Edamame (Soybean)

I picked Edamame about 5-6 weeks ago and had a few dried bean pods on the plants, so I planted them. Edamame grow quickly and I expect more beans in 4-5 more weeks. 

Soybean (Edamame)

These Soybean (Edamame) are almost ready to harvest. The plants are super healthy and the bean pods are really filling out. I actually bought three seedlings from a nursery a few months ago, but Caterpillars destroyed them; fortunately, the plants had a few beans on them, so I let them dry and planted them. These plants are the results.     

Soybean (Edamame)

Planted three Soybean (Edamame) plants on 28 April.

 

Soybean (Edamame)

Wanted a snack today so cut a Soybean (Edamame) plant.

This plant was loaded with Soybeans.

More than a handful of Soybeans from this one plant.

195 grams (7 oz).

Washed three times, boiled in salt water, drained, sprinkled with salt and eat.  

 

Soybean (Edamame)

Only a few Soybean plants sprouted this year, but they are super healthy and full of flowers. I should get one or two good snacks out of these plants. 

Soybean (Edamame)

Only two Edamame plants came up so far. These are from my own seed stock. I guess I will have to plant a few more seeds.

 

Soybean (Edamame)

(10/26) My Soybean (Edamame) plants are starting to flower. These Edamame will be ready to harvest in about 6-7 weeks from now.

 

Soybean (Edamame)

 

These Soybean plants are doing well.

Soybean (Edamame)

The Soybean (Edamame) seeds I planted at the beginning of September from my seed stock are doing well. I'm planting a few seeds every week or so so they mature at different times so I do not have to harvest everything at the same time. Though we got a few pounds during the last harvest, we ate them quite quickly while they were fresh. This time I want to stagger them. Also I learned I can put way more plants in the container, so will double the number of plants I had last time. 

Soybean (Edamame)

 (9/10) I planted these Soybean (Edamame) seeds on 6 September and two have sprouted. 

Soybean (Edamame)

(9/7) The Potatoes (Jagaimo) I planted in this container a few weeks ago rotted due to all the rain we had, so I decided to plant Soybean (Edamame) again in this container. Since I used this container previously for Soybean I know there are Rhizobia bacteria in the soil needed to fix nitrogen inside the root nodules. 

Soybean (Edamame)

(8/3) Decided to harvest my Soybean (Edamame). I had 12 plants.

Yielded 1,439 grams (3.1 lbs).

I boiled some in salt water for a delicious treat and still have tons left.

I kept some beans. I will let them dry and plant them. Soybean beans are interesting. When they are fresh they are light green and oval, but when they dry they turn brown and become almost perfectly round. Soybean can be boiled, roasted or eaten when they dry. When dry they taste amazingly similar to peanuts.  

Soybean (Edamame)

(7/22) My Soybean (Edamame) plants are full of beans.

Soybean (Edamame)

(6/17) Soybean plants typically grow to a height of 2 ft (61 cm), but my plants are well over 3 ft (91 cm).

(6/20) Starting to develop seed pods.

Soybean (Edamame)

(6/14) My Soybean (Edamame) plants are starting to flower. 

Soybean (Edamame)

Today I planted Soybeans (Edamame). The Package contained 38 seeds. The seeds should be spaced about 12 inches (30 cm) apart. This container is not that large, so I made six holes and placed two seeds in each hole. Once the seeds sprout, I will select the strongest sprout from each hole and remove the other. 

 

An image what a Soybean plant looks like. Soybeans are one of the most versatile beans in the world, but my favorite way to eat them is to boil the pod, lightly salt them and eat them right out of the pod. This is how you are most likely to eat them when visiting Japan. They are super delicious and high in protein.  

This is the package I have started from, but of course I will save some of the beans for my seed stock to grow more.

I live in a sub-tropical climate, which is identified in red, so I can plant Soybeans from April through mid-July. I will plant some more in May and the rest in June. The seeds generally sprout in about a week and take three to five months to mature. 

(4/18) It has only been three days and some of the Soybean seeds have sprouted.

(4/21) I planted twelve Soybean seeds in six holes and they all sprouted. Normally I would have sniped off the weakest plant, but did not want to waste the sprouts so I decided to dug them all up gentle and replanted them. Surprisingly the roots were already 5-6 inches (10-12 cm) long, but the soil was still loose and I could successfully remove and replant all the seeds, so I now have twelve plants. Even if I lose one or two it would have been worth the risk. I'll keep you posted.

(5/8) Growing so fast

(6/7) Growing well, but no flowers yet.