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How to Grow Edamame: The Complete Guide

Botanical Name
Glycine max
Plant Type
Vegetable
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Soil pH
Slightly Acidic to Neutral
Flower Color
White
Special Features
Attracts Butterflies

How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Edamame (Soybeans)

Catherine Boeckmann
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Originally from East Asia, edamame is a relatively new crop in North American gardens—especially for home gardeners. It requires a growing season of 10 weeks. Here’s how to plant and grow edamame at home!

About Edamame

Originating from Asia, edamame (pronounced eh-dah-MAH-may) is the name for young, green soybeans that are picked early in the green pod stage before they harden. (Once edamame pods mature, they become dried beans which are used to make soy products like tofu and soymilk.)

After the edamame pods are harvested and steamed in water, they are eaten by squeezing the beans out (2 to 3 per pod), popping directly into the mouth. They have a sweet, nutty, creamy flavor and are very high in protein.

Edamame is not a common crop, but has been gaining ground in North America in recent years. It’s a low-maintenance crop similar to bush beans, but often has a higher yield. As a legume, it also offers the same soil-health benefits as beans—specifically, it helps to fix nitrogen into the soil, making the soil more nutrient rich for later crops. This makes it a great vegetable to practice crop rotation with!

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Planting

Edamame is a frost-tender vegetable that can be planted in late spring in a location with full sun (at least 6 hours) and average soil fertility. Two to 4 weeks before planting, dig 1 to 2 inches of compost into the garden bed to provide the plants with sufficient nutrients. 

Avoid planting edamame where legumes (beans, peas) were grown in the previous season. This helps to prevent the continuation of diseases and pests, as well as the depletion of nutrients in the soil.

When to Plant Edamame

  • Edamame requires a growing season of about 10 to 12 weeks, depending on the variety. (See Recommended Varieties, below, for more information.)
  • Direct-sow seeds in the late spring safely after your last spring frost, when the soil is workable and warmed to at least 55°F (13°C). Air temperatures should have reached at least 60°F (16°C).  Don’t rush it. Planting in cold wet soil can cause soybean seeds to rot.
  • Stagger sowing times; each plant’s pods handily mature all at the same time. For a second harvest, plant again about 10 days later.

How to Plant Edamame

  • Sow seeds ¼ to ½ of an inch deep, 2 to 4 inches apart, in rows 2 feet apart.
  • Germination takes 1 to 2 weeks.

Growing

  • Thin seedlings to 6 inches apart when the plants are 4 inches tall.
  • Weed shallowly to avoid disturbing the plants’ roots.
  • Apply compost, leaves, or hay mulch to control weeds and retain moisture.
  • Water regularly. Edamame tolerates some drought, but yields may suffer.
  • Like bush beans, edamame plants reach 1 to 3 feet tall and do not typically require staking.

soy-964324_1920_full_width.jpg

Types

Edamame is sensitive to day length and classified into “maturity groups” (MG) 00 to 10 (sometimes shown as Roman numerals). The lower the number, the earlier the variety matures and produces pods. Day length is critical to flowering and the production of beans.

Low-number varieties are best suited for areas with shorter growing seasons; higher-number cultivars, for areas with longer growing season. Some suggested varieties:

VarietiesMaturity GroupComments
‘Agate’MG 00Buttery flavor
‘Black Jet’MG 00Medium-size beans, green when fresh, black when dry; rich flavor
‘Envy’MG 0A short-season favorite
‘Early Hakucho’MG 1Compact plant
‘Shirofumi 90’MG 1High yield, over 100 pods per plant
‘Madori Giant’MG 3Large beans; high yield
‘Gardensoy 51’MG 5Small beans; high yield
‘Owens’MG 6Small beans; high yield

Harvesting

  • For the best flavor, harvest edamame pods in the evening when they are 2 to 3 inches long, bright green, and plump. Snap or cut (do not tear) pods off plants. Or uproot the entire plant.
  • Yellow pods and/or leaves indicate that the peak of flavor and texture has passed.
  • Harvest dry soybeans when the plant and leaves are dry and brown and the seeds inside the pods rattle. Pull up the plants and hang them in a dark, dry area until the pods are completely dry.

