Broad Beans Wilty Leaves

[ChrisG]

Hi can someone help, my BB's are strong and healthy lots of flowers.... but the top 2/3 inchs of them are curling up on themselves and getting tiny holes. I've looked but can see no black fly or any insect at all, apart from the the odd ant, my question is what could it be, I've looked and googled everywhere and can find pictures of black flies but not of the damage they cause. Any thoughts?

[greengas]

I was just about to post exactly the same thing, I can not see any black fly just little holes in the leaves.

P.S. The flowers are dying I presume the beans will follow?

[ChrisG]

No idea gg, hopefully some expert on here will provide an answer!

[Two_Sheds]

P.S. The flowers are dying I presume the beans will follow?

Yes, they will.

[Two_Sheds]

Hi can someone help, my BB's are strong and healthy lots of flowers.... but the top 2/3 inchs of them are curling up on themselves and getting tiny holes.

If you haven't already, pinch off the soft tips.
If you don't, you will get blackfly, in their millions. The ants will bring them in.

PS. you can eat the soft tips, they are nice

[ChrisG]

Thanks TS, but what is causing the wilt and holes???

[Paulottie]

Are there notches around the edges of the leaves? The culprit maybe pea weevil. grubs eat the roots adults the leaves.

Wilting normally a root problem (often compounded by the weevil). Most common in broadies is windrock. (though the blackleg caused by it is more normally a over-wintering problem....they can stil be damaged easily at ground level any season). If they are on an exposed sight -grow in blocks and offer support of a few canes and string round the lot. Poor drainage is anther possibility.

[greengas]

Thanks TS I have so many questions I think i will end up doing everyones head in!

[gojiberry]

Hi greengas, I am presuming by your posts that you are new to growing your own. You need to chill out a bit and not imagine that your plants have every disease and pest under the sun on them. A few holes or a bit of wilt or a bit of discolouration is just part of a plants life. How many people do you know that go through life in a perfect state of health.
Stop worrying and enjoy your gardening, it is supposed to be a stress reliever not a stress inducer.

Ian

[ChrisG]

Are there notches around the edges of the leaves? The culprit maybe pea weevil. grubs eat the roots adults the leaves.

Wilting normally a root problem (often compounded by the weevil). Most common in broadies is windrock. (though the blackleg caused by it is more normally a over-wintering problem....they can stil be damaged easily at ground level any season). If they are on an exposed sight -grow in blocks and offer support of a few canes and string round the lot. Poor drainage is anther possibility.

It is just the top 2/3 inchs that is affected, they are container grown, supported with sticks and twine, fed once a week with tom feed, so I don't think it is any of the above. My money was black fly but I can't see any of the blighters.
Does anyone have or know of pictures of black fly damage?

[maytreefrannie]

PS. you can eat the soft tips, they are nice

Do you add the pinched off tips to stir fries, or how do you use them?

[Two_Sheds]

Does anyone have or know of pictures of black fly damage?

try Google Images. Here's an especially bad bean aphid infestation.

[Two_Sheds]

Do you add the pinched off tips to stir fries...?

Yes.
or add to a salad

[ChrisG]

Thanks for the pic link Two Sheds, mine look nothing like that, no insect life at all just tiny holes in the leaves and wlted!