Vegetables: Second try with Green Beans

Replies: 14 Views: 149

Print

Author	Comment
ZZsBabiez Lodi, CA (Zone 9b) August 19, 2008 5:50 PM	I had a great harvest with the first batch of plants.. then they seemed to become plagued with spider mites and got old and yucky.. so I pulled them out and planted more.. This batch started out great.. but now it seems that every pest I can think of is attacking them! Whiteflies, spider mites, caterpillars, and who knows what else... What can I do if anything.. Just plant somewhere else next time? These plants are just starting to produce.. I wanted green beans to can!!! Any advice?
Farmerdill Augusta, GA (Zone 8a) August 19, 2008 6:45 PM	If you willing to use insecticides , no problem. Organic- Pyrethrin, traditional- Ortho Bug-B-Gone. There are others others but these are effective on most bean pests and widely distributed.
ZZsBabiez Lodi, CA (Zone 9b) August 19, 2008 7:58 PM	Thank you Farmerdill What about Neem with Pyrethrins? Will it affect the beans? I have some "Fruit Tree Spray" from greenlight. I use it a lot on my flowers.. seems to be great stuff.. I just haven't wanted to spray ANYTHING on my veggies. :)
Moonglow Corte Madera, CA (Zone 10a) August 19, 2008 8:23 PM	Joyce, sorry about your beans. Looks like Neem can help! [HYPERLINK@homeharvest.com]
Farmerdill Augusta, GA (Zone 8a) August 19, 2008 8:32 PM	The fruit tree sprays are not formulated for vegetables especially green beans. The fungicide they use is not effective on beans and the like. Malathion is not the best choice altho it works on some of the insects attacking beans.
ZZsBabiez Lodi, CA (Zone 9b) August 19, 2008 10:02 PM	Well.. I'll have to get some bug b gone.. I will need it... Thank you! Annapet, with the brugs I still have plenty of Neem! LOL
feldon30 Houston, TX (Zone 9a) August 20, 2008 12:23 PM	I contacted Green Light, and they confirmed what I deduced from looking at the bottle -- Green Light Fruit Tree Spray contains a perfect mixture of Neem Oil and Pyrethrin equivalent to the Neem II Rose Spray in bottles, safe on vegetables, but of course only 5% of the cost of the pre-mixed bottles. I have not actually tried battling spider mites since they come late in the season (late June) when things are already winding down, but I would have gotten a lot more cherry tomatoes if I'd battled them so I will try next year and report back. This message was edited Aug 20, 2008 11:24 AM
Les_Cooper Brazoria, TX August 23, 2008 8:23 PM	Your problem, believe it or not, is not insects. Healthy plants are less susceptible to insect attack. The beans plants are mineral deficient in some manner and the insects detect that condition of weakness. They are like predators on the weak and sickly. Check the soil conditions, light, drainage, ph, and beans need lime for calcium. A ph far off the mark will lock up minerals and prevent them from use even tho the minerals are in the soil. Get the conditions right and the insect problem will subside greatly. Les
Moonglow Corte Madera, CA (Zone 10a) August 31, 2008 10:03 PM	joyce, i just started some beans, and 2 have sprouted. you're not alone growing beans (this late). i hope it doesn't cool too fast weather-wise. when do you transplant beans? i grow mine in containers.
Moonglow Corte Madera, CA (Zone 10a) August 31, 2008 11:16 PM	i'm growing winged-bean and will start hyacinth and edamame. View Larger
ZZsBabiez Lodi, CA (Zone 9b) September 2, 2008 10:49 AM	I don't know Moonglow.. I started some from direct seed.. others from tiny transplants.. and some from grossly neglected seedlings.. They all took off just fine, till they get the appearance of spider mites.. sandpaper feeling leaves, tiny spots.. I have trimmed the sick looking leaves, removed the really bad plants.. and just sprayed with water and they are looking much better. The Ph is neutral and the soil should be incredibly fertile, since I used homemade compost and steer manure.. Everything else has absolutely thrived! I'm going to use some kelp and see if they pick up..
Les_Cooper Brazoria, TX September 7, 2008 2:33 PM	Howdy ZZs I think the kelp will help as beans are quite susceptible to damping off and the kelp will provide some resiliance to the fungus. Don't think beans need to be kept too damp. Also beans don't need much fertility, since they create their own nitrogen, but need calcium to do it. Les
Les_Cooper Brazoria, TX September 7, 2008 2:35 PM	Howdy Moonglow, If you have eaten those winged-beans before, i sure would like to know what you think of them for food. Les
Moonglow Corte Madera, CA (Zone 10a) September 8, 2008 1:26 PM	Les, they are the yummiest beans in my opinion, and I hope it's not just nostalgia. I grew up in the Philippines where winged-bean is a fairly common backyard veggie. The young leaves are edible, and even the roots.
Les_Cooper Brazoria, TX September 9, 2008 7:52 PM	Howdy Moonglow, I had heard everything on this plant was edible. Must be good if the common people keep it growing after generations. Les

You cannot post until you register and login.

Other Vegetables Threads you might be interested in:

Subject	Thread Starter	Replies	Last Post
Tomatoe Trouble	lals	25	Dec 5, 2008 11:57 AM
Recommend a variety of sweet corn? Where to buy?	excelrealty	28	Dec 4, 2008 6:35 PM

Other Forums you might be interested in:

Flowers

Gardening Questions

What's This Plant?