Beans and peas

[tootles]

My peas have given up now, those that are left have a powdery coating and are only producing one or two peas per dried out pod. I suspect I should pull them up now. Can I put them on the compost heap oe will they cause a problem?? Also, can I follow with early broad beans in the same spot now or will they be just as susceptable?? (or am I just too late?). What can I do to stop this happening next year?? (most of the crop was pitiful - nearly 5m and only one meal for 5!!)
Many thanks,

[Capsid]

I'm not sure why your peas failed, but if they are dried out, sounds like they weren't watered enough. I recommend pulling them up if they have stopped putting on new growth and putting on the compost bin. It's too early to sow broad beans but you can still sow Chinese & Spring Cabbage, Chicory, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Peas , French Beans, Beetroot, Carrots, Radishes.

As for next time, through the autumn/winter dig in plenty of compost and add some chicken manure pellets when sowing/planting.

[kwa50]

My peas were exactly the same - very few to eat - what we did have was absolutely gorgeous I must say. I cant believe I didnt water them enough - I hose the garden every morning, memo to self - must try harder next year.


kwa50
CraftChallenge.co.uk - Home

[gojiberry]

It may be that you were to kind to your peas. Watering every morning may well have resulted in mainly surface roots which would have soon been depleted of nutrients. Treat then mean keep them keen. On the lottie the plants get watered a couple of times when first planted out, then they are on their own and I do get superb results.

Ian

[tootles]

I didn't really water them until they had pods. The french variety pois longue cosse (ish!) were much worse than the onward, which were the ones that gave me the crop. I have put in some more pea seed (only the french left though) but I am concerned about the powdery coating - is it fungal and will it be passed on to the next lot??

[Capsid]

Is the powdery coating similar to what you get on grapes, ie just a thin coating? If so this is normal.

[Two_Sheds]

Powdery Mildew

Cause: Erysiphe pisi, a fungus that can be seedborne but usually survives as conidia on living plants. Normally the disease does not cause serious losses if peas are planted in spring or an early-maturing cultivar is planted.
Symptoms: The first symptom is powdery white mycelium and spores on leaf and stem surfaces. On some cultivars, affected areas may die. All cultivars are dwarfed if infested early.
Try growing mildew resistant varieties.

[Two_Sheds]

Downy Mildew

Cause: A fungus-like microorganism, Peronospora viciae (formerly P. pisi), which overwinters on diseased plant refuse in soil.

Symptoms: A grayish white moldy growth appears on the lower leaf surface, and a yellowish area appears on the opposite side of the leaf. Infected leaves can turn yellow and die if weather is cool and damp. Stems may be distorted and stunted. Brown blotches appear on pods, and mold may grow inside pods.

Try growing mildew resistant varieties

[tootles]

Thank you Two Sheds, sound like the downy mildew! I shall certainly look out for mildew resistant varieties next spring.