- 1). Grab a handful of soil and squeeze to check what type of soil is in your yard. Bean seed has a difficult time growing in clay soil. Sandy soil will feel dry, loam soil is malleable in the hand and clay soil feels like plastic. Spread 6 inches of compost and builder's sand on the planting area if your soil is clay. Make sure you till the mixture into the first 6 inches of top soil.
- 2). Check the soil's pH range. Most varieties of beans need a soil pH range of 6.5 and 7.0. To find out your soil's pH range, purchase a soil pH test from your local county extension office. Dig a 6-inch hole to collect soil samples. Mail the samples off to the address provided on the test and wait roughly three weeks for the results. Add lime to acidic soil and sulfur to alkaline soil.
- 3). Choose a time in May to grow your beans. Dig rows 2 inches deep. Space the rows 15 inches apart to help cut down on competition from weeds. Water the area thoroughly.
- 4). Spread 2 inches of mulch around the beans when they start to sprout. Apply a fertilizer high in phosphorous and potassium, but not nitrogen. Check the NPK amount on the fertilizer label.
- 5). Press plant supports around sprouting bean plants to help support the plant before harvest.
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