chocolate spot

[maggie and simon]

Hello everyone,
We are new to The Grapevine and to keeping an allotment! Things seem to be growing well and we are really enjoying all the hard work. We do have a problem at the moment though, chocolate spot on our broad beans. It appeared almost overnight. Anyone have any idea what to do and what causes it? Is it the end of the beans?!!
Maggie and Simon in Cornwall

[valmarg]

We get this some years. 'It is a fungus disease of broad beans, particularly common in humid weather, but seldom serious.' Chocolate coloured spots usually appear on the foliage in June or July

Weak plants are more susceptible to attack.

It doesn't seem to affect the crop of beans.

valmarg

[Two_Sheds]

Planting further apart is recommended, to limit the spread of the fungus. I lost all my crimson broadies to it last year. No sign of it (yet) this year.

[supergrass]

Chocolate spot is a fungal desease.

The leaves are covered by spots that look like liquid chocolate has been sprayed on them.The spots get bigger and jion and the leaves die.

You should not plant your beans too close to each other.The fungus thrives in wet conditions

Any infected plants should be burned or taken to the tip(if you have that facility).Any not infected can be dug into the ground like green manure.

Sprinkle growmore around the plants at planting time and normally there is no need to water(except to water in the plants).Water only when they first flowers appear.

Max

[Norm]

The other option is to take off the affected leaves and spray the plants with Dithane. That should stop it in it's tracks.

[Mike and Louise]

Plant the beans further apart to aid ventilation between the plants. The mould loves damp condition.

[sewer rat]

There was another thread on this recently started by Dobby and both myself and Pigletwillie (via a chat with his local organic broad bean grower) advised that Chocolate Spot was in most cases purely cosmetic. I got it last year and fully expect it again this year. I have not lost any plants to it - maybe something to do with varietal choice - it may be that crimson flowered varieties are more prone to suffer badly with a high level of this fungal infection - not sure about that, but it is the first time I have heard anyone losing broadies from Chocspot -Sorry two Sheds - better luck this year.