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Panther Edamame Soybean
Glycine max
"This variety produces a gorgeously nutty flavored edamame, with a depth of flavor to rival the more standard types out there. I love growing edamame because it's a relatively low maintenance crop that can be direct seeded and left to grow until it's harvest time. It has few to no insect pests, though deer and groundhogs love to graze on the foliage when it is young, so you may need to add some physical barriers. Plants are ready to harvest when the leaves start to yellow and pods feel plump. They need to be harvested all at once, preferably within a week of the leaves yellowing. Otherwise the edamame will no longer be tender and will continue to harden and mature quite rapidly. Though I love getting two crops in one - the final soybean is black, lending this edamame its name of Panther. The soybeans can be used to make soy milk and tofu. The black color is not imparted into the final product, but products made from black soybeans tend to have a slight gray tinge to them compared to yellow soybeans." - Christina Chan, Choy Division Farm
Rob Johnson of Johnny's Seeds imported this variety from Japan. In the early 1970s he shared it with Arlo Atkins who began selecting and saving this seed in the Sierra Foothills for a few decades before passing it along to Jack Algiere of Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture, who then shared it with Hudson Valley Seed Company.
Days to maturity: 100
Seeds per pack: 35-40
Germination rate: 68% on 12/08/2023 (below standard)
Planting / harvesting notes
Direct sow ½"-1" deep a couple weeks after the last frost, when the soil has warmed. Space seeds 12" apart in rows 12" apart. Plants grow 30-36" in height. Harvest the entire crop at once at the earliest hint of yellow in the pods. Boil, steam, or pan sear the pods and freeze any extra, either shelled or left in the pod to shell after defrosted.
Seed keeping notes
To harvest seeds, wait an extra month for the plants to dry and drop their leaves. Harvest the whole dry plant and hang it to dry further. The pods should fall off when the plant is shaken. Shell the seeds and store in a dry place until planting.
