When to Harvest Soybeans and Edamame

Pick edamame when pods are bright green and plump with beans filling about 80–90% of the pod, usually 80–100 days after sowing; the window lasts only about a week. Harvest dry soybeans when 95% of pods are brown, leaves have dropped and beans rattle, ideally at about 13% moisture.

Edamame

Pull whole plants or pick pods; cook within a day or freeze after blanching.

Dry Beans

• Harvest promptly: overdry pods shatter and drop beans.
• Combine in the morning when pods are slightly tougher.
• In gardens, pull plants, dry under cover and thresh.
• Store at 13% moisture or less in a cool, dry place.

More Soybean Guides

• How to Grow Soybeans: The Complete Guide
• Soybean yield per acre
• When to plant soybeans
• Soybean seeding rate and spacing

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know when edamame is ready?

When pods are plump and bright green, before they yellow.

What moisture should soybeans be harvested at?

About 13%.