How to grow Edamame in Australia
Sow edamame direct in full sun in warm, free-draining soil, and avoid nitrogen feeding as these soybeans fix their own. Water consistently once flowers and pods form to fill the pods well.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Sun: Full sun
- Water: 6 litres a week, watered every 2 days
- Spacing: 15 cm
- Time to harvest: 80 days
- Time to germinate: 10 days
- Soil pH: 6 to 7
- Frost tolerance: Frost tender
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | September to February | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | September to February | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | October to January | Sow direct Oct to Jan once the soil passes 15°C. Later sowings run out of warmth before the pods fill. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | October to December | Frost tender. Sow Oct to Dec into warm soil once frosts finish. Needs the summer to fill pods; autumn sowings fail. |
| Adelaide & SA | October to December | Sow Oct to Dec into warm soil after frost. Needs the full summer; autumn sowings fail. |
| Perth & WA | September to November | Sow Sep to Nov into warm soil so pods fill before the worst heat. Water deeply at flowering. |
| Tasmania | November and December | Marginal. Sow Nov to Dec in the warmest bed. Cool summers slow pod fill - pick an early variety. |
| Canberra & ACT | November and December | Frost tender. Sow Nov to Dec into warm soil; pods ready before the April frost. Choose a short season variety. |
| North Queensland | April to June, December and January | Two windows. Sow late Apr to Jun for a dry season crop, or Dec to mid Jan for a wet season crop. Burdekin soybean growers use the same two plantings. |
| Darwin & Top End | April to June | Dry season Apr to Jun, the same window as green beans. Pods fill badly once the build up heat arrives. |
Varieties
- BeSweet
- Midori Giant
Companion planting
Good companions
Avoid planting near
Harvest and storage
Harvest tip
Pick when pods are plump, bright green and the beans fill them out, while still soft. Harvest the whole plant or strip pods; they all mature close together.
Storage
Fridge in pods for 2 to 3 days. Blanch and freeze for months.