How to Plant Navy Beans

Work the Navy bean row when all danger of frost has passed and soil temperatures exceed 50 degrees F. Cultivate the soil using the rototiller to a depth of 6 to 8 inches.

Spread 1 cup of the 5-10-10 fertilizer per 50-foot row of Navy beans. Incorporate the fertilizer into the soil with the rototiller.

Make a furrow with the handle of the garden hoe 1 to 1 1/2 inches deep. Plant the beans 2 to 4 inches apart in rows that are 2 to 3 feet apart.

Cover the seeds with soil using the blade of the garden hoe. Keep the seeds moist during germination.

Remove all errant weeds from between the bean plants and rows using the blade end of the garden hoe. Exercise caution when cultivating around the young bean plants, as the new roots are shallow and easily cut by the blade.

Apply a side dressing of the 33-0-0 when blooms appear on the bean plants. Spread the fertilizer along the base of the plants at a rate of 1 cup per 50-foot of row. Work the fertilizer gently into the soil with the blade of the hoe. Irrigate the bean row with water.

Inspect the plants during the growing season for insect activity. Remove the insects by hand.

Pull the dry bean pods from the dried plants. The plant is fully dried when it crushes easily to the touch. In most all cases, the Navy bean plant seed is ready for harvest in mid- to late September.