Planting Instructions:
Soybeans are a tender plant and should be sown after all danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed. Planting them at about the same time as corn is a good rule.
Sow seeds about one inch deep, three to four inches apart. Although you can plant in rows, they can be planted densely and allowed to form a canopy. This will help control weed growth. Soybeans are tolerant of drought and poor soil since they fix nitrogen. They will, however, benefit from fertile soil.
Soybean flowers are perfect (self-fertile) and cross pollination is almost non-existent, making saving seed easy. Allow pods to fully develop and dry on the plants.
Informational References:
- "Edamame Variety Trial," by Carol A. Miles and Madhu Sonde, Washington State University, Vancouver Research & Extension Unit, Vancouver, WA, 2002.
- "Edamame (Vegetable Soybean) Variety Trial: IDALS Specialty Grant Program-2002," by Dr. Kathleen Delate and Heather Friedrich, Depts. of Horticulture & Agronomy, Bob Burcham, farm superintendent, Neely-Kinyon Research and Demonstration Farm, Dr. Walter Fehr, professor, Dept. of Agronomy, and Dr. Lester Wilson, professor, Dept. of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Iowa State University, 2002.
- "Consumer liking and descriptive analysis of six varieties of organically grown edamame-type soybean," by A.L. Wszelaki, andย Jeannine Delwiche, S.D. Walker, R.E. Liggett, Sally Miller, and Matthew Kleinhenz, Food Quality and Preference, 2005.