Growing soy beans around the Houston area or zone 9a?

I searched the forums but couldn't come up with any info about growing soy beans. I'd love to have fresh edamame but don't know if they'd grow around here, what conditions they need, how big they get, etc. If anyone has been successful, please share! Thanks! Janet

Hi Janet;
I haven't grown soy beans, but have grown black eyed peas (southern peas) during the hottest part of summer with good success.
They do double duty, give a crop of peas (the obvious) ,and help build up the soil for growing winter crops, like turnips, cabbage, carrots, etc.
an untangable benefit, is that if you plant them heavy, they cut down on the weeds! I grow all of my garden in raised beds, and this along with putting buckwheat in some of the beds provide something of benefit when nearly nothing else will grow! Hope this helps..
Jerry

Janet,
I've pretty much given up fighting the Bermuda grass that invaded my yard from surrounding pastures, but I found some information for you.

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/specialty/soybean.html
http://www.texasgardener.com/pastissues/mayjun05/Soybean.html
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/publications/veghandbook/tables.html
http://southwestfarmpress.com/variet
http://www.gardenguides.com/75160-grow-edible-soybeans.htmly-planting-date

jerrytx,
when do you seed your black eye peas?
and which variety do you recommend to be grown around an arbor?

Black eyed peas don't get very tall. I grew pink eye purple hulls last year and they were great!

I know that soy grows very well in the rich bottom lands of the hills of TN. I would think that if you added a lot of good compost, soy would grow well for you. They grow to about 3'-4' in avg soil, but my husband's family has bottom land in TN and they can grow up to 8' tall.

Thanks for all the input, especially Bettydee for all the websites. I'm going to order 2 varieties of soybeans, plant them and see what happens. I order most of my seeds from Seeds of Change--I have a very small garden compared to most. I love to experiment too! I'll try to remember to "report" at the end of growing.

Drthor: I haven't tried around an arbor, as most black eyed peas i've grown are rather 'short' but gangly. I plant them rather heavy, and they pretty much cover the bed. I usually plant them ~ late may-early june, here in spring. (one of the few crops that loves our Texas summer heat..)

Here is a couple of links that may be helpful.

http://www.southernexposure.com/beans-edamame-soybeans-c-3_5_63.html
http://www.southernexposure.com/vegetables-southern-peas-c-3_121.html

I've had very good results with the Mississippi silver variety.