Hardpan soil - short term solution

[connda]

This is the first year that we have put in a serious garden on the land adjacent to our house. We created a raised bed and planted various seeds and seedlings. Now about 6 weeks later I've noticed that the top soil has form a very hard crust that the seedlings and plants have to grow through. Some things seem to be doing ok such as onions, corn, tomatoes, and various herbs and lettuces, bitter gourd (mara), and tua fuk yaow (green beans). Other things are not so well and I'm wondering if that hard top crust of dirt is causing problems.

Long term solution is to add sand, compost, and other organic stuff to the soil to alter the composition of the soil, which will be a project for next year. I have to work with what I've got this year.

Should I be breaking up to hardpan soil around the plants and seedlings this year, or should I just let it go?

Picture of beds (orange hand spade in upper right portion of frame

Picture of soil crust with hand spade

I'm open to any helpful advice. Thanks!