Edamame is a protein-rich, easy-to-care for bean that’s pretty expensive and sometimes hard to find at the store. If you took the leap this year to plant some of your own, stick around. I’m going to show you when to harvest, when not to harvest, two different methods to do it, plus some storage tips.
Very popular in Japan, China and Korea, edamame is an ancient food cultivated as far back as 7000 years ago in China. It’s actually the immature version of a soybean, giving it the alternate name of green soybean. And in some parts of the world, it’s referred to as vegetable soybean or sweet bean.
Soybeans are an incredibly versatile crop grown across the United States. From edamame to oil to animal feed soybeans have a wide range of uses. But knowing when to harvest soybeans is critical to maximizing your yields and profits. In this article I’ll walk through the key factors farmers need to consider when deciding when to start soybean harvest.
Soybean Growth Stages
Before determining harvest time it’s important to understand the growth stages of the soybean plant. There are two main stages
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Vegetative Stage: From planting to flowering, this stage involves emergence, leaf development, and branching.
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Reproductive Stage: From flowering to maturity, this stage involves flowering, pod development, seed development, and maturation.
Soybeans are ready for harvest during the reproductive stage, once pods are fully mature and dry. This typically occurs around late September to November, depending on your location and weather conditions.
Assessing Pod Maturity
The first thing to look for when scouting your soybean fields is pod maturity. Mature soybean pods will be brown or tan in color. The beans inside will be plump and yellow.
To check maturity, open up a few pods and inspect the beans. They should be firm and detached from the inner pod wall. Immature beans will still have some green color and adhere to the pod wall.
You can also check pod moisture using a moisture tester. Soybeans are ready to harvest around 13-15% moisture content.
Monitoring Plant Maturity
In addition to pod maturity, also monitor the overall plant maturity. As plants reach full maturity, you will notice:
- Leaves turning yellow and dropping
- Stems drying and turning brown
- Pods dropping to a lower position on the stems
Once most leaves have dropped and pods are lowered, the plants are often ready for harvest. Avoid waiting too long, as pods can shatter and spill beans onto the ground.
Weather Conditions
Weather is a critical factor influencing soybean harvest timing. Ideally, harvest when conditions are dry and cool to minimize field losses. Wet weather can delay harvest and lead to quality reductions.
Frost or freezing temperatures can also damage soybeans, so aim to harvest prior to the first fall freeze in your area. Monitor the weather forecast as harvest approaches.
Soybean Variety and Maturity Group
Different soybean varieties have different optimal harvest times depending on their maturity group. Early-maturing varieties can often be harvested in August or early September. Later-maturing varieties are best harvested from mid-September through November.
Always consider your specific variety’s maturity date when making harvest decisions. Use relative maturities of varieties planted on your farm.
Intended Use
The intended use of your soybean crop also influences ideal harvest timing. Soybeans grown for food use are harvested later, when beans are fully mature. Beans destined for oil or animal feed can often be harvested slightly earlier at higher moistures.
Work with your grain buyers to determine optimal timing for the end uses of your soybeans.
Field-by-Field Decisions
Keep in mind that harvest timing will vary across your different fields. Factors like planting date, soil type, and weather exposure can all impact maturity.
Scout fields individually as harvest approaches to pinpoint optimal timing in each field. Stagger harvests across fields to maximize efficiency.
Harvest Tips
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Inspect equipment and have spare parts on hand prior to harvest to minimize downtime.
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Start harvesting your earliest maturing fields first.
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Adjust combine settings as needed to minimize losses.
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Avoid harvesting soybeans in the early morning or late afternoon when moisture is very high or low.
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Store beans properly after harvest to maintain quality. Cool, dry storage is ideal.
Determining the perfect harvest window for soybeans is part science and part art. There are many factors at play, but focusing on pod maturity, plant maturity, and weather will lead you in the right direction. Pay close attention to conditions in each individual field, and be flexible to take advantage of favorable harvesting conditions when they arise. With careful planning and scouting, you can maximize both soybean yield and quality this harvest season.
When To Pick Soybeans For Edamame?
When the beans are almost touching with the pod 90% filled and bright green, then they’re at the peak edamame harvesting time.
Edamame is often ready all at the same time and the peak harvest window can be as little as only 3 to 4 days long, so you need to be prepared.
Then they get to what I call the “bulging” stage, when the beans are touching and the pod is 100% full. This is your snooze alarm going off here.
After this, both the plant and the bean starts to get more and more yellow. A lot of my plants are at this beginning yellow stage. I should have harvested about a week ago, but these are completely salvageable. For those of you worried it’s too late, don’t be worried. I’m going to show you how to triage them shortly.
How Many Beans Should Edamame Have?
Soybeans grow tiny flowers that the pods set from. You’ll see tiny bean pods next, but this is not what you want. They get bigger filling out the pods with 1 to 4 beans, with the beans getting plumper and plumper.
Commercially, edamame is considered more marketable with three beans, so when I first started growing these, I thought that was how all the pods had to be. I actually waited for more beans to grow and I missed my harvest window. So just in case you’re wondering the same thing. I am here to tell you that the number of beans in the pods do not matter. It does not affect the quality or the taste. It is all about the color and shape.
How does a farmer know when to harvest soybeans
FAQ
How can you tell when soybeans are ready to harvest?
When to Start Soybean Harvest. As soybean leaves turn yellow and then brown, they begin to fall off the plant, exposing the pods.Sep 14, 2023
What month do they harvest soybeans?
Soybeans, a vital source of protein and oil, are typically harvested in the fall, between late August and early October in the northern hemisphere.Jun 6, 2024
Why are soybeans harvested at night?
Moisture content can increase by several points with an overnight dew or it can decrease by several points during a day with low humidity and windy conditions. Avoid harvesting when beans are driest, such as on hot afternoons, to maintain moisture and reduce shattering losses.
How many acres will a 50 pound bag of soybeans plant?
A 50-pound bag of soybean seed will typically plant one acre of land. This is a common recommendation for soybean planting, assuming a standard seed size and planting density.
How long does it take to harvest soybeans?
As with many other grain and oilseed crops, harvesting is delayed until the crop is mature and the moisture content of soybeans is at levels for acceptable storage (i.e., about 13%). Because weather conditions can adversely affect harvesting, many growers desire to complete harvesting within about 10 days of fieldwork.
Can you grow soybeans from seed?
After harvest, farmers may choose to plant a crop like winter wheat, which requires high quantities of nitrogen. Like many field crops, soybeans are grown from seed in the field from a previous harvest. The soybean seeds are mature soybeans that are cleaned and bagged specifically for use as seed.
How do you pick up soybeans?
Use a pick-up reel with lodged soybeans. Generally ground speed should not exceed three miles per hour to prevent stripping of beans from the stalk; slower speeds are necessary if plant height is uneven. Avoid excessive impact of harvested grain on hard surfaces, since dry soybeans crack easily. Run conveyors as full and as slowly as possible.