[HLS]

I was chatting to another plot-holder on my site yesterday, and he asked me whether I'd got any peas or beans in yet.  I said no, but I was going to plant some peas soon and beans a bit later.  He said that something had been eating his pea seedlings so enthusiastically that they looked like they'd been shot at (he waved a pea leaf at me but I couldn't see from where I was).  Apparently someone else on the site said that it was pea and bean beetle, which he hadn't heard of before (and neither had I) but is apparently rampaging around the site.

I haven't planted peas or beans yet, so I could sow them in pots at home to give them a headstart, but what else should I be doing to stop my legumes getting munched?

Honestly, between the insects and the couch grass and the clay soil and the mares tail and the pigeons (and my Dad accidentally hoeing over the few things that had germinated a couple of weeks ago), I'm beginning to despair of ever getting anything to eat!

[DD.]

Identifiable by the almost symmetrical semi circle nibbles out of the edge of the leaf.

If you're not totally organic, a proprietary insecticide will see them off.

That reminds me........

[HLS]

So it was pea beetle, then?  I did wonder whether I'd misheard and he'd meant flea beetle, but that's usually more of a problem on salads and brassicas, I thought. 

I'm not totally organic but generally prefer to try organic solutions first.  The only insect spray I've got at the moment is an organic 'veg-friendly' one (which probably basically means soapy water) I used on aphids on my herbs last year.  Would that do, or do I need to buy something else?

Thanks!

[DD.]

Try it first, if you can see them hopping around - it's working! I've got one or two showing signs, so I'm going to give them a precautionary spray.

One year I had it bad & sprayed them and the whole row seemed to come to life!

For a short while!

[Salmo]

It is not pea beetles but pea and bean weevils. They sit on the edge of the leaf and chew, hence the characteristic knotches. The grubs will also be chewing the roots. Keep well watered and they should grow away.

[HLS]

Right, so if I can get them off to a good start they should be OK, but I"ll keep an eye out in case the weevils get too greedy and I need to spray them.  That sounds manageable.

Thanks, DD and Salmo - I was feeling all discouraged.  Every time I even think about planting something I seem to discover a new pest, and the plotholder I spoke to gave me the impression that unless I bought industrial stocks of insecticide for the pea and been weevils I'd never get any legumes at all!

[MoreWhisky]

Sorry to repeat a topic already spoke about but i cant find it.

My peas are getting eaten to death! there are hundreds of half moon shapes all over the leaves and some of them are nearly gone.

I did read some advice what it could be this afternoon but cant find the thread. I best do something asp before ive got none left. im even wiling to resort to chemicals.

Any advice on whats eating them and what the cure would be very welcome.

Cheers MW.

[peapod]

Heres the thread MW

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=35107.0

[Yorkie]

See this thread

[Elcie]

Is it the bean and pea weavil?

My broad beans have similar marks on the leaves but I am sure I read on here somewhere that it doesn't affect the harvest.  Or am I mistaken?

[gobs]

Most pull through, not with great result as far as peas are concerned. An easy answer is don't do early outdoor sowings, you should be OK nowish...

[MoreWhisky]

Looks like im going to have to take DD's advice and get some 'proprietary insecticide' against the pea weevil.

Do i buy this from a garden centre? and what exactly do i ask for? proprietary insecticide ??

[Yorkie]

Start with Barnitts or any Garden Centre.  Most pesticides state what they target on the back of the packet / tin so should be clear.

[MoreWhisky]

Most pull through, not with great result as far as peas are concerned. An easy answer is don't do early outdoor sowings, you should be OK nowish...

Why are u saying it mainy affects early crops gobs?

[MoreWhisky]

Ok thanks Yorkie seems i best go buy my first chemicals  against the pea weevil