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Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 3:52 pm
by Tinybu88les8
They are onsale. I don't think that's the normal price.

Re: Edamame (edible soy bean) seeds

Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2014 10:22 am
by Bovina_Beas
Sorry to bump this old thread, but I have a few questions:

1. Has anyone ever requested and received free seeds from the National Soybean Research Laboratory in Illinois?

2. Is Beer Friend the best variety for size, flavor, and production? Where does Envy rank?

3. If I was able to get some soybean seeds from a farmer, would they be suitable for edamame or are they a different variety?

Re: Edamame (edible soy bean) seeds

Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2014 10:34 am
by hendi_alex
As I understand it, most commercial soy beans are GMO varieties. I have not checked into it, but would doubt that the home garden varieties are GMO, especially any that would be offered by Seed Savers Exchange.

"Also referred to as vegetable soybeans, edamame is
the same species as the traditional grain soybean
(Glycine max) commonly grown in Kentucky.
However, compared to grain soybean, edamame
seeds are larger with a sweet, nutty flavor, and
better digestibility. "

Above excerpt from University of Kentucky publication:
https://www.uky.edu/Ag/CCD/introsheets/e ... auto,0,797

Re: Edamame (edible soy bean) seeds

Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2014 10:36 am
by hendi_alex
I have grown beer friend and several other varieties. The beans can be quite different in size and color, ranging from green to black. But I found all to be enjoyable. Beer friend is medium sized.

Re: Edamame (edible soy bean) seeds

Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2014 10:45 am
by Bovina_Beas
hendi_alex wrote:As I understand it, most commercial soy beans are GMO varieties. I have not checked into it, but would doubt that the home garden varieties are GMO, especially any that would be offered by Seed Savers Exchange.

"Also referred to as vegetable soybeans, edamame is
the same species as the traditional grain soybean
(Glycine max) commonly grown in Kentucky.
However, compared to grain soybean, edamame
seeds are larger with a sweet, nutty flavor, and
better digestibility. "

Above excerpt from University of Kentucky publication:
https://www.uky.edu/Ag/CCD/introsheets/e ... auto,0,797
Thanks, that's what I thinking but wanted some confirmation. I've been looking all around for some decent prices, but these things are expensive! I just got an email response back from one of the researchers at the NSRL and I'm on the list to receive seed packets from them. I'm not sure what varieties they are sending, but I'm excited to find out.

Re: Edamame (edible soy bean) seeds

Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2014 10:45 am
by Bovina_Beas
hendi_alex wrote:I have grown beer friend and several other varieties. The beans can be quite different in size and color, ranging from green to black. But I found all to be enjoyable. Beer friend is medium sized.
Did you plant yours in rows? How do you think they would do in containers?

Re: Edamame (edible soy bean) seeds

Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2014 11:18 am
by digitS'
I missed this thread? I must not have been in my pre-member, lurking mode that month of 2010!

No soybean fields around here at all, that I am aware of. I think the cool nights are not to their liking. When I wanted to grow some, a gardener from Wisconsin sent me quite a selection.

Some didn't do very well. After 3 or 4 years I narrowed it down to one variety. It was just sent to me as "Bei" but I'm pretty sure it is "Bei Liang" that Victory Seed sells.

I'm happy to use it for edamame and will finally do "the sensible thing" and not just try to keep up with the plants by eating the edamame fresh! It should freeze just fine . . .

Here is a LINK to Victory Seed Company. Several of their varieties are from the USDA. Yes, these sorts of things can be expensive but bean seed is easy to save.

Steve :)
who is not a very good container gardener

Re: Edamame (edible soy bean) seeds

Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2014 11:24 am
by hendi_alex
I planted mine in small blocks in raised beds. About 48 square feet gave us plenty to eat fresh plus the wife froze several packs as well. As was posted earlier, they do freeze very well, with no distinguishable difference for at least a year.

Re: Edamame (edible soy bean) seeds

Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2014 11:52 am
by imafan26
Seeds from the UH extention are cheap and sold by wt and not by the count. They sell them by the lb for commercial growers, but bean seeds will keep for years especially in the freezer. The home grower packs sell for a dollar.

It is better to email Desmond Ogata rather than call. He is the only one in the seed lab and he is in and out.
Kahala soybeans are a local variety with nematode resistance. Here everything needs to be nematode resistant. It is a good bean, I have grown it. You can ask for the seed count and the postage. It might be better to buy the lb. I know they send seeds out of State and some even to France. They have to go through the state quarantine inspection if they are going international, I know they can be shipped to US, but I don't remember if they have to go through quarantine for that.


https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/seed/Downlo ... 20Form.pdf