Kitchen Garden Forum

These little critters are once again shredding the Broad Beans and Peas, but not the Mange Tout even though they are in the same row as the peas. There are a few nibbles, particularly next to the Peas, but mainly untouched. Variety Oregon Sugar Pod. Anyone any ideas?

I have trouble with these at the lotty. The broad beans usually get nibbled, but survive it. The peas can get more damaged.

I have heard it said, though I can't remember by whom, that the situation is made worse by organic matter - mulches etc, at the surface making attractive damp conditions, and that it is better to incorporate organic matter in a traditional bean trench to avoid this. I usually follow this advice, though whether it is valid or not I can't be certain

That's interesting Tony, I've been having trouble too and have been on the BBC 'Grow your own' forum discussing the same problem. My broad beans have been badly affected and I'm now wondering if it's because I planted them through weed control fabric and they are being kept moist at surface level. Looking back through my posts over the years this is not the first time I've had to ask for help, although it was peas affected then.

Hi Jude,
Thankfully here we do not get many attacks from Bean Weevils and there is very little you can do about them when they attack your broad beans. I do not think that they actually affect the crop and are really only annoying to the grower. What you have to convince yourself is that Broad Bean leaves are naturally notched!
JB.

What you have to convince yourself is that Broad Bean leaves are naturally notched!

Johnboy - yes, I am convinced, but when bits of leaves start hanging off it can get a bit worrying!

Agree, Colin! Have completely lost six plants! Having said that, they were the smallest of the bunch, the others seem to have rallied.

Hi Colin,
I would suggest to you that if parts of leaf start hanging off then you have a pest other that Bean Weevil at work. To my knowledge we have never ever lost a plant from Bean Weevil attack.
We have had the same trouble in the past but we have proved that it is the work of Pheasants not the Weevils. We now are quite successful at detering the Pheasants.
JB.

No Johnboy - pretty certain it is the bean weevils - but still manageable. Don't have pheasants in the garden, but just back from the Isle of Wight where we had to stop twice to let the pheasants saunter across the road. Also had to slow down for a Red Squirrel who scampered across in front of us.

When in Hemel Hempstead it was Wood Pigeons who fancied Broad Beans, but that was the actual beans. Didn't believe it until they were caught in the act. Isle of Wight a great place for Wood Pigeons too - counted over 40 on the lawn where we were staying!

Had to look up bean weavils as I have not met them yet despite growing five different beans and lots of different peas, apparrently their predators are parasitic wasps, interesting science article here about predation and pests, apparently the various predators choose the most abundant species to predate, enabling the lesser problems to survive and provide their next meal !

http://www.livescience.com/18995-predat ... vival.html

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/about-us/news/2009 ... 44861.html

isn't nature amazing !