Beans - Yellow Leaves

[bendipa]

I am trying to grow beans for the first time.

It's still fairly early in the growing season, and the lower leaves of my bean plant are turning yellow and dying. The upper ones are unaffected and the plant is still vigorous. I've already removed a few leaves. Is this normal for beans at this time of year?

Also, until now all the earlier flowers did not set and dropped off, although a few are starting to set proper pods in the last week. Is this usual?

http://tinyurl.com/ng4jow

[rustylady]

Are your beans in pots, or in open ground?

[teakdesk]

From the picture those leaves have been turned yellow by the plant - not by an attack of aphids or bacteria etc..

So it does come down to how you are growing the plant.

A plant will take the chlorophyll (the green bit) from lower leaves to feed the upper leaves if the growing conditions are bad.

So we need more info as to how you are growing it....

compost, container/soil, watering, fertiliser, etc..

[bendipa]

They are being grown in a container, the same type seen to the side in the photo.

[Flummery]

I don't grow runners myself, prefer french climbing beans, but usually it's cold, wind, or a deficiency. Try them with a bit of seaweed feed in their water to begin with. I always used to find that the first flowers never set on runners. Spraying with water helps (or growing french!)