How to Grow Top Crop Beans

Till the soil to a depth of 8 to 10 inches in a sunny location that receives six to eight hours of direct sunlight a day. Remove roots, rocks and plant debris from the soil and break up clods of soil with the rake or a hoe. Amend with a 2- to 3-inch layer of organic matter, such as compost or well-rotted manure. Work this into the top 6 inches of the soil with a garden tiller or hand tools.

Mark the rows for your topcrop beans with the edge of the hoe or a row marker. Space the rows 24 to 36 inches apart to allow for cultivation.

Apply 1 cup of 5-10-10 fertilizer to a 50-foot row (adjust this amount to suit the length of your rows). Work this into the top 6 inches of soil with a hoe until the granules are no longer visible. Contact with fertilizer granules "burns" seeds and young roots.

Plant your topcrop bean seeds to a depth of 1 inch in heavy soils or a depth of 1 1/2 inches in lighter, sandy soil. Space the bean seeds 2 to 4 inches apart in the row.

Water thoroughly to moisten the soil to the depth of the seeds. Keep the soil moist until seedlings emerge in seven to 10 days. Reduce watering to once or twice a week or whenever the soil feels dry to the touch 1 inch below the surface. Water to saturate the soil to the root level.

Thin topcrop beans to 4 to 6 inches apart once they are 3 inches high. This allows room for the plant to mature and prevents overcrowding. Overcrowding inhibits good air circulation and invites disease.

Hand-pull small weeds as they first emerge. Otherwise, cut weeds at the soil level with a sharp hoe. Alternately, layering 2 to 3 inches of mulch, such as grass clippings or straw, under the plants provides an effective weed barrier.

Harvest topcrop beans when they are young and tender before the beans mature in the pod. As the beans mature the pod toughens, making them unsuitable for eating.