When to sow Soya Bean (Edamame) in the UK
Soya Bean (Edamame) is frost-tender, so the right week to sow it depends on where in the UK you garden.
Sowing and harvest dates by region
Soya Bean (Edamame) is frost-tender, so its timings shift across the UK. Plot works them out from the Midlands and Lowland Wales baseline using Met Office average frost dates.
| Where you are | Sow indoors | Sow outdoors | Plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South West Coast and Cornwall | late February to late April | late March to late May | mid April to early May | early July to late September |
| South Coast and Channel | early March to early May | early April to late May | mid April to mid May | mid July to early October |
| Greater London (Urban Heat Island) | late February to late April | late March to late May | mid April to early May | early July to late September |
| South East and Home Counties | late March to mid May | mid April to mid June | early May to late May | late July to mid October |
| East Anglia | late March to late May | late April to mid June | early May to early June | early August to late October |
| Midlands and Lowland Wales | early April to late May | early May to late June | mid May to mid June | early August to late October |
| Wales and West Coast | late March to mid May | mid April to mid June | early May to late May | late July to mid October |
| Northern England | mid April to early June | early May to early July | late May to mid June | mid August to early November |
| Scotland Lowlands and Central Belt | mid April to mid June | mid May to mid July | late May to late June | late August to mid November |
| Scotland Highlands and Islands | early May to early July | early June to early August | mid June to mid July | mid September to early December |
| Northern Ireland | late March to late May | late April to mid June | early May to early June | early August to late October |
| Channel Islands and Isle of Man | late February to mid April | late March to mid May | early April to early May | late June to mid September |
Growing notes
Needs a long hot summer, so it is realistically a southern UK or under-cover crop: sow indoors in April or May, or outdoors in May and June, and pick green pods as edamame from August or leave them to dry. A cool, dull summer gives very little.
At a glance
- Spacing
- 15 cm between plants
- Row spacing
- 45 cm
- Plants per m²
- 14
- Days to maturity
- 120 days
- Yield per plant
- 0.2 kg
- Sun
- Full
- Frost tender
- Yes
- Grows in a container
- Yes, 30 litres or more
- Minimum soil depth
- 30 cm
- Balcony rating
- 2 out of 5
What usually goes wrong
- poor pod set in a cool summer
- downy mildew
- powdery mildew
- slugs
Companion planting
Grows well near
- sweetcorn
- squash
Keep away from
Related guides
Timings cross-checked against RHS guidance for soya bean (edamame).