Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Parsnip on April 19, 2009, 21:10

Title: Broad Beans
Post by: Parsnip on April 19, 2009, 21:10

Is there any particular pest that likes to munch on them?

I've never grown them before, my experienced plot neighbour covered his in chicken wire but has now removed it, presumably because they are bigger. He did the straight from seed in the ground approach...but I noticed today that most of his leaves had been nibbled...Slugs?

I started mine off at home and planted them out yesterday. I've covered them with netting, did I need too?

Title: Re: Broad Beans
Post by: Ice on April 19, 2009, 21:13

Pigeons, slugs and blackfly all love them.

Title: Re: Broad Beans
Post by: DD. on April 19, 2009, 21:18

Don't forget the fluffy bunniekins!

Title: Re: Broad Beans
Post by: Parsnip on April 19, 2009, 21:21

Quote from: Ice on April 19, 2009, 21:13

Pigeons, slugs and blackfly all love them.

I could have sworn I saw little black things on his plants today  and thought it was just dirt..would it be a bit early for black fly now?

I'll keep 'em netted then Ice, cos we've loads of pigeons up at the allotment...

Thank you.

Title: Re: Broad Beans
Post by: wighty on April 19, 2009, 21:24

The little fluffy bunnykins seem only to like the grass verges here (and may they stay there for  a long time).  Not a problem on our plot, just seagulls and magies.

Title: Re: Broad Beans
Post by: Parsnip on April 19, 2009, 21:30

Quote from: DD. on April 19, 2009, 21:18

Don't forget the fluffy bunniekins!

I'm definitely keeping the netting on then...we are situated on the edge of the village...right next to fields. Jenny, one of the plot holders put corrugated iron around her's cos of the Wabbits...

Me crops are doomed ;) :lol:

Title: Re: Broad Beans
Post by: Bombers on April 19, 2009, 21:41

Does the damage look like this?
(http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm278/srebmob/broadbean_damage.jpg)

Title: Re: Broad Beans
Post by: Parsnip on April 19, 2009, 21:45

No, they're just nibbled looking....

What's that then? :unsure:

Title: Re: Broad Beans
Post by: Bombers on April 19, 2009, 21:46

Look at the leaf edges in the bottom right hand corner, not the flowers! :nowink:

Title: Re: Broad Beans
Post by: Ice on April 19, 2009, 21:48

Damn those vegetarian alligators. :ohmy: :lol:

Title: Re: Broad Beans
Post by: dougsta on April 19, 2009, 21:51

I have something similar to the bottom right hand corner of that pic Bombers.
However, mine are more symmetrical  over the whole plant - each leaf seems to be nibbled in a most uniform fashion.
I wonder what they are? _ admire their eye for mathematics but wish they'd go somewhere else  :)

Title: Re: Broad Beans
Post by: Parsnip on April 19, 2009, 21:53

Quote from: Bombers on April 19, 2009, 21:46

Look at the leaf edges in the bottom right hand corner, not the flowers! :nowink:

 :blush: :blush: durr...

Yep that's it!!!

Title: Re: Broad Beans
Post by: Bombers on April 19, 2009, 21:54

 Bean weevils...  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bean_weevil)

Title: Re: Broad Beans
Post by: shaun on April 19, 2009, 22:14

nicotine spray will get rid

Title: Re: Broad Beans
Post by: Parsnip on April 19, 2009, 23:04

Thanks Bombers ;)

Is that organic Shaun..I'm trying to be organic?

Title: Re: Broad Beans
Post by: Aunt Sally on April 19, 2009, 23:25

Quote from: shaun on April 19, 2009, 22:14

nicotine spray will get rid

Could kill bees shaun  :(

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_4557.cfm

Title: Re: Broad Beans
Post by: Bombers on April 20, 2009, 10:19

Bumble bees are all over my BB's at the moment. Don't want to give them a nasty habit! :nowink: I think I'll just leave em Bee for now. ::)

Title: Re: Broad Beans
Post by: Sideways on April 20, 2009, 12:34

I lost 10 broad bean plants over the weekend to mice, the chap who runs the site has lost close to forty plants.

The mice dig up the bean seed and eat that, leaving the top shoots to simply die, it’s very frustrating. I have covered up the remaining plants with a fine mesh and will plant some more shortly.

Title: Re: Broad Beans
Post by: dougsta on April 21, 2009, 09:40

Bean weevil eh, thanks for that
Don't seem to be doing too much damage - bees have a tough enough time of it anyway so think I'm going to leave (pardon the pun) them for the time being