Friday's Rookie Topic IV:Edamame

**Furbalsmom** 5/6/2011, 12:21 pm

Edamame translates to “beans on branches”. Edamame is not among the most common veggies grown as a crop in home gardens, though some of our members have plans to grow it this year. I have never grown it before, but am intrigued as I have eaten and enjoyed them.

For those of you not familiar with edamame, it is a specialty soy bean that is eaten fresh, as opposed to dry, and is used as a side dish or a great snack food, especially good with beer. Edamame is very high in protein.

Edamame is a low growing plant ( 12 – 24 inches) similar to a bush bean. It requires a soil temperature of at least 60 to 65 degrees. Seeds are planted 1 inch deep, about 3 to 4 inches apart, and may benefit from the use of soybean inoculants to help fix the nitrogen in the soil when grown in an area that has never previously been planted with soybeans. Grow in full sun. Early varieties will mature in about 65 days and late varieties may take up to 85 days.

Friday's Rookie Topic IV:Edamame Edamam10

Friday's Rookie Topic IV:Edamame Edamam10

Pod color, which is affected by the amount of sun that reaches the pods, is the best way to judge edamame. It is said that the darker the pods, the better the flavor of the seed. Pods should be harvested with they are 80 to 90 percent filled out. If you wait until the pods completely fill and the seeds touch each other inside the pod, the flavor will have already started to decline. If the pod pales or becomes yellow, it is past its prime.

Like most veggies, edamame is best when eaten soon after picking. Boil the freshly picked pods for about 10 minutes in salted water, drain the pods and serve either at room temperature or chilled. Hold the pod and gently squeeze the beans out of the pod, then pop right in your mouth. As a side dish, remove the beans from the pod, and serve with a touch of butter, salt and pepper. If you pick more than you need at that time, blanch the pods for one minute in boiling water, then plunge into ice water to stop the cooking process and chill the beans. Drain on a paper towel, and then freeze serving sized portions in zip type storage bags. The pods are considered inedible.

Friday's Rookie Topic IV:Edamame 0909p110

Friday's Rookie Topic IV:Edamame 0909p110

Who wants to join me in trying edamame?

nancy 5/6/2011, 12:27 pm

Where have you found the seeds? I might have to find a square for these. I'm guessing that at 3-4 inches apart, I would try 9/square? Thanks so much for the info!! I'm looing forward to trying these!

**Furbalsmom** 5/6/2011, 1:00 pm

I have not found the seeds locally, yet. Still have two places to check. I too was planning on planting 9 per square.

Several catalog seed companies carry edamame

Territorial

Johnnys

Jung

Nichols

Burpee

Park

And I just found an Alton Brown recipe for edamame dip. I have not tried it, but it sounds good.

Edamame Dip

middlemamma 5/6/2011, 2:14 pm

I was able to find some in a farm supply store here that has literally 2 aisles of seeds.

boffer 5/6/2011, 2:20 pm

How to pronounce:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTgOfcY_BBU

http://www.howjsay.com/index.php?word=edamame

sherryeo 5/6/2011, 7:09 pm

This is great! The first three topics have all been veggies I've never grown, but am anxious to try. I love edamame as a snack and it's also great shelled & used in stir-fries! May and June are supposed to be good planting times for it in my zone, so I'll probably find at least a couple of squares to give it a try to see if it will grow for me. I want more sfg boxes!!! Friday's Rookie Topic IV:Edamame 832433

Nonna.PapaVino 5/6/2011, 9:04 pm

Yep, tried edemame two years ago, but not much came up, and what did, the deer got, except for one plant. Tasty little devil, that one though. Hadn't thought about trying to grow them again, but this might be the time, what with the new deer fence being in place. Be interesting to see if either Furbalsmom or we get much of a harvest. How many squares are you gonna plant, Furbalsmom?

shannon1 5/7/2011, 1:00 am

Another great little peice. Just waiting for my soil inoculant to come in. Soybeans require their own soil inoculant it is different from other beans and peas. I the first time planted they will not do their best if you do not use the inoculant and since I will be relying on them to suplement my diet this year I want them to be as productive as possible. 9 per square, staggered plantings 2 wks apart. Will be freezing any I don't eat right away. Friday's Rookie Topic IV:Edamame 959632

Glendale-gardener 5/7/2011, 1:30 am

I've already got some started but was wondering from those that have grown them- Do they need support? trellis or stakes?

ps Nancy- I bought a pack at Reading Feed and Garden on 42

**Furbalsmom** 5/7/2011, 11:49 am

As I said, I have not grown them before, but all of the sites I checked into stated they were like bush beans and did not need support.

