Adzuki Bean - Wase
60-80 days maturity. Vigna angularis 'Wase'. Wase Adzuki Bean Seeds. Heirloom, Non-GMO. Warm-season annual. An early maturing bean, the Adzuki bean is grown mainly for its dried red beans used in Asian soups and sweet confectionery paste. It is a small seed variety. Young green beans are prepared like French filet beans. In Japan, these tasty, protein-rich morsels are almost as popular as soybeans. They are exceptionally suitable for growing in greenhouses, cold frames, and hoop houses. The local pollinators will love the flowers as well! —Approx 440 seeds / oz.
Adzuki Bean - Wase
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Other Common Names: Azuki bean, Chinese red bean, red bean, aduki bean, hong xiao dou, or chi dou.
How to Grow Wase Adzuki Beans
Sow seeds in late spring (April-May in Japan) after the last frost in a sunny location. They do well with wet towel germination for a head start. Always select a warm and sheltered site for planting. Keep soil moist. Harden off well before transferring outdoors. Soil temperature should be at least 60℉ for proper growth. Adzuki beans do not need to be supported.
As the plants become established, allow the soil to dry between deep waterings. Adzuki beans tend to be relatively drought tolerant. If the plants look pale in the mid-season, boost them with a low-nitrogen fertilizer or other soil amendments (such as organic compost). If the leaves feel soft and appear to wilt, increase water volume. After the harvest, leave the roots in the ground to decompose and release nitrogen into the soil for next year's crops.
Harvesting Wase Adzuki Beans
Harvesting occurs in early summer to midsummer (June -July in Japan). Pick the young green bean pods continuously for fresh cooking. For dried beans, harvest the entire plant at the end of the season and hang it indoors (or in a greenhouse) to dry thoroughly before shelling.
Culinary Tips
Adzuki beans have an abundance of sweet and savory culinary usages. It is commonly prepared sweet by boiling and mashing with sugar into a red bean paste. Beans can also be added to soups or curries, pureed with spices, or grown into bean sprouts.
If you have ever had red bean ice cream or another dessert with a similar name, it was probably made with or inspired by the Adzuki bean. The exceptional sweetness is hard to beat!
Stories From Our Gardeners
“The first I heard of red bean ice cream, I thought it was so strange that a bean would be the main contributor to a dessert. However, after becoming more familiar with Adzuki beans, I am shocked they are not more common!”
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- Lara Wadsworth, True Leaf Market Writer |
Seeds Per Package
- 5 g packet - Approximately 78 Seeds
- 4 oz - Approximately 1,760 Seeds
- 1 lb - Approximately 7,040 Seeds
- 5 lb - Approximately 35,200 Seeds
Basic Info
| Latin Name: | Vigna angularis 'Wase' |
| Wase Adzuki Bean Color: | Light green pods with dark red beans and primrose flowers. |
| Wase Adzuki Bean Flavor: | Sweet and creamy. |
Growing Info
| Days to Maturity: | 60-80 Days |
| Days to Germination: | 6-20 Days |
| Seeding Depth: | 1 inches |
| Row Spacing: | 10-18 inches |
| Plant Height: | 24” |
| Growth Habit: | Upright bush. |
| Soil Preference: | Adzuki beans prefer moist, fertile, and well-draining soil. Avoid alkaline soils. |
| Temperature Preference: | 50-85℉ |
Other
| Plant Width: | 5-10 inches |
| Pests and Disease: | Adzuki beans are characteristically resistant to the most common pests and diseases. Good cultivation practices are the most guaranteed way to achieve a problem-free season! |