Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Hampshire Hog on January 20, 2008, 12:24

Title: Broad bean leaves turning black?!
Post by: Hampshire Hog on January 20, 2008, 12:24
Just checked my Broad beans at allotment and some of them have leaves turning grey/black.  :shock: (They also had a few holes with the culprit attached - sorry pellets for him and his pals.) Any thoughts on cause of disease/ virus I thought broad beans were only troubled by black fly and they're not around. I have a plastic barrier close to the plants to reduce blast from wind coming across plot.  

Welcome any ideas not seen it before :?

Cheers HH
Title: Broad bean leaves turning black?!
Post by: WG. on January 20, 2008, 12:26
blast from reduced winds coming across plot perhaps?
Title: Broad bean leaves turning black?!
Post by: splodger on January 20, 2008, 13:15
broad beans can get choclate spot - especially after severe weather - and normally due to a potash deficiency.

bordeaux mixture might help  :wink:

beans are also suceptible to foot / root rot as well as grey mould - with all the wet weather - and if your soil is not well draining - might be the cause
Title: Broad bean leaves turning black?!
Post by: WG. on January 20, 2008, 13:19
Even at this time of year?  I thought a fungus would only attack when the weather warmed up; I've never been able to over-winter broad beans to advise.
Title: Broad bean leaves turning black?!
Post by: gobs on January 20, 2008, 13:21
I don't know what temperature they need, but it's very mild here, Wiggy.


A few of my BB are in bud. :oops:  :oops:
Title: Broad bean leaves turning black?!
Post by: Aidy on January 20, 2008, 13:26
I would put my money on Wg's first post, wind scorch, the wind chill at night is cutting and if they are in the open I reckon its that. I really cant see it being mould if they are outside it might seem mild but you stand there all day and night with nowt on.  :shock:
Title: Broad bean leaves turning black?!
Post by: Hampshire Hog on January 20, 2008, 14:05
Thanks everyone I think it could be grey mould it is 13 degrees C here at present which is very warm for time of year. Think I will remove affected plants and move wind break to lower humidity.

Cheers HH
Title: Broad bean leaves turning black?!
Post by: WG. on January 20, 2008, 14:07
How about a piccie please?

Even weeds have got brown patches on the leaves in winter - their main goal is only to survive.
Title: Broad bean leaves turning black?!
Post by: gobs on January 20, 2008, 16:01
I checked me fact sheets out about this. Chocolote spot and grey mould are more common on autumn sown beans, starting to be prevalent from mid- winter. And they commonly follow each other, it says.

But the description 'black' I still find confusing.