Prep soil for edamame beans and cherry tomatoes (Edamame and cherry tomato cultivation)
Growing cherry tomato and edamame plant in mulching cultivation. This time, I’m preparing the soil for edamame bean plants and cherry tomatoes. Each bed size is about 60cm x 60cm (2 feet x 2 feet).
Fertilizer used for growing edamame and cherry tomatoes
Edamame doesn’t need fertilizer. For growing cherry tomatoes, you need 1 liter (1 qt) of cow manure and 50g (1.8 oz) of chicken manure. (Edamame roots have bacteria called root nodules that provide nutrients. So, edamame doesn’t need fertilizer.)
Also, for soil improvement, I will use 10 liters (10 qt) of coco peat and 1 liter (1 qt) of zeolite. This soil improvement materials are needed for both edamame and cherry tomatoes, so it will be added to the entire bed. (Both coco peat and zeolite are materials that meet organic JAS standards.)
Coco peat is a soil improvement material made from coconut shells. It helps with drainage and air flow in the soil. It also makes the soil softer, which helps edamame plant and cherry tomato roots grow better.
Zeolite is a soil improvement material made from natural minerals. It has the ability to hold and keep fertilizers, so it prevents fertilizers from being washed away by rain. Although it holds fertilizers, it still provides the nutrients that edamame beans and cherry tomatoes need.
To prepare the soil for growing edamame bean plants and cherry tomatoes, first use a shovel to dig the whole bed about 30cm (1 foot) deep.
Put 10 liters (10 qt) of coco peat (one bucket) into the hole and mix it with the soil. (Mix the coco peat into the soil using a shovel or hoe.)
After mixing coco peat with the soil, put the saved soil back on top. The coco peat is light, so cover it with soil to press it down.
After that, add 1 liter (1 qt) of zeolite to the entire bed. Edamame doesn’t need fertilizer. In the cherry tomato plot, add 1 liter (1 qt) of cow manure and 50g (1.8 oz) of chicken manure.
Making the bed for edamame and cherry tomatoes (How to make a bed)
After fertilizing, the next step is to create the bed for edamame bean plant and cherry tomato. Shape the bed with a trowel and wooden boards.
As a tip for making the edamame and cherry tomato bed, use a trowel to press the edges of the bed and make it slightly compacted. If you press the edges of the bed, you can maintain the shape of the bed.
Afterward, cover the edamame and cherry tomato bed with black polythene mulch, and secure the mulch with mulch pins. Mulching is a traditional method for making the growing edamame plant and cherry tomato healthy. Mulch will keep the soil moist and the plants clean. Your edamame bean plant and cherry tomato bed is complete.
Following is the video for how-to. English subtitles are available.