Edamame beans how to grow (Prep soil for edamame) – Edamame bean growing
Grow edamame in outdoor cultivation. Edamame is the name for young, green soybeans. This time, edamame growing guide. We’re getting the soil ready before planting edamame seeds. Edamame seeds are sown in late April to early May, so we prepare the soil about 2 to 3 weeks before that. Edamame cultivation area is about 60cm × 60cm (2 feet x 2 feet) in size.
Soil preparation for edamame (Growing edamame in garden)
In edamame cultivation, we generally don’t use fertilizers, but for this season, we’ve decided to use only fully ripened cattle manure compost. This cattle manure compost is used more for improving the soil than as fertilizer for edamame.
The field used for edamame cultivation has clayey soil with poor drainage, so we’re adding cattle manure compost to improve it. (Adding organic fertilizers like cattle manure compost to the soil activates microorganisms, making the soil soft and fluffy.)
The amount of cattle manure compost to put in edamame plot is 1 liter (1 qt). Spread this cattle manure compost in the plot and mix it with the soil.
After adding the compost, dig the edamame plot to a depth of 30cm (1 ft). You can use the length of the shovel blade, which is about 30cm, as a guide for the depth.
If digging is difficult, you can simply cultivate the soil with a hoe. (Since the drainage of the plot I am renting is not very good, I decided to dig deeper than usual to improve it as much as possible.)
How to make the bed for edamame (Create raised bed for green soybeans)
This is the latter part of soil preparation for edamame. Return the soil to the dug area and create raised bed for edamame. The trick is to gently mound the soil while allowing air to be incorporated. This increases the “fluffiness" of the soil and creates height in the raised bed.
To prevent soil from collapsing, shape the edamame bed with a trowel and wooden boards. Make the top of the bed flat and compact the sides slightly for added strength.
Afterward, cover the edamame bed with black polythene mulch, and secure the mulch with mulch pins. The bed for edamame is completed.
Following is the video for how-to. English subtitles are available.