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Beans, Peas & Legumes
zenruth

Bean Problems

15 years ago

Sorry this is so long, but I wanted to give you enough information to help solve the problem.

I have been trying to grow beans for about 2 years, both in the Spring and the Fall. I grow bush beans in early Spring--planted in March--and Fall, planted in September. Cow peas (Pinkeye purple hull) planted in May, for the Summer heat. I make my own soil from composted kitchen scraps, leaves and grass clippings, and use 20-30 gallon plastic containers. I plant my beans and peas directly in the containers, usually only two sets per container, to produce two plants.

I water by hand (hose), about 1 gal per container, at least twice a week, three times if it's hot and dry.

My problem is that sometimes the beans don't come up at all, but usually they come up strong, first leaves dark green, but the second set (first true leaves) are yellow, and sometimes stunted or deformed. These plants never flourish or produce beans.

I previously thought it was a herbicide residue problem so I instituted a new composting schedule where I age the compost for at least 9 months to allow any herbicides to break down, before I add it to my bins.

But that has not solved the problem. I currently have a half dozen thriving bush bean plants plus a half dozen thriving pinkeye purple hull plants, and the rest (about a dozen) are all yellow and withered. One bush bean plant has grown large, with yellow leaves that are rusty looking and starting to die.

If this keeps up I'm going to have to start keeping obsessive records about which containers have problems and maybe quarantine the soil.

Any suggestions? Someone elsewhere said that because I am using compost, I need inoculate, but I found a posting that says compost from kitchen scraps and leaves should have all the bacteria you need. You tell me! This is making me nuts that I don't know beans about beans!

Comments (2)

  • 15 years ago

    You might actually have too much nitrogen for beans. Maybe need some plain old, poor soil.

  • 15 years ago

    That was my thought, also... include some real soil.

    Soil contains minerals. And you may also need an inoculant for the beans. Your 'soil' may be so heavy in nitrogen that your plants are starving for other ingredients.

    "... compost from kitchen scraps and leaves should have all the bacteria you need." Also untrue. Most legumes need a particular type of bacteria, not just any old passing variety that happens to be there.

    Yes, there are those who say all you need is compost, and it isn't true. Too much of ANYTHING is usually a mistake. Balanced soil is 'balanced'.

    Try a 'control' pot of beans: 3/4 regular soil, 1/4 compost, and some bean inoculant. This may still be too much compost, but if this pot does better than your other ones, you'll know you're on the right track, and can keep adjusting until you get it right.

    Also, don't overwater. Stick your finger about 3" down below the surface and see if it's moist. If it is, don't water.

    Another possibility is disease. Did you make your compost in a fairly large pile, like 3'x3'? That's about the minimum size to get a pile heated up enough to kill pathogens. If not, you may be harboring some disease which some of the bean varieties are susceptible to, and others aren't.

    Don't try to outsmart Mother Nature. She's been getting it right for a long time; it's Mankind that has the perennial ego trip.

    Below is a photo gallery of different bean diseases, maybe you will recognize something.

    Or call your local Cooperative Extension Service office for more info. (And if you're importing your grass clippings from off your property, ask if the herbicide Clopyralid is allowed around there, you might some contamination -- it lasts at least two years, it's horrible.)

    Travis Co. Extension Office
    1600-B Smith Rd.
    Austin, TX 78721-3541

    Brad Pierce, County Ext. Agent,Agriculture,
    512-854-9600 or bw-pierce@tamu.edu

    Sue

    Here is a link that might be useful: U. of MN Bean Diseases & Disorders

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