Edamame, also known as soybean, is a versatile crop plant that grows pods that can be steamed and then shelled to get fresh, tender beans. Mature beans can also be dried to keep for a long time before cooking. Edamame is the name given to the young beans while soybean refers to the mature bean.
In South-East Asia, these beans have been grown and cooked for thousands of years. They are also becoming more popular in UK kitchens. To add them to dips, salads, stews, casseroles, or soups, you can steam or boil them in their pods. They are high in protein.
Soybean plants can handle frost and need a long, hot summer to grow well, so they can only be grown outside in milder parts of the UK. Note this bean contains toxins and must be cooked before eating and shouldn’t be eaten raw.
Edamame, also known as vegetable soybeans, are a delicious and nutritious crop that can easily be grown in pots. With their sweet, nutty flavor and high protein content, homegrown edamame are far superior to store-bought frozen varieties. By growing edamame in containers, you can harvest buckets of fresh edamame beans right on your patio or balcony.
Why Grow Edamame in Pots?
There are many benefits to growing edamame in pots
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Space Saver – Edamame plants are compact, only growing 18-24 inches tall, making them ideal for container gardening. Pots allow you to grow edamame even if you don’t have an inground garden.
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Convenience – Caring for potted edamame is easy Pots can be moved to take advantage of more sunlight or provide frost protection
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Custom Soil – Container gardening allows you to control the soil quality, ensuring your edamame plants have nutrient-rich soil.
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Small Harvests – Picking a few pods at a time from potted plants makes for easy, continual harvesting all season long.
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Less Pests – Elevating pots off the ground reduces slug issues and the confined space limits pests like deer.
Choosing the Right Pot for Edamame
While edamame can be grown in all sorts of containers, large pots work best. Try 5-gallon pots or half whiskey barrels, which allow for multiple plants. Here are some container considerations:
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Size – Select a pot at least 12 inches wide and deep. This gives edamame roots plenty of room to develop. Half barrels are a great choice.
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Drainage – Make sure the container has drainage holes so the soil doesn’t get waterlogged. Elevate pots off the ground to improve drainage.
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Material – Plastic, ceramic, wood and resin pots all work well. Go light colored to minimize heat absorption.
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Number of Plants – You can fit 3 edamame plants in a 5-gallon pot. A 22-inch half whiskey barrel accommodates 6 plants.
How to Plant Edamame in Pots
Planting edamame in containers is very similar to planting in the ground. Follow these simple steps:
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Fill container with moist potting mix, leaving 2 inches from the rim.
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Sow seeds 1-2 inches deep and 2 inches apart. Cover lightly with soil.
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Water gently to avoid washing away seeds.
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Place pot in full sun, ideally 6+ hours per day. Bring indoors if frost is expected.
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Thin seedlings to 4-6 inches apart once they reach 2 inches tall.
Caring for Container Edamame
Proper care is key to keeping potted edamame plants happy and productive. Be sure to:
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Water 1-2 inches per week. Consistent moisture is important but don’t drown the plants.
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Fertilize every 2-3 weeks with a balanced liquid fertilizer once flowering begins.
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Monitor for pests like aphids and caterpillars. Use organic pest control methods if needed.
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Weed carefully to avoid disturbing roots. Mulching with compost helps suppress weeds.
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Trim off any overcrowded branches to encourage air circulation.
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Move potted plants to a sheltered location if extremely high winds or heavy rain is expected.
How to Harvest Edamame Pods
Start checking pods 3-4 weeks after flowering. Edamame beans are ready for picking when the pods are plump and bright green.
Use scissors to snip pods from the stem, taking care not to damage the plant. Avoid pulling on the plant as you harvest. Pinch open a pod to peek inside – beans should be nearly filling the pod.
Pick edamame pods as they mature, every couple of days. With container gardening, you’re likely to harvest just a few pods at a time, which is perfect.
Enjoying the Edamame Bounty
Homegrown edamame tastes best when fresh picked. Here’s how to prepare those harvested pods:
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Boil or steam pods for 4-5 minutes until warmed through.
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Drain pods and sprinkle with salt.
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Squeeze pods to pop out beans. Discard pods.
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Enjoy edamame beans as a snack, in salads, stir fries, or over rice.
Store any excess edamame by blanching pods for 2-3 minutes until bright green. Cool in ice water, drain, and freeze.
Troubleshooting Common Edamame Problems
Growing edamame in pots is relatively trouble free but issues can arise:
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Slow Growth – This is often due to inconsistent watering. Ensure pots are getting 1-2 inches of water per week. Fertilize every 2-3 weeks as well.
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Dropping Blossoms – Hot, windy weather causes flower drop. Move pots to a sheltered area and mist plants daily until conditions improve.
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Low Pod Set – Lack of pollination is a common cause. Gently shake plants daily to promote self-pollination.
