How to Grow Edamame
Glycine max
Edamame are immature soybeans harvested green for their sweet, nutty flavour. They need warm soil (above 15°C) and a long, warm growing season. Sow direct after last frost or start indoors 3 weeks earlier. Plants are bushy and self-supporting. Water well during flowering and pod fill. Harvest the whole plant when pods are plump and green — before they yellow. A single harvest crop, so make successive sowings for a longer supply.
When to Start
Start seeds indoors 3 weeks before your last frost date. Transplant outdoors once night temperatures stay above 10°C and soil has warmed to at least 15°C.
Don't know your frost date? Find it here →
Growth Stages
Approximate days from start
Care Essentials
- Rarely needed — edamame fix their own nitrogen. A light compost mulch at planting is sufficient.
- Needs warm soil to germinate well. Sow after last frost when soil is reliably above 15°C. Short-day varieties set pods more reliably in UK conditions.
Growing Conditions
- Min. soil temperature
- 15°C+
- Germination temperature
- 15–30°C
- Sow indoors
- —
- Transplant out
- —
- First harvest
- —
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Spacing & Planting
| Plant spacing | 15 cm |
| Row spacing | 60 cm |
| Sow depth | 3 cm |
| Mature height | 60 cm |
| Mature spread | 30 cm |
Plant in blocks or double rows for better pollination and wind support.
Pests & Diseases
Pest Aphids
Identification: Clusters of green or black insects on shoot tips and leaf undersides
- Spray with water to dislodge
- Encourage ladybirds and lacewings
- Fatty acid sprays
Pest Slugs and Snails
Identification: Irregular holes in leaves, slime trails, seedlings eaten at ground level
- Beer traps
- Copper tape around pots
- Evening patrols
- Ferric phosphate pellets
Disease Downy Mildew Peronospora manshurica
Symptoms: Yellow patches on upper leaf surfaces with grey-purple fuzzy growth underneath
Treatment: Remove affected leaves. Improve air circulation.
Prevention: Good spacing. Avoid overhead watering. Rotate crops.
Growing Conditions
| Min. soil temperature | 15°C |
| Germination temperature | 15–30°C |
| Base growth temperature | 10°C |
| Min. daylength to start | 12h |
| Photoperiod sensitivity | short day |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How far apart should I plant Edamame?
- Plant Edamame 15cm apart with 60cm between rows.
- When can I harvest Edamame?
- Edamame is ready to harvest approximately 75 days after transplanting.
- Is Edamame frost hardy?
- Edamame is classified as Tender.
