VegetableSoybean
Tohya Soybean
Edamame Soybean
Tohya is an early-season edamame soybean that brings authentic Asian flavor to northern gardens, thriving in zones 3 through 9. These upright plants reach just 24 to 36 inches tall and mature in 70 to 79 days, making them quick enough for short growing seasons while producing large pods packed with three tender, buttery beans each. Open-pollinated and non-GMO, Tohya combines the nutritional punch of soybeans with a delicate, fresh flavor that makes it equally at home in containers on a patio or in traditional garden beds.
Photo © True Leaf Market(https://www.trueleafmarket.com/products/soybean-tohya)
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
3-9
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam; Prefers Neutral To Slightly Alkaline
Preferred Temp70-85°F
Growth Stats
36 in
Height
PeriodAnnual
TypeBush
Spacing
12-18 inches apart
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
3-9
Size
36in H x ?in W
Growth
Annual
Care
High
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
Early maturity and compact stature make Tohya unusually flexible for northern gardeners who thought edamame was out of reach. The beans themselves deliver a buttery, tender-firm texture that tastes nothing like the dry soybeans of tradition, and large pods with three seeds per capsule mean you get real harvests from modest space. High-yielding plants stay manageable in height, rarely requiring the staking or hilling that catches other soybean varieties off guard.
Common Uses
Tohya beans are harvested fresh in their pods and boiled, then shelled and eaten as a snack or appetizer, a preparation deeply rooted in Japanese cuisine. The tender beans work beautifully tossed into salads, stirred into grain bowls, or served simply with sea salt. Unlike dry soybeans used for tofu or soy sauce, these are enjoyed for their delicate flavor and creamy texture at the fresh, immature stage.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Late Spring
First Harvest
Mid-summer
Last Harvest
Late Summer
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
After the last frost date, sow seeds 2 inches apart, 1 inch deep in rows spaced 15 to 30 inches apart. Space rows 24 inches apart for optimal cultivation and plant access.
Harvesting
Harvest pods when they are plump and full, before they harden and turn brown or yellow. Pick fresh edamame at the tender, immature stage when beans inside are bright green and tender-firm; pods typically mature 70 to 79 days after planting. Shell beans by boiling the whole pods briefly, then squeezing beans directly into a bowl.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Soil pH Range
6 – 7.5
Scientific Classification
Glycine max (L.) Merr.
Family
Fabaceae
Genus
Glycine
Duration
Annual
Growth Habit
Forb/herb
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)CAN (W)
History & Origin
“Tohya represents the preservation and adaptation of traditional Asian edamame varieties for Western home gardeners. Its development centered on creating an early-maturing type suited to shorter growing seasons while maintaining the superior flavor and tender texture prized throughout Asia, where these protein-packed beans have been cultivated and refined for generations.”