Edamame

Edamame is the vegetable form of the soybean, Glycine max. It is an upright, bushy annual legume that is native to China and the Russian Far East. In the average garden, it is an easy-to-grow vegetable.

Sowing. Sow after the last frost, about 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep. Starting seed under cover in April to May and moving plants outside from late May, once the risk of frost has passed, is recommended.

Soil and germination. Seeds germinate best when the soil is between 75 and 85 °F (24 to 29 °C). Inoculate the seeds with a nitrogen-fixing inoculant labeled for soybeans. Avoid soil that is very rich in nitrogen, because the plants become lax and hard to manage.

Site. Edamame grows readily in most garden soils in full sun, meaning 6 or more hours of direct sun a day. Plants may need support in windy areas.

Water. Plants need regular irrigation, though they can handle short dry spells once established. The preferred soil is moist but well-drained.

Soybeans are susceptible to many pests and diseases, though a home gardener may not run into them. Plants may be attacked by caterpillars and may suffer from diseases such as bacterial blights, brown spot, anthracnose, powdery mildews and soybean rust.

Picking edamame. Pick the pods when the seeds are plump and the pods are just beginning to lose their fresh green color. For dry beans, let the pods mature and dry on the plant. The harvest window runs from July to November, when the pods turn yellow.