Broad Beans have got African Bruchid Beetle

[Nicos]

....just checked my beans ...and they're fine!
i'll be soaking mine too

[chris]

So do you do what Binley suggested, as I'm going to get mine out tongiht (oooh matron!)

[Jeanied]

Soaking seems to get the blighters out, as well as starting off germination. Not sure if 'bored' broad beans will germinate too well - unless the beetle only eats the foodstore and not the germ.

[Two_Sheds]

I've just had this reply from T&M:

Bruchid beetles are not a rarity. Bruchid beetles are often a serious issue during very hot weather, especially if seed production is done in a hot country.
Broad Beans are often affected although the problem can be minimised by chemical spraying and a careful watch on the seed after production.
Bruchid eggs and larvae can be concealed in a ‘window’ within the seed and hatch out under suitable temperatures. Fumigation by the seed producer can eliminate this prior to sending the seeds to their customers such as Thompson & Morgan,

Obviously, in this instance, this has not happened and you had the misfortune of some active bruchids.

Traditional English Longpods have a lot of their seed production in England and rarely get affected by bruchids, unless we have a really hot summer, but your Violetta would have been Southern Italy or North African production

they are sending me a voucher as compensation

[Snadger]

I've just had this reply from T&M:

Bruchid beetles are not a rarity. Bruchid beetles are often a serious issue during very hot weather, especially if seed production is done in a hot country.
Broad Beans are often affected although the problem can be minimised by chemical spraying and a careful watch on the seed after production.
Bruchid eggs and larvae can be concealed in a ‘window’ within the seed and hatch out under suitable temperatures. Fumigation by the seed producer can eliminate this prior to sending the seeds to their customers such as Thompson & Morgan,

PS I've bought soome of these also, but wouldn't have if i'd known where the seed was souced. Italian veg never seem to do well in NE Enland for me......can't imagine why? (rolleyes emoticom)
Obviously, in this instance, this has not happened and you had the misfortune of some active bruchids.

Traditional English Longpods have a lot of their seed production in England and rarely get affected by bruchids, unless we have a really hot summer, but your Violetta would have been Southern Italy or North African production

they are sending me a voucher as compensation

Why are they selling broad beans that have been grown in Itay & Aftica? Surely the strain won't be suited to UK climate?

PS Italian veg never seem to do well for me here in NE Englad..............can't imagine why? (rolleyes emiticom)

[Two_Sheds]

Why are they selling broad beans that have been grown in Itay & Aftica?

I did wonder that, it did surprise me. The Violetta did very well for me last year though, so I think it is suited to the UK.

I grew Italian onions last year - they was rubbish

[FoxHillGardener]

The northern, hilly bits of Italy have a similar climate to the UK, so the varieties from there do well in the UK too

[Snadger]

I didn't check the ones I got from T&M before sowing in modules. I was a bit worried that if mine had the dreaded beetles it would have affected the seed germ.
With this in mind I had a furtle of a couple of modules as nothing was showing above soil. Happy to report that the two I furtled had a good root and it will only be a matter of time before the green bit appears.

[Two_Sheds]

Well, here I am again, and I have an infestation of bruchid beetle in my bedroom, where my Martock BBs are drying out. Every day more of the little blighters are hatching

I now realise I’m not a vegetarian, because I’ve been eating BBs which will have had beetle larvae in them, albeit tiny teeny ones