How to Store Edamame

  • Store fresh edamame in an airtight container or plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Use as soon as possible.
  • To freeze edamame pods or shelled beans, blanch them, plunge them in ice water, and then drain. Store in an airtight bag or container in the freezer.
  • Store dried beans in an airtight container in a dark, cool, dry location.
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Wit and Wisdom

  • Edamame originated in China more than 2,000 years ago. There, it’s called mao dou, which means “hairy bean.”
  • Today, edamame is commonly thought of as a Japanese vegetable. In Japanese, edamame means “beans on a branch.”
  • During the Civil War, soldiers used dried soybeans as “coffee berries” to brew a coffee-like drink.
  • Edamame is a complete protein source and the only vegetable that contains all nine essential amino acids!

Pests/Diseases

Edamame Pests and Diseases
Pest/DiseaseTypeSymptomsControl/Prevention
Mexican bean beetlesInsect“Lacey,” skeletonized foliage; dark holes on bean podsHandpick; purchase and release beneficial wasp Pediobius foveolatus when larvae observed; destroy severely infested plants; use row covers
Powdery mildewFungusTypically, white spots on upper leaf surfaces expand to flour-like coating over entire leaves; foliage may yellow/die; distortion/stunting of leaves/flowersDestroy infected leaves or plants; choose resistant varieties; plant in full sun, if possible; ensure good air circulation; spray plants with 1 teaspoon baking soda dissolved in 1 quart water; destroy crop residue
Root-knot nematodesNematodeTypically, roots “knotty” or galled; plants stunted/yellow/wiltedDestroy crop residue, including roots; choose resistant varieties; solarize soil; add aged manure/compost; disinfect tools; till in autumn; rotate crops
StinkbugsInsectYellow/white blotches on leaves; scarred, dimpled, or distorted pods; shriveled seeds; eggs, often keg-shape, in clusters on leaf undersidesDestroy crop residue; handpick (bugs emit odor, wear gloves); destroy eggs; spray nymphs with insecticidal soap; use row covers; weed; till soil in fall
White moldFungusPale gray, “water-soaked” areas on stems, leaves, and other plant parts that enlarge and develop white, cottony growth, later with black particles; bleached areas; crowns/fruit rot; plants wilt/collapseDestroy infected plants; ensure good air circulation; water in morning; weed; destroy crop residue; rotating crops on 5-year or longer cycle may help
WhitefliesInsectSticky “honeydew” (excrement); sooty, black mold; yellow/silver areas on leaves; wilted/stunted plants; distortion; adults fly if disturbed; some species transmit virusesRemove infested leaves/plants; use handheld vacuum to remove pests; spray water on leaf undersides in morning/evening to knock off pests; monitor adults with yellow sticky traps; spray with insecticidal soap; invite beneficial insects and hummingbirds with native plants; weed; use reflective mulch
WirewormsInsectSeeds hollowed; seedlings severed; stunting/wilting; roots eatenTrap by digging 2- to 4-inch-deep holes every 3 to 10 feet, fill with mix of germinating beans/corn/peas or potato sections as bait, cover with soil or a board, in 1 week uncover and kill collected wireworms; sow seeds in warm soil for quick germination; provide good drainage; remove plant debris; rotate crops

Recipes

Crunchy Asian Salad With Chicken
Not-Too-Spicy Veggie and Lentil Chili Recipe
Spicy Orange Salmon Over Edamame and Corn

Cooking Notes

How to Eat Edamame

Boil the pods in salted water, about five to six minutes until tender.

Or, steam your edamame by placing an inch of water in a pot and bring it to a boil. Place the edamame in a steam basket or colander and cover the pot for five to ten minutes. Then salt as desired.

Once cooled enough, raise the edamame pod to your lips, squeeze the bean out of its salted pod, and pop it directly into the mouth!

Enjoy as a healthy snack. Or, add shelled edamame to salads, rice, pasta, and other dishes; it adds flavor, a bright green color, and low-fat protein.

Vegetables
About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann loves nature, stargazing, and gardening so it’s not surprising that she and The Old Farmer’s Almanac found each other. She leads digital content for the Almanac website, and is also a certified master gardener in the state of Indiana. Read More from Catherine Boeckmann
 

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Comments

CONNIE CAPPS (not verified)

1 year 9 months ago

Just curious: aren't edamame plants the same thing as soybean plants?

RS (not verified)

2 years 9 months ago

Are the varieties mentioned in this article GMO?

Hi RS, When it comes to any crop variety, it depends. Your best bet is to look for the “USDA ORGANIC” label on seed packets assures gardeners the seeds were grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides or genetically engineered seeds and materials.