Panther Edamame is a rare and storied soybean variety that has been brought back from the brink of extinction. This black-seeded edamame grows 36 inches tall and reaches harvest maturity in about 100 days, thriving in zones 5-10 under full sun. Its dark pods and beans set it apart visually from conventional edamame, and its preservation story, championed by farmer Jack Algiere in upstate New York, makes it as remarkable for its journey as for what it produces.
Full Sun
Moderate
5-10
36in H x 18in W
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Moderate
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This isn't just another edamame variety. Panther is the result of a dedicated effort to rescue a rare Asian cultivar that had nearly vanished from commercial seed trade. Jack Algiere of Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture kept the variety alive when it had disappeared, gifting precious seeds to Hudson Valley Seed in 2010. Growing one now means participating in a living act of seed preservation, cultivating a plant that almost didn't make it to your garden.
Panther Edamame is grown for its edible beans, which are harvested in the pod at the green stage and eaten fresh. Like traditional edamame, the beans are shelled and consumed as a protein-rich snack or appetizer, steamed or boiled and lightly salted. The dark color and rarity of this variety makes it especially prized by gardeners and food enthusiasts seeking heirloom and unusual vegetables.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Transplant hardened seedlings outdoors once soil temperatures reach a consistent 60 degrees Fahrenheit and all danger of frost has passed. Space plants 4 inches apart with rows 24 inches apart.
Direct sow seeds outdoors when soil temperature reaches 60-75 degrees Fahrenheit and all frost danger has passed. Plant seeds at the depth recommended for beans, typically about 1 inch deep.
Harvest Panther Edamame pods approximately 100 days after planting, when pods have reached full size but are still green and tender. The pods should feel firm and full when squeezed. Pick pods by hand, snapping them from the plant. For best flavor and texture, harvest in the early morning and use the pods fresh, or blanch and freeze them for later use.
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“Panther Edamame originates from Asia, where black soybeans have long been grown, but this particular cultivar had become exceedingly rare and vanished from the commercial seed trade. Its survival hung by a thread until farmer Jack Algiere, working at Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture in upstate New York, confirmed and maintained the variety. Recognizing its value, Algiere gifted a handful of precious seeds to Hudson Valley Seed in 2010. Since then, the variety has been carefully propagated and shared throughout the Northeast, transforming from a nearly lost Asian heirloom into an accessible garden plant. Growing Panther today continues a direct lineage of stewardship that began with one farmer's commitment to preservation.”