Trials have concentrated on nutrition and cultivar requirements. Soromame seed imports have been restricted due to plant health requirements, but this may be overcome if seed was produced locally. Several cultivars are currently being evaluated for seed production quality, and selections of material suitable for further cultivation will be made. These trials have been planted in the Hawke's Bay, Bay of Plenty and Wairarapa, and evaluation will take place later this year. Until local seed supply has been built up, it is difficult to make a suitable cultivar recommendation.
Soil analysis is recommended to determine fertiliser rates.
Although no specific fertiliser recommendations are yet available for New Zealand conditions, results of a fertiliser trial conducted at Lawn Road last season serve as a useful guide. Work is progressing on producing seed locally. Cultivars being grown are Ryosai, House Ryosai, Midori Fava and Hatu Hime. Seed importation from Japan is restricted and importation of seed from countries other than Japan needs to be investigated. The crop is direct-seeded between March and June, and harvest takes place between late October and early December.