[brightgirls]

Novice question here - see 2 photos below.. can anyone tell me what is causing this especially the balck colouration and what should i be doing about it?  thanks

[Janeymiddlewife]

Could be chocolate spot, which doesn't look nice but seldom causes problems   Holes probably due to slugs? Mine are a bit like that at the mo, so put down more pellets plus a good feed to boost them.

[DD.]

Could be chocolate spot, which doesn't look nice but seldom causes problems  

Not quite what the RHS says!

"Chocolate spot can be very damaging, and severe attacks can cause the plant to collapse."

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/Profile.aspx?pid=89

[Goldfinger]

We had chocolate spot and I think rust last year on our broad beans.

Read up on it, and found the cause to be 'not enough ventilation between the plants'.

Overcrowding/planted too close perhaps?

[brightgirls]

Thanks for the responses and it is probably a mixture of crowding and I read somewhere that nitrogen overload can cause it as well (?)....   that might be the case.

Anyway - now what do I do? 

I have read up on it and feel the best way forward is to wait for the pods to arrive and pick asap and then take out the plants asap and remove them to the tip..  does this sound like a plan? 

OR... should we just dig them up now as a lost cause?

First crop - first issue 

[Swing Swang]

If the problem has just started then and your plants are close together then you could try thinning out to improve ventilation between plants and seeing what happens. If you're chemical then spraying the healthy-looking remaining plants might help prevent further spread providing you address the over-crowding issue first (Bordeaux Mixture is still available to buy until Feb 2013, although you'd have to check that it is appropriate to use here). Chocolate spot and/or rust usually affect my plants late in the season and I don't worry about it too much though.

[Salmo]

Why such a panic?

Are they planted out or still inside?

If they are still inside put them out and they will be OK. Space them out at least 9 inches apart. Remember that you are trying to grow flowers and beans and not leaf.

Chocolate spot usually only develops in warm humid conditions such as the thundery weather we get in August.

[mrs mud]

I now feel totally inadequate as my BB's only went in this weekend 

[DD.]

Why?

Early days yet.

[brightgirls]

THANKS ALL for responses - i am just off to the allotment to thin out my BBs - from seeing some friends this week, i feel mine are far too close together and reducing ventillation

Sunny day here in Brighton so even thinning BBs will be nice this afternoon

[Goldfinger]

Ours went in last weekend, and on wednesday when I went down, I saw that someone/thing had nibbled a few leaves. 

Guess I'll be getting some slug pellets this weekend. 

[Totty]

Mine went out today, 9 inches apart in double rows, and the rows are 2ft apart, first time i have grown them, is this enough room?

[Swing Swang]

Should be fine - my book says 8"/20cm apart in double rows, although this year I've 'block planted' 4 rows at 12" spacings as I won't need access to them until they dry and will harvest all in one go.

I adore 'Fava Rica' a very traditional Lisbon dried broad been recipe that's a bit like Egyptian Fuul Medames and this is my way of ensuring a decent supply. Basically soaked and stewed dried broad beans flavoured with garlic, lemon  juice, olive oil, and fresh coriander and thickened with a few of the beans pureed and mixed in. Not very pretty to look at, but hits all the right spots and freezes well (although because all of the skins are left on it does act as a VERY efficient purgative!).

[NN2Blue]

Ours went in last weekend, and on wednesday when I went down, I saw that someone/thing had nibbled a few leaves. 

Guess I'll be getting some slug pellets this weekend. 

Was it general munching, or around the edges of the leaves causing a serrated edge? The latter is the pea and bean weevil; not usually a problem for healthy plants. Mine have only just popped trough and the evil weevils are already at 'em! 

[Goldfinger]

Not really, the bite marks are about a half centemetre across, there's only about three leaves on one plant that's been nipped too.

They're defo not got a serrated edge to them, they're naer as the same to the OP's photos.