Edamame
Glycine max
Also known asVegetable soybean · Soybean (mature dried form) · Mao dou · Maamekong
Environment
The bounded range this crop tolerates. Strict on light; outside the DLI band, yields drop sharply.
Climate and zones
- USDA zones
- 3–11 (winter low around -40°C)
- Frost
- frost sensitive (dies at first frost)
- Season
- warm (summer, frost-sensitive)
Growing systems
Root mass: moderate.
Growing media
| Medium | pH effect | Retention | Bacterial surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soil-based mix (Potting soil) | varies | high | high |
| Coco coir (Coconut coir) | slightly acidic | high | moderate |
Nutrient demand by stage
NPK ratios are relative weights. EC targets shift through the plant's life.
| Stage | N | P | K | EC (mS/cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| seedling | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| vegetative | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1.4 |
| flowering | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1.6 |
| fruiting | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1.8 |
Aquaponics suitability
Compatible
Fish waste provides enough nitrogen for healthy growth. Supplemental potassium, calcium, and iron may still be needed depending on fish stocking density.
Care notes
A warm-season legume for hydroponic or aquaponic media beds. Hold EC around 1.4-2.0 mS/cm and pH 6.0-7.0. It is warm-season, best at 20–30°C; frost kills it and cool weather below 15°C slows it sharply. Give moderate to high light, 22-32 mol/m2/day. Direct-seed into media beds or large containers. Because the symbiotic Bradyrhizobium bacteria are usually absent in soilless media, inoculate seed with soybean-specific inoculant or rely on nitrogen from the feed. From seed to edamame harvest is 75 to 90 days. Pick when pods are plump and bright green and the beans fill the pod without hardening; the window is narrow, about one to two weeks, after which the seeds start drying past the edamame stage. Blanch harvested pods in boiling salted water for four to five minutes, then cool quickly; frozen edamame keeps for over six months. Each plant gives 50 to 100 pods, and bush varieties suit confined spaces better than tall types.
Notable varieties
| Cultivar | Type | Origin | Days | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Envy | open pollinated | 75 | Very early variety (75 days). The variety to grow in zone 4-5 short summers. Smaller pods, decent flavor. | |
| Midori Giant | open pollinated | 80 | Japanese-bred standard variety. Large pods, excellent fresh flavor. The default home garden edamame. | |
| Be Sweet 292 | open pollinated | Johnny's Selected Seeds | 90 | Mid-season, very sweet. Productive. The variety US restaurants and commercial growers prefer. |