Yellow Dwarf French Beans

[lizzie]

Afternoon peeps

Can someone please tell me why my Purple Queen Dwarf French Beans are turning yellow. Just the leaves are yellow with it gradually spreading to the stem. They seem to be growing ok, with just a few nibbles of the slugs. They are planted on a bed of manure and i've given them a feed of calcified seaweed. They've had loads of water after the rains we've had here.

What could it be? Any ideas please chaps? Thanks

[andys]

Hi Lizzie,

I have the same problem with my Tendergreen Dwarf beens and have guessed that it may be chlorosis caused by a lack of manganease/magnesium in my soil.

I too have planted mine in a heavilly manured bed but tested the PH of the soil and found it still to be neutral.

I gave them a feed of a sequestered iron compound yesterday to see if that clears it up as it carries micronutients.

Will keep you posted if it works.

Regards,

Andy.

[Mole]

Maybe it's a bit cold at night still for outside French beans?

When you write 'a bed of manure' Lizzie, do you really mean exactly that? If you do, maybe too rich? If you mix lime (eg calcified seaweed) with fresh manure/high N, you get a chemical reaction which is not conducive to growing seedlings.

Mole

[lizzie]

Sorry Mole, not a good description.

What I mean is that they were planted with manure mixed into the soil then the beans popped in. My son did it all himself and I'm trying to save them. He doesn't know there's a problem with them yet.

The weathers been glorious here, only slightly nippy the last few says with the rain. They started going yellow before that so can't blame the weather really.

Does anyone think I should ass some iron thingy stuff, urea, lime or just wait and see what happens.

[Mole]

Ruth - my other half - chief veg grower - just told me that her French beans (planted from modules)are struggling (yellowish ) at the moment too - reckons it's down to the cold soil temperature too. Personally, I've only ever sown FBs direct in early May or later - even down here. You folk are 'up north' so may well be a bit behind us. Despite the recent warm weather, the nights can still be cold.

Leafy veg are more tolerant of cold/easier to harden off.?...

Mole

[oldherbaceous]

Morning my dear Lizzie, i think Mole is right about the difference between the day and night time temperatures, causing the yellowing.
My early French and Runner beans are doing exactly the same, but i don't think we should be worrying too much.

[lizzie]

Thanks folks. I'll go and wrap them up in a little fluffy duvet and give them a hot water bokkie to perk them up.

My son planted them cos he was at a loss to do something and he was fed up with digging. The little sole had been digging out bindweed for me for 2 hours and he fancied a change