Kitchen Garden Forum

I grew my broad beans in loo rolls in an unheated greenhouse because of mice etc. They were a lovely healthy dark green colour when planted out. After a month outside the colour is a paler shade of green and do not look quite as healthy. I have fertilized with growmore and chicken manure pellets from the planting out stage . I know we havnt had much rain recently but am I doing something wrong. My soil is quite light on the sandy side. I am anxius for an answer as I have another batch of seedlinga about 3 inches tall ready to go out. They are looking dark green and healthy and have been started in a fish box outside. I would like to think that I could maintain that condition and colour
Advice please.
Regards Brenjon

Brenjon, I don't have a clue about this as I don't grow broad beans.

However, this will bring your post to the top of the list and maybe someone else can help. Come on guys, there must be one of you that can help.

mine are also looking a bit pale, was considering putting the sprinkler on for a while but the soil unde the lawnmowing mulch appears damp,

I got the feeling that mine always started out really dark green in rootrainers but went paler when I planted them in the soil. I can't remember what happened when I used to put them straight into the soil. Does that just happen naturally as they get taller, perhaps?
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Granny

I agree with Granny. My BBs become quite lush and green in their root trainers and then a paler green after they have been planted out. I think the natural colour of these beans is in fact a greyish green and yours are just doing what comes naturally. If there is any tendency to yellowing in the leaves then you might have a problem.
I think they do best if they are not feed too much as this leads to soft sappy growth and all sorts of problems. As you've added Growmore and chicken manure I guess that they have been fed enough. They are legumes of course and are able to obtain the N compounds that they need from their root nodules. As it has become very dry now and you have a light soil all I would suggest is a really thorough soaking. The time for regular watering will be when the immature pods have formed.

John

PS Good of you Chantal to bounce this back to the top as it is disheartening for posters to see their topic sinking down the list without any replies!

Thank you Chantal for putting it at the top. That was a good move on your part. I am getting more replies now. Thanks all. As you say John when you get no replies you get very disheartened and start thinking that the Forum is a bit "clickish" which I am sure it is not. Thanks for the new interest.
Regards Brenjon[/url]

Hi Brenjon,
I'm afraid I was very late off the block and as the others have said when the first leaves come they are a very dark healthy green but as they mature they do lighten in colour. When I originally read your posting I was thinking disease rather than anything else. If this is what you meant then everything is fine and just so long as the plant is putting on steady growth there is absolutely nothing to worry about.
JB.

Dear Brenjon, i was wondering if it could be something to do with them coming out it to the natural sunlight.
My beans sown outdoors seem to change very little in colour.

I hope there's no one being clicky on here, but i must say i didn't get an answer to a compost topic i put on here the other week.

Brenjohn, could the change in colour possibly be connected with the hardening-off process, or lack of? I've always sown in situ in autumn, so I've no idea really, but I do know that plants need a bit of time to acclimatise after being kept indoors. Of course, as Johnboy says, it need not actually matter.

mike