Q. My bean seedlings came up quickly, but without any leaves. What's wrong?

A. This is a condition called bald heading. Sometimes it happens when insects in the soil damage the seeds, but it can also occur when seeds are planted too deep, especially in heavy soil. The young leaves are ripped off as the seedling pushes its way through the heavy soil. To prevent this problem, make sure your seedbed is well prepared, with rocks and large clods of soil removed. Plant seeds on the shallow side (1 inch deep), especially if your soil is heavy. If you do get leafless seedlings emerging, pull them up and replant, since these damaged seedlings won't produce.