[Zak the Rabbit]

Ive got my broad bean plants under a homemade polytunnel. After the last few hard frosts, they are drooping over, i dont think the frost got them (no signs of frost damage), could it just be their height (about 18") and i need to support them?

Ive also opened up one end of the tunnel to let air in and ventilate them.

[wellingtons]

... has given a few of mine a haircut!

[noshed]

Mine went a bit droopy after the snow so I've supported them with double lengths of twine running between sticks (I can't remember where I saw this). It seems to work anyway -just stick the plants up between the two strands of twine. I've tidied up some of the scruffier plants on the basis that they'll bush out a bit when it gets warmer. I haven't sheltered them at all and they have got a bit bashed by the wind.
Last year I inherited some plants off the previous plotholder and they seemed to do OK with very little care and attention.

[Zak the Rabbit]

ive just got around to taking another look at them, and there wilted and covered in brown pots, even the newer shoots.

I recon they've had it.

The only one surviving is Sams, which is in a pot all of its own near the house. Its got some brown edges to some leaves, which i think are probably frost damage. But its got flowers on as well!

so looks like i will have to destroy these bean plants and sow some fresh ones on another part of the plot.

The consolation though - the purple broccoli is sprouting!

[agapanthus]

What variety were they Zak ? If they were the autumn planting variety they should cope with frosts.

[muntjac]

if they have had no air running through them they will get chocolate spot disease  this comes about with the moisture hanging on them ,they are very hardy unles you make real softies of Them and its a sign of badly draineD soil ,spray em with a copper fungicide . dont grow em in this area again ,put a load of sulphate of potash or loads wood ash down iF YA A  GREEENIE  

[Zak the Rabbit]

they're aquadulce claudia (think ive spelt it right) and yes were my autumn effort,

i think your right munty mate, chocolate spot. And your right on the cause, i rather stupidly fastened the tunnel down cos of the strong wind we were having, and forgot to undo it, by the time i got the air flowing again it was too late. :cry:

i'll try another spring crop in  a different location, maybe put me leeks or onions where these beans are