Bean problem

morninglory · #1 04/20/12, 08:15 AM

My beans are beginning to come up and I notice holes in the leaves. At this rate I wont get any beans. What do you put on beans for bugs.?

Silvercreek Farmer · #2 04/20/12, 08:35 AM

Guineas

Cliff · #3 04/20/12, 09:15 AM

Holes in the leaves won't stop you from getting beans. I forget the exact percentage but a plant can lose around 30 percent of it's foliage and it not affect production. Pay attention and watch it but don't run to spray something automatically imo.

Sonshine · #4 04/20/12, 09:34 AM

I agree with Cliff, a few holes in the leaves won't affect production. We usually have several with leaves chewed up, but have always had a wonderful harvest.

EasyDay · #5 04/20/12, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silvercreek Farmer

Guineas

In my experience, the guineas will shred the leaves getting to the bugs.
Maybe I just had aggressive guineas!

I use DE.

(Please, if anyone wants to give their slant on DE, there are numerous threads to do that... not here. Just sayin'...)

Paquebot · #6 04/20/12, 04:11 PM

The beetle which does that up here is only around for a short time. Therefore it's usually only the first leaves which are affected. It's the bean leaf beetle. I've seldom seen them do any more harm than just cosmetic as the plants quickly recover after the cycle has been completed.

Martin

Micheal · #7 04/21/12, 06:22 AM

I lightly dust the leaves and ground under the plant with wood ashes; doesn't hurt the plant nor soil.

ksfarmer · #8 04/21/12, 12:07 PM

You don't say if you are anti-pesticides or not. If not, a little sevin dust will do wonders.

oneokie · #9 04/21/12, 01:48 PM

Insecticidal soap.

morninglory · #10 04/21/12, 05:43 PM

Thanks you all. I have lost the entire row of limas. Cant even tell they were ever there. The other types of beans are just a few holes in the first leaves. Think I'll wait and see if they will just be fine on their own. Perhaps Lima beans dont do well in my area. I dont know this is first time I have tried planting them.I am midway between Dallas and Abilene. Lots of bugs here.

Paquebot · #11 04/21/12, 06:03 PM

Lima beans ARE a bean for the South. No reason why you should not be able to grow them. Apparently the beetles also preferred them. If you still have seed, plant again and the population may be on the down side or gone completely by the time the plants emerge.

Martin

Pony · #12 04/21/12, 06:21 PM

If the plants are completely gone, are you sure it was bugs and not bunnies?

Belfrybat · #13 04/21/12, 06:50 PM

I'm south of Abilene by 60 miles and around here caterpillars are decimating both vegetable and ornamental gardens. I've never seen anything like it. They are small greyish brown caterpillars that are really squishy -- can't be picked off because they disintergrate on my fingers. Yuk! I've gardened in these parts for 10 years and have never seen them before. They even ate the Egyptian onions, shallots, and asparagus. I'm spraying daily with a pyrethum spray that is supposed to be OK up to the day before harvest. I've lost about half the peas to them as they make a hole and crawl inside. I certainly hope they decide to move on fast or I'll not have a garden at all. They even got the mint and evening primrose that was growing in the mint. Last year the drought got everything -- this year the pests. Wonder what is next?