How to grow Edamame in Australia
Edamame are vegetable soybeans picked while the pods are still green and the beans soft, then boiled or steamed and eaten from the pod. They grow as compact bushes that need no staking, like a short summer bean crop. Sow into warm soil and pick when the pods are plump but still bright green, as the whole crop comes ready at once.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Edamame in Australia
At a glance
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, so 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. |
Not to be confused with: Beans, the common green or French bean, which is eaten pod and all. Edamame pods are not eaten; only the beans inside.
Where to plant
Grow edamame in full sun in rich, well-drained soil. Like other legumes, soybeans make much of their own nitrogen, so they need no nitrogen fertiliser; dig in compost before sowing rather than manure. Seed rots in cold, wet soil, so wait until the soil is properly warm, ideally about 20°C.
Edamame needs the warm months to fill its pods, so time it so the pods form before the season cools. Rotate it with other crops rather than following beans or peas.
- South East Queensland and the Northern Rivers: sow from September to February.
- Sydney: sow direct from October to January once the soil has warmed. Later sowings run out of warmth before the pods fill.
- Melbourne and Adelaide: sow from October to December once frosts are over. It needs the whole summer to fill pods; autumn sowings fail.
- Perth: sow from September to November so the pods fill before the worst heat, and water deeply at flowering. Some interstate seed companies cannot send soybean seed to Western Australia because of quarantine restrictions, so buy from a WA supplier.
- Canberra and Hobart: marginal. Sow in November or December in the warmest bed and choose an early, short-season variety.
- North Queensland: sow from late April to June for a dry season crop, or December to mid January for a wet season crop. Darwin: sow from April to June, as pods fill badly once the build up heat arrives.
Choosing a variety
Choose varieties sold as edamame or vegetable soybeans. They have larger, sweeter beans than field soybeans grown for oil and stock feed. Early, short-season varieties suit cool districts with short summers.
How to plant
- Wait until the soil is warm, ideally about 20°C, and the risk of frost has passed.
- Sow seed direct, about 2.5 cm deep, in rows about 30 cm apart. Edamame does not like being transplanted.
- Water once after sowing, then hold back until the seedlings appear, usually in 7 to 10 days. Soggy soil rots the seed.
- Thin seedlings to about 15 to 30 cm apart.
- Sow a second batch two or three weeks later to spread the harvest, as each sowing crops all at once.
Watering and feeding
Once the plants are growing, keep the soil evenly moist, and water most carefully from flowering through pod fill. Dry spells at flowering make flowers and young pods drop, and the pods that remain fill poorly. Mulch to hold moisture.
No nitrogen fertiliser is needed. Too much nitrogen gives leafy plants with fewer pods. In poor soil, a fertiliser for fruiting crops, low in nitrogen, can be used at sowing.
Harvesting
Pick when the pods are plump and bright green and the beans inside nearly touch each other, usually 70 to 90 days after sowing. Pick in the early morning. The pods on a plant ripen close together, so you can pull the whole plant and strip the pods, or pick the best pods over a week or so. Do not wait until the pods yellow, as the beans turn hard and starchy.
Eat edamame within a few days of picking; keep the pods in the fridge. For longer storage, blanch the pods and freeze them.
Growing in pots
Edamame grows well in a pot or trough at least 25 cm deep. Sow several seeds in a wide pot, keep it in full sun, and water often through flowering and pod fill, as pots dry out quickly.
Using it
Boil or steam the whole pods in salted water for a few minutes, then squeeze the beans out of the pod to eat them. The pods themselves are tough and not eaten. Shelled beans go into stir-fries, salads, grain bowls and dips.
Companion planting
Edamame is a short, bushy summer legume that fits between taller summer crops. As a legume it leaves some nitrogen in the soil for the next crop.
Good companions
- Corn A tall summer crop that grows at the same time; edamame fills the space at its feet without competing for height.
- Cucumber Another summer crop that wants the same warm soil and regular water, and can be trained up a trellis beside the low edamame.
- Marigold A summer flower that brings in beneficial insects to the bed.
Keep apart
Avoid planting these close to edamame.
Pests and diseases
Edamame shares most of its pests with other summer beans.
Pests to watch for
- Aphids Clusters of small soft insects on shoot tips and under leaves. Hose them off.
- Caterpillars Holes chewed into pods and the beans inside eaten. Pod borers such as heliothis caterpillars are the main culprits; check pods and pick caterpillars off.
- 28-spotted ladybird
Diseases to watch for
- Powdery mildew White powdery patches on the leaves late in the season.
- Rust Small, rusty brown powdery spots under the leaves, which yellow and drop early, mostly in warm, humid weather.
Common questions
When should I plant edamame?
Once the soil is warm, ideally about 20°C, and frost has passed: from September in south east Queensland, October in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, and November in Canberra and Hobart. In the tropics, sow in the dry season, from about April.
How do I know when edamame is ready to pick?
When the pods are plump and still bright green and the beans inside are nearly touching, usually 70 to 90 days after sowing. Yellowing pods mean the beans are past their best.
Does edamame need fertiliser?
Very little. Like other legumes, soybeans make much of their own nitrogen. Dig in compost before sowing and skip high-nitrogen fertilisers, which give leaves rather than pods.
Why are my edamame pods empty or flat?
Usually from dry soil or heat stress at flowering and pod fill, or from sowing too late for the season. Water evenly from flowering on, and sow early enough for the pods to fill in warm weather.
Can I grow edamame in Perth?
Yes, sown from September to November so the pods fill before the worst heat. Some interstate seed companies cannot send soybean seed to Western Australia because of quarantine restrictions, so buy seed from a WA supplier.
Can you eat edamame raw?
Edamame is normally cooked. Boil or steam the pods for a few minutes, then pop the beans out to eat.
Sources we checked: Mr Fothergill's: Soybean Edamame (seed packet guide); Diggers Club: Soy bean Green; Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development WA: Seed import requirements; Savvy Gardening: Growing edamame.