Pests such as bean flies and bean aphids threaten the growth of bean plants. Diseases such as bean mosaic virus, bacon blight, burn blotch, and bean rust can even result in the death of entire plants, resulting in crop losses and crop failure. It doesn't have to be!

Changes in the leaves usually indicate an infestation by pests or diseases

bean mosaic virus

Yellowish, mosaic-like spots on the leaves indicate the viral disease. Leaves turn yellow and die, in the worst case the whole plant dies.

The cause of the infestation is already infected seed. Aphids transmit the virus to neighboring plants, and heat promotes spread. Infected plants can be disposed of in the compost.

Prevention:

  • Buy certified, virus-tested seeds
  • grow resistant varieties

fat spot disease

It mainly affects bush and runner beans and is triggered by bacteria. Small yellow to light green, oily spots appear on the leaves. The leaves deform and die, often before flowering. In addition, pods, stems and seeds can be affected.

The causes are infected seeds, infested plant remains and spread by snails.

Combat:

  • Syringe with horsetail broth
  • burn infected plants

focal spot disease

This fungal disease causes dark, burnt-looking spots to appear on the leaves, stems, and pods. If the infestation is severe, the leaves will fall off. If the fungus attacks the seedlings, young plants are already at risk of dying. Bush beans are particularly at risk.

Combat:

  • burn infected plants
  • not grow beans in the same plot for five years

bean rust

The fungal disease occurs in damp weather and can be recognized by white to rust-brown pustules on the underside of leaves and on the pods. The causes are unnecessary nitrogen fertilization, a warm, humid climate and the plants growing close together.

Combat:

  • destroy infested plants
  • don't grow beans in this place for five years

Black bean aphid

The black bean aphid, which is approx. 2 mm in size, lives on the underside of leaves, attacks the tips of the shoots and cripples them. The black bean aphid overwinters in the soil or on host plants such as snowballs and infests the plant as early as May.

Combat:

  • Cut off affected shoot tips
  • Control with nettle infusion, neem, Neudosan aphid-free

bean fly

Holes in the bean seeds and feeding spots on cotyledons and root necks indicate an infestation by the 4 - 5 mm large, gray bean fly. She lays her eggs in bean seeds and seedlings from April to May, and her larvae eat through the cotyledons.

Prevention:

  • germinate seeds
  • do not sow on beds to which fresh manure has been applied
  • Protect beans with crop protection net
  • simultaneous sowing of the savory, which is unpopular with bean flies

snails

Seedlings and young bean plants in particular are a treat for snails. To protect the plants, slug pellets (7.49€) should be sprinkled. Pulling them forward is also helpful, the plants are less susceptible due to the growth advantage.

tips and tricks

Picking beans in dry weather reduces the risk of contamination for neighboring plants. When picking, bruises and damage can occur, which serve as entry points for spores and bacteria. Their propagation would be promoted by wet weather.

Category:

Vegetable garden