Kitchen Garden Forum

Some of our French beans, still in roottrainers, are developing wilted leaves though the stem and the new leaves emerging seem ok. The leaves look as if they lack water but other leaves on the same plant are fine and they have been watered. There is no sign of slug, snail or any other damage. Any ideas?

I wonder if the beans have been subject to any extremes in temperature in recent days. Night time temperatures have dropped quite low in certain areas and I know beans don't really like this. If the soil has been kept moist, I can't think of what else might have caused it if you can't see any signs of pests on the leaves.

Dear Monika, i know this will sound silly, but the compost has not got over wet has it.
I have seen this before, and the plants that had wilted were in over wet compost, just a thought.

Primrose and OH, you could both be right. Until about four days ago, I took the beans into the unheated greenhouse every night but since then they have been out overnight and the temperature has gone down to 5 degrees. I have also probably watered them fairly copiously. So I'll keep them in the greenhouse a bit longer (particularly in the strong northerly wind at the moment) and let them dry out.

If it's the temperatures, it makes you wonder what will happen to all those people who already have beans (French & Runner), not to mention tomatoes & sweetcorn out in their gardens.

I'm sure us KG's will have set up some protection, but I think there may be some disappointed people on my allotment. Some of the above plants are currently doing a good impression of helicopter blades in the gales we're currently having


Colin

Colin, my first batch of a few runners and climbing French beans have been outside, unprotected for 2 - 3 weeks now, are midway up their poles and are now looking very spindly and wind blown, despite being up against a south facing fence. My tomato plants are also in the similar location, unprotected as they are now too high to be able to shield effectively so I don't have too high hopes for them at the moment. (Serves me right, once again, for sowing them too early).

Dear Primrose, please don't be to hard on yourself, we all do it.
Infact i've got an allotment full of wind blown veg at the present.