Midori Star Soybean is a refined heirloom edamame that improves upon the classic Japanese Midori Giant with better seedling vigor and faster emergence. Hardy across zones 3 through 10, these vibrant green beans mature in 75 to 85 days and grow on compact plants reaching 12 to 36 inches tall. Their plump pods deliver sweet, nutty flavor whether harvested fresh as edamame or dried for storage, making this variety a reliable producer from early summer through fall.
Full Sun
Moderate
3-10
36in H x ?in W
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High
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Bred as an improved version of a beloved Japanese heirloom, Midori Star combines faster germination and stronger seedling vigor with an extended harvest window that keeps you picking tender green beans all season long. The pods themselves are noticeably plump and packed with beans that taste genuinely sweet and nutty, a far cry from bland supermarket edamame. Growing just 12 to 36 inches tall, it fits easily into home gardens from northern zones all the way through the South, and produces abundantly in 75 to 85 days.
Midori Star excels as edamame, where the fresh green beans are boiled lightly salted and eaten straight from the pod, a simple preparation that highlights their natural sweetness. The beans also dry well for storage and can be used in soups, stews, or ground into flour. Some growers enjoy them at the immature pod stage, steamed and salted as a convenient snack. The longer harvest window means you can pick at peak tenderness for fresh eating, or wait for beans to mature fully on the plant before harvesting for dry storage.
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Direct sow Midori Star seeds into warm soil once temperatures have stabilized between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, typically in late spring after your last frost date. Plant seeds about 1 inch deep and keep the soil consistently moist until seedlings emerge, which happens quickly thanks to the improved vigor of this variety. Thin seedlings to 18 inches apart once they've developed their first true leaves.
For fresh edamame, harvest pods when they feel plump and beans inside are fully developed but still tender and bright green, usually around 75 to 85 days after planting. Pick pods by hand or clip with pruners, working from the bottom of the plant upward. The extended harvest window of this variety means you can pick selectively over several weeks rather than all at once. If you prefer dried beans, allow pods to fully mature on the plant until they turn brown and papery, then harvest the entire plant and hang it to dry before shelling out the beans.
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“Midori Star descends directly from Midori Giant, a cherished Japanese heirloom soybean. Rather than simply preserving the original, this cultivar represents deliberate refinement, selecting for improved seedling vigor and faster emergence while retaining everything gardeners loved about its predecessor. The name Midori itself comes from the Japanese word for 'green,' a fitting tribute to the vibrant color of the beans and the plant's heritage. This improvement maintains the heirloom spirit while acknowledging that sometimes the best way to honor a classic is to make it even more reliable for modern growers.”