Over the past couple of days, I've noticed some problems with my bush beans. I've checked the undersides and don't see any aphids or other kinds of bugs. Now I'm wondering if it's due to overhead watering and/or maybe over watering. These are Contender bush beans.
Another pic
Were these started from seed where they r now or transplanted outside from indoor starts? Any fluctuations in temp recently?
They were direct sown in the ground from seed. We did recently have a cool snap where temps were in the 60s for a few days, cloudy days, humid weather, and lack of rain.
I personally don't think that it is water damage. Pull one of the damaged leaves and tap it on the palm of your hand in the bright sun and see if you can see anything crawling. I had problems with thrip on my beans due to the unusually cool weather we had earlier. My cukes were doing like that last week and it was a tiny black aphid (I guess) that was sucking the leaves. I couldn't see them on the leaves but could on my hand in the sun.
I will try that, Jim. I did spray last night with some Murphy's Oil Soap just in case it was aphid damage. We treat with beneficial nematodes for thrips, which helps tremendously. I have seen some cabbage moths in the area, so they may be part of the problem.
Steph, my early bean leaves were looking like that too. No insects to be found and as we've warmed up the new leaves are growing just fine, so I dunno...
I am growing pole beans and they started looking sick like that when I transplanted them, I trimmed off the yucky leaves and now they are healthy and happy as far as I can tell. growing a lot better for sure. Maybe that will help you?
I'm waiting it out and will see what their real leaves look like.
One good thing about beans is that if you can get them up, they are tough and can over come most anything. Go girl and good luck.
Hi Kelly, got my tomato and pepper up and in the garden that you sent me.
Hiya Jim! Hope they do well for you - keep me posted... The beans you sent are growing well. I am also growing the Giant Belgium. I got brave and planted a few late DTM 'maters this spring. We've had nice weather and my gamble is paying off. We're usually well into the 100s by now but not this year and not for at least the next 10 days. Lots of fruit on the 'maters already - yeah!
Good for you. Stay in touch.
Here's an update. The real leaves have started coming on and they look fine.
i'm glad your beans are okay! those new leaves look great!
Thanks! So am I!
Yeah!! Looks like you'll be eating beans in no time now - lol... Mine actually have blossoms on them finally. I'm thrilled because as I said before I never seem to get the timing down for spring beans. The hot weather always beats me! This year has been so mild. It will be close to 100° on Sunday but don't expect to hit that mark until late next week. Then y'all will hear me and my garden crying until about, oh, October...
I thinned them out last night to about 4" between plants and gave them some fertilizer (organic), too. Of course, it's storming right now, so I hope they survive.
i am terrible at thinning my veggies, this will probably destroy my garden eventually I just don't like killing my little seedlings!
here are my pole beans! Just starting to climb! pretty exciting!
Hi Stephanie...
My neighbor's beans looked just like yours. I think it's our weather...but ~who knows.
Jann
Well, today they got pelted by rain and knocked around by the high winds. Sigh.
When I first saw the pictures, I thought either fertilizer burn or overwatering.
At the time, fertilizer burn wasn't an option since I'd not fertilized yet. It could be due to overwatering. Thankfully, it rained yesterday so I shouldn't have to worry about watering for several days.
Watering is hard to pin down, especially in hot climates like ours. My plan this year is to deep water every 3 days throughout the hot summer. I have an extra challenge as I garden in raised beds that drain really well and can dry out more quickly than if the plants were in the ground. Last year I didn't water deep enough from the get go to get the roots down deep and I was stuck watering every day! Yuck - especially when it's 110° in the shade and doesn't cool down lower than 100° at night! So far this plan is working well, but we haven't hit 100° yet this year... My beans and tomatoes especially seem to appreciate this schedule...
Do you mulch? That will help with water retention. Also, we add expanded shale to help with drainage issues since our soil is clay.
Yipper - mulch is a must here in the desert - lol... We buy bulk compost from this awesome farm in Scottsdale and screen out the big pieces to use as mulch. Also, if you can find Kellogg's Garden Soil at HD or Lowe's, the one in the red and white bag, that stuff is great! There are a lot of bigger "forest" pieces in there that make great mulch as well.
Stephanie,
I'm growing the exact same bush beans and had leaves very similar to yours. We had some cooler weather, but since it's warmed up the leaves look fine. So maybe it's due to the temperature fluctuations.
Keep us updated to how they're doing! :-)
Here they are today.
Looks like they got over whatever was bothering them.
Yes! That's exactly how my bush beans look currently. I think our beans will be just fine ;-)
my pole beans and snow peas did the same thing after transplanting from indoors to outdoor square foot gardens. I think I was stingy on their first watering- fixed that and the peas are looking fine, but the beans are not looking happy. Unfortunately all my healthy seedlings did not enjoy the transplant process- but a few things have done well- carrots, peppers and cucumbers. the Zuchinni looked almost dead but has come back very well. I guess I'll just hang in there with the beans- or should I yank them out and plant the seeds outside directly? In Southern California... only in the low 70's and overcast the last 2 weeks.
Beans need to be direct sown. We didn't have near the problem this year as we did last year with beans. These guys are doing great now. I just pretty much ignore the brown part of the leaves! LOL Probably not the best approach, but it works for me! I did find cabbage loopers on some of the beans yesterday. Grrrrrrrrrrrr! Will have to spray for those.
They're producing now, so I must've done something right!
Steph,
What do you spray for cabbage loopers?
Bt
