A slightly higher seeding rate can help offset losses due to mechanical weed control operations. Timing of cultivation should be based upon the presence and size of weeds. Typically beans are cultivated two or three times before canopy closure. Choose a cultivator that fits your soils and crop rotation. The weed control action of any cultivator is to either rip out or bury weeds.
Cultivation is an effective means of managing weeds between rows and to a lesser extent within rows.
As the cultivator travels between rows, it scrapes and cuts soil and weeds. As a means of within row weed control, the cultivator should be set to throw as much soil as possible on the bean rows to bury weeds without burying bean plants. Once the last cultivation is completed, you should not have to conduct any field operation until harvest. However, you should scout your fields for any insect or disease problems. At Rodale Institute, we have not seen any damage on food grade beans that would warrant concern for the productivity of the crop.