an average of three large, flavorful green beans per pod.

Harvesting Edamame

Pods on each plant mature simultaneously making harvesting a quick and efficient job.

• For fresh eating, harvest before the pods and leaves start to turn yellow.
• Look for plump pods with beans fully filled out to where they almost touch each other inside the pod.
• Snap them off or use a clipper to remove pods. Avoid pulling them from the plant.
• Harvest in the morning when beans retain the highest amount of water for the best flavor.
• You can remove pods individually or pull up the entire plant for harvesting.

Most home gardeners harvest edamame for fresh eating, but they can also be harvested for seeds or dry beans. Wait until plants lose their leaves and pods turn yellow.

How to Store Edamame

1. Store fresh edamame in the refrigerator for up to one week. Keep them in a perforated bag in the crisper drawer.
2. Edamame can be frozen for up to 12 months. Rinse the pods in cool water then blanch them in boiling water for three minutes. Drain and plunge them into an ice water bath for two minutes. Drain a second time and allow the pods to dry on paper towels. Pack into air-tight freezer bags.
3. For dry beans or seeds, remove them from the dried pods. Pack beans into an air-tight jar and keep in a cool, dark location.
4. Alternatively, you can hang dried plants upside down in a dry location with good air circulation and harvest the pods as needed.

Edamame Pests and Diseases

Insect pests to watch for include Mexican bean beetles, root-knot nematodes, stink bugs, and white flies. Most can be discouraged by rotating crops and using row covers.

Avoid planting edamame in the same location where beans were grown the previous year. Hand-pick pests or spray your crop with insecticidal soap. To discourage root-knot nematodes, rotate crops, remove all plant debris at the end of the season, and choose resistant varieties.

White mold and powdery mildew are fungal infections that usually occur during periods of high humidity. Leave adequate spacing between plants for good air circulation and water at ground level in the morning to avoid wetting foliage. Remove and dispose of plants infected with white mold.

From: thespruce