Poorly runner beans

[CarolineW]

Hi everyone,
I've just had an emergency call from my mother in law, who is having severe problems with her runner beans. Apparently the leaves are turning yellow, drooping/curling, and have little holes all over them, "as if someone's been at them with a hole punch or something".

They're still growing, though, despite the state of the leaves.

It sounds like insect trouble to me, but she can't see anything. Also, would they dislike her chalky soil??

Does anyone have any advice? She had me stumped.

[taff]

sounds like flea beetles or something like that, but have no definite answer sorry.
They probably won't like the soil much unless there's plenty of compost added.

[SarzWix]

I'd add a mulch of compost or manure (make sure it isn't piled up round the stalks though) and/or give them a decent liquid feed, see if that sorts out the yellowing leaves. Not sure about the holey leaves though hopefully they'll out grow whatever is reaching them...

[piskieinboots]

Did your Ma make sure she put in plenty of organic matter in the trench prior to planting? They need plenty of moisture

[Flummery]

If it was cold when they were platned out they would struggle a bit and stressed plants are more susceptible to attack.

[rogesse]

My first beans are all a bit pale and pasty because I have no patience or self control so put them out too early and too cold!

I'm having to sow more - lesson learnt!

[jase]

I mentioned this in another thread,but i remember reading about why runner bean leaves start off yellowy and turn greener as the plant matures.The theory is that the young roots are not able to draw on any available nitrogen,hence the yellow colour,but has the plant matures it becomes much more able to do this.

hope this helps.

[finney]

its still a little early normally i plant mine after the last frost,so ive been told,but this year i have started mine off in pots and i planted out last weekend but i have wrapped bubble wrap around them.

finney