🥕 Edamame / Soybeans
Glycine max
vegetables annual legume
☀️ Sun
full sun
💧 Water
moderate, consistent during flowering and pod set
🗺️ Zones
warm season annual
🪴 Soil Type
well-draining, fertile loam
🧪 Soil pH
6.0-6.8
💧 Drainage
Well-drained
📏 Spacing
2-4 in. apart, 18-24 in. between rows (drilled/planted in rows)
📅 Days to Maturity
75-110 days (from seed); early varieties 75-85 days, late 100-110 days
🍴 Edible Parts
🍽️ ["Steamed edamame pods🍽️ tofu🍽️ soy milk🍽️ tempeh🍽️ miso"]
🤝 Companions (7)
🤝 corn
Corn provides sturdy support for edamame's bushy growth without competing for light; edamame fixes nitrogen that feeds corn's heavy nitrogen appetite.
🤝 squash
Squash shades the soil, suppressing weeds and preserving moisture for edamame; edamame's nitrogen fixation supports squash's rapid growth.
🤝 cucumbers
Edamame fixes nitrogen that cucumbers need for vigorous vine growth; both prefer warm soil and full sun with consistent moisture.
🤝 potatoes
Edamame fixes nitrogen to support potato tuber development; their root systems occupy different soil depths, minimizing nutrient competition.
🤝 strawberries
Edamame enriches soil with nitrogen for strawberries; edamame's upright growth leaves plenty of sun for the low-growing strawberry plants.
Edamame fixes nitrogen that celery's heavy feeding needs; celery's shallow roots don't compete with edamame's deeper root system.
Summer savory repels bean beetles and improves edamame's growth and flavor — a classic companion planting pair that benefits both plants.
⚠️ Keep Apart (3)
⚠️ alliums (onion, garlic)
Growth inhibition or competition
Growth inhibition or competition
⚠️ tomatoes (mixed reports)
Growth inhibition or competition
💊 Medicinal Uses
Contains isoflavones (genistein, daidzein) — phytoestrogens with hormone-modulating effects. Rich in complete protein, lecithin, and omega-3 fatty acids. Traditional East Asian food-medicine for menopausal symptoms, cardiovascular health, and bone density. Isoflavones clinically studied for hormone-sensitive cancers (controversial). Fermented forms (miso, tempeh) enhance bioavailability.
📝 Notes
Excellent nitrogen fixer—enriches soil for following crops. Corn provides support for climbing varieties. Three Sisters guild member. Summer savory deters bean beetles and improves flavor.