VegetableBean
Midori Giant Edamame Soybean
Midori Giant Edamame Soybean brings the authentic taste of Japan to your garden, developing into sturdy 24 to 36 inch upright plants that thrive across hardiness zones 3 through 9. Developed in Japan where 'Midori' means 'green,' this variety produces exceptionally large, flavorful beans ready to harvest in 80 to 89 days. The plump green pods deliver the sweet, nutty flavor that has made edamame a beloved snack food throughout Asia for centuries, while the plants themselves enrich your soil through natural nitrogen fixation.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
3-9
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Low
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam; Prefers Neutral To Slightly Alkaline
Growth Stats
36 in
Height
TypeUpright
Spacing
8
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Low
Zones
3-9
Size
36in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
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Highlights
This Japanese-developed variety stands out for producing unusually large edamame beans with superior flavor and texture compared to standard soybeans. The plants are remarkably adaptable, growing successfully from zone 3 to 9, and require minimal care once established thanks to their natural ability to fix nitrogen in the soil. Midori Giant offers both exceptional taste and impressive nutritional value, packed with complete proteins and beneficial isoflavones that support heart and bone health.
Common Uses
Midori Giant edamame excels as both a fresh snack and cooking ingredient, traditionally served boiled or steamed in their pods with a sprinkle of sea salt. The large, flavorful beans add protein and texture to ramen bowls, stir-fries, salads, and grain bowls, while their sweet, nutty flavor makes them irresistible eaten straight from the pod. Home gardeners often freeze harvested edamame for year-round use, ensuring a steady supply of this nutritious protein throughout the winter months.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Transplant Outdoors
Transplanting is discouraged for edamame because their delicate root systems are easily damaged, leading to transplant shock, stunted growth, or reduced yields.
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds about 1 inch deep, spacing them 8 to 12 inches apart in rows spaced 18 to 24 inches apart. Seeds germinate quickly in 7 to 10 days, making direct sowing more efficient and less risky than transplanting.
Harvesting
Harvest Midori Giant edamame when the pods are bright green, plump, and about 80 to 90 percent filled out, with beans almost touching each other inside the pod. The harvesting window is short, so check plants frequently as pods that turn yellow become starchy and lose their sweet, nutty flavor. Pick pods while they remain vibrant green for the best taste and texture, as edamame does not continue to mature once harvested.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Glycine max
Family
Fabaceae
Genus
Glycine
Growth Habit
Upright
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)CAN (W)
History & Origin
“Midori Giant Edamame was developed in Japan, where soybeans have been cultivated as a dietary staple since the 11th century B.C. The name 'Midori,' meaning 'green' in Japanese, reflects both the vibrant color of the beans and their deep cultural significance in Japanese cuisine. This variety represents centuries of careful selection for larger, more flavorful beans that capture the essence of traditional Japanese edamame while adapting well to diverse growing conditions around the world.”