Not sure how many squares I will plant, I keep adding veggies to the plan for my warm weather box and there is just not enough room. Oh Dear, Shocked

does that mean I need more table tops? I am running out of room to set up more table tops. Trying to work around the watering system for the yard (two high volumne heads that cover the whole yard, which is much too big to use just a hose or the little ocillating sprinkers)

Denese 6/15/2011, 4:53 pm

Was looking at some older posts and found this one, and would like to add my 2 cents. Very Happy

I spent 11 years in Japan, and learned to love edamame. Just thought I'd share an interesting fact. In Japan, edamame is sold in local fruit/veggie stands still on the plant with the roots still attached. Usually, there are 5 plants per bunch which are held together with rubber bands. I'm not sure why they do this. Could be they stay fresher that way. I have planted them in the past, and they don't need staked. Those of you who have planted it this year probably have already figured that out. Wink

chocolatepop 6/16/2011, 9:26 pm

I tried a few squares of these last year, they were "ok" but I wont waste my time or space this year. They are "bush" in habit. Taller than normal bush beans though. I got them locally, burpee from walmart I believe.

shannon1 6/17/2011, 1:18 am

Mine are doing realy well so far dispite the over 90 degree heat. Planted 6 squares, in sets of 2, 2 weeks apart.

quiltbea 6/17/2011, 7:52 am

It sounds like a good crop to have but I've never grown it nor even eaten any.
I hope to try some next year since my squares are all filled this year.
Thanks for the info.

shannon1 6/18/2011, 3:39 am

quiltbea wrote:It sounds like a good crop to have but I've never grown it nor even eaten any.
I hope to try some next year since my squares are all filled this year.
Thanks for the info.

This is my first year growing it. My mom is sooooooo excited. We have been eating it for a long time, so yummy! I was delighted to learn it is a heat loving crop.

Reverend Curlee 6/21/2011, 12:56 am

I'm growing Edamame this year too. I don't remember where I bought my seeds. (It was Wal Mart, Lowes or Home Depot..), They are Ferry-Morse "Disoy" Soy Beans. It does not say Edamame anywhere on the packaging, but this variety of soy bean is considered an Edamame variety. I was unaware of the need for a special inoculant when I planted, so I didn't use one. I planted 13 in a square because I had read a thread where someone had done that with success and because I had also read you don't get that big of a yield per plant. My seeds were planted last Wednesday (June 15th) and 5 of the 13 have already sprouted. So we'll see how it goes. I'll keep you all posted.

RC

shannon1 6/21/2011, 1:15 am

The first two squares I planted are about 6" tall (9 per square), the second 2 are just pokeing their heads up, and in another week I will be planting the last 2. I want to be sure I harvest plenty. So far so good all the seeds sprouted save one. It is interesting how different they look compaired to green bush beand.

Reverend Curlee 6/21/2011, 8:33 am

shannon1 wrote:The first two squares I planted are about 6" tall (9 per square), the second 2 are just pokeing their heads up, and in another week I will be planting the last 2. I want to be sure I harvest plenty. So far so good all the seeds sprouted save one. It is interesting how different they look compaired to green bush beand.

Awesome Shannon1! cheers

**walshevak** 6/21/2011, 1:23 pm

This WAS on my list for my summer garden. Will have to wait until next year, but by that time I hope to have more beds and not be sent out of town during growing season. Learned to love them in Japan also.

Kay

Dunkinjean 8/1/2011, 9:53 pm

I would like to hear of everyone's update of their Edamame plants.

I love them and would like to plant them next summer.

Also, if anyone has pics of them would be great.

Thanks.

flower

shannon1 8/2/2011, 5:04 am

I harvested my first two squares and they were yummy. I planted 9 per square and the yeild was only enough for one serving so plant a lot. They were not troubled be desease or pests and that is a big plus down here. The next two squares should be ready shortly. I will be planting them again next spring but more of them.

**Furbalsmom** 8/2/2011, 3:09 pm

My square in the Table Top SFG has just produced its first bean, but I never saw the flower!

In the community garden, without Mel's Mix, again the first bean has started to form. Will try to get pictures this week. Another member at the community garden has some edamame so I will try to get a picture of theirs too.

I did plant my edamame fairly late so my harvest may be later than most.

Reverend Curlee 8/3/2011, 8:50 pm

I have numerous pods growing on my plants. I think I planted 9 and wound up with 7. So now I have a question. How big should the pods be when I pick them?
Thanks in advance and congrats to those who have harvested!

RC

Reverend Curlee 8/4/2011, 11:56 am

I reread the original post and found my answer.
RC

Reverend Curlee 8/20/2011, 10:46 am

Just picked a pod off one of my plants. Ate a raw bean and it tasted awesome. It's only been 68 days, so they're not fully grown. (Ferry Morse says 85 days to maturity.) That said, I will keep an eye on them and pick when they look ready.

RC

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Friday's Rookie Topic IV:Edamame

Friday's Rookie Topic IV:Edamame

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Friday's Rookie Topic - Edamame

edemame

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I'm In!

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Awesome

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Soon.....

Nevermind......

Yum!

Re: Friday's Rookie Topic IV:Edamame


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