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Aphids – These sap-sucking pests cause curled, wrinkled leaves. Wipe away with a strong jet of water and release ladybugs if needed.
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Blossom End Rot – Indicated by black spots on pod tips. This is caused by irregular watering. Keep soil consistently moist.
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Yellow Leaves – Overwatering and poor drainage leads to root rot and yellowing leaves. Allow soil to partly dry before watering again.
With the proper care, you can grow a bountiful edamame crop in pots on your patio or balcony. Just be sure to provide large containers, nutrient-rich soil, consistent moisture, and full sun. Follow the tips above and you’ll be harvesting fresh edamame all season long.
Growing soybeans: jump links
For this kind of bean to grow well, it needs to be in full sun and warm places with rich, moist soil. Plants grow up to 1. 2m high and are best grown in a site sheltered from wind.
Plant seeds 5 cm deep in 8 cm pots or deep root trainer pots filled with moist potting compost between the middle and end of spring. Put it in a propagator or cover it with polythene and leave it somewhere warm, around 20°C. As soon as seedlings appear, move them to a windowsill with good light or a heated greenhouse. Make sure the compost stays evenly moist. Harden off the seedlings so they can get used to being outside before planting them outside when there is no longer any risk of frost. If it’s too cool to plant outside and the seedlings’ pots are full of roots, move them to bigger (13 cm) pots.
Putting cloches, fleece, or clear polythene over the ground for at least two weeks will help warm the soil before planting seeds directly. Plant in rows 45 cm apart and 2-3 seeds close together, 5 cm deep and 15 cm apart, from late spring to midsummer. Once the seedlings have come up, thin them if you need to so that you only have one. Choose the healthiest and strongest seedling to stay. If you have enough room, plant more than one time over a couple of months so you can harvest for a long time.
A regular supply of water is essential for pod and fruit-producing crops like edamame/soybean. During dry conditions, water thoroughly 2-3 times a week. Mulching the soil around the roots with well-rotted compost helps the soil retain moisture. Weed regularly as weeds would compete with the beans for water and nutrients.
Soybeans are ready to harvest around 12 weeks after sowing, in late summer or autumn. For edamame beans, pick when the pods are green with the shape of the beans is visible inside. Either take the beans out of the pods and shell them before cooking, or cook the pods whole and then pop the beans out. For soybeans, let the pods grow until they produce big beans. Then, dry the beans completely in a cool place under cover. Finally, shell the beans from the pods before storing them.
How to grow soybeans
Plant soybean seeds from the middle of spring to the beginning of summer. You can start the seeds indoors in pots or plant them directly where you want them to grow starting in late spring. Grow in a sunny sheltered site on good soil and keep watered so the soil doesn’t dry out. Harvest from late summer into autumn. Compost the plants at the end of the season.
Growing Edamame from Seed to Plate | Backyard Soybeans
FAQ
Can edamame grow in containers?
Does edamame need to climb?
Is edamame difficult to grow?
Does edamame need a lot of sun?
How do you grow edamame indoors?
To grow edamame indoors, provide the plants with at least six hours of bright, direct sunlight each day. Use a well-draining potting mix and a container with drainage holes. Plant the seeds about an inch deep and three inches apart. Water the seeds regularly, keeping the soil moist but not waterlogged.
Can edamame be grown in containers?
Yes, edamame can be grown successfully in containers. Choose a container with a diameter of at least 12 inches and a depth of 12-18 inches. Fill the container with well-draining soil and plant the seeds about an inch deep and three inches apart. Water the seeds regularly, keeping the soil moist but not waterlogged.
How many edamame plants in a 10 gallon container?
10-gallon size: 3-4 edamame plants 20-gallon size: 5-6 edamame plants I recommend using one 20-gallon fabric grow bag and succession plant two at a time, or use two 10-gallon fabric containers and succession plant as space allows. Edamame is easy to grow and relatively low-maintenance.
How do I keep edamame from growing in my garden?
Therefore, when growing edamame, it’s important to take measures to keep them out of your garden. The most effective deterrents include floating row cover, fencing, and/or a guard dog. Edamame plants also may develop chlorosis, which is a yellowing of the leaves between their veins, if they’re grown in overly alkaline soils.
Do edamame plants weed?
Weeding is an important aspect of edamame cultivation. Weeds can compete with the plants for nutrients and water, which can lead to stunted growth. It is recommended to weed regularly, either by hand or with a hoe. Mulching is also beneficial for edamame plants. It can help to retain moisture in the soil and suppress weed growth.
Can you grow edamame from seed?
To grow edamame from seed, wait until all chance of frost is over and the soil has warmed to 65 degrees Fahrenheit, which is usually late spring. Succession planting doesn’t work well for soybeans, as they bloom according to day length and all plants of the same cultivar tend to flower at the same time, no matter when they were sown.