Surprize Hit in Spring Garden - Edamame

I had a few extra squares in my garden this Spring and for no reason I can think of I ordered a pack of Edamame seeds. I planted 12 and then every 2 weeks succession planted 6 more seeds 4 inches apart, not really knowing what to expect. They are a huge hit with the family :-)

Now, every few weeks, I pick a small bowl full and while still dry I pour about 2 or 3 tablespoons of salt on them and rub vigorusly to remove all of the tiny hairs on the bean casings, then I soak in salted water for an hour & rinse them off. Cook them for 5 minutes in boiling salted water then drain and serve. A little squeeze and the beans pop right out into your mouth, then discard the shell. I serve them as an appetizer.

Every time so far the bowl is empty and it is a race at the end as everyone tries to get their fair share.

Next year I am going to double the planting.

Kirk

wow !!
When did you start the seeds?
Keep posting pictures on how they are growing please.
I love Edamame beans. It looks like the plant has so many !

The biggest ones on the back left I planted in mid-March, the youngest in the front just a couple of weeks ago. I am not sure if the older ones will continue to produce or if I should pull them out and re-plant. I am sure that I will find out soon.

Well, I learned that once you pick the Edamame beans, that is it. Pull them out and plant more of them. There was no evidence of additional bean growth and I waited a couple of weeks.

Even though it is now June I am still planting new ones as space is made available. I'll be surprised if they continue to grow during the hot summer but at least I'll find out how long their season is.

Do we grow soybeans here in TX? I haven't seen them that I can remember. I do like edemame though.

Harvested some more of them tonight. They were still very good.

I have learned that when I pick them, almost all of the beans on the plant mature at the same time with no more to come, so I pull it out of the ground to make room to plant more.

Right now the younger ones are flowering (the others have never done this). Also, so far I am not seeing beans on the young ones. It could be that the Texas heat has taken its toll and the season is over. I have lots planted so we will see.

I will definitely try more in the Fall.

Yes, we grow edible soybeans in Texas, also the other kind, but it is usually a sun length req'd plant, the edible ones are good tho -

Last summer my daughter and her family planted edamame in their raised garden (2 ft ) near Houston. While they were on vacation I carefully watered the garden and was thrilled to see the edamame sprout.

Well, it grew nicely and then began to quickly disappear. We were totally mystified until one evening when my son-in-law was watering the plants and moved the dill over a little to put the hose down. There was a nest of tiny baby rabbits all snuggled together. Mama bunny apparently been happily eating edamame and raising babies.

Being the softies we are, the babies grew up in their garden section and the family is trying to grow edamame for themselves this year.

KirkH,
What variety did you plant, and where did you order them from?

Gymgirl, they gonna be a like Oct planting now-I grew my edible soybeans with my English peas in like Feb if I remember right, that was mid 80's so not much help here

Burpee and evergreenseeds claim to have them

Thanks, Kittriana!

I got the BeSweet 2001 from Botanical Interests. I jist stumbled on them in a local garden store but they have them here along with a few other varieties.

http://www.botanicalinterests.com/products/index/srch:Edamame

I just looked outside and there are a bunch more ready to harvest. Yum