Topic: Chocolate, but not as we know it......

[undercarriage plan]

Dear All, Help!!! My lovely broad beans which have been in the ground since autumn, and growing happily, I hasten to add, have developed chocolate spot.  Such a nice name for a horrible fungus.  I garden organically, and was hoping that someone would have an idea as to what I can do to save my bountiful crop!!  The upper leaves look very healthy, the lower, not so much!!  :'( Any help/advice gratefully received.  Thanks Lottie

[redimp]

I don't know whether these teas will be any good - I do not have the link it is on the board somewhere, I saved it.

Sage. (Salvia officinalis). Perennial herb.
Active ingredients. Monoterpenones, including thujone, camphor, and others, aldehydes, coumarin.
Action. Insectifuge, fungicide.
Preparation. In infusion for insectifuge, 4 oz. of fresh plant material in 1 qt. boiling water. Filter when cool and use full strength. In fermented extract, 2 lbs. of fresh leaves and terminals in 2.5 gal. of water, diluted to 10%, against mildew on potatoes.

Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare). Perennial plant (invasive in sandy soils).
Active ingredients. Not studied.
Action. Insectifuge, insecticide, fungicide against rust and mildew.
Preparation. In fermented extract, 2 lbs. of fresh plant material in 2.5 gal. of water. Use nondiluted against cabbage fly. In infusion, 1 oz. of flowers in 1 qt. of boiling water. Filter when cool and spray undiluted against aphids, mildew, and rust. Caution: don't throw residues on compost as tansy inhibits its breakdown.

This season, why not experiment with this new (old) dimension of organic treatments? It's not only we humans who stand to benefit from medicinal herbs. The power of plants can come to the rescue of fellow plants as well!


If you try them, let us know how you get on.

[Derekthefox]

It is worth your time looking on Google, my first reaction is to consider whether it is actually chocolate spot.

http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/pls/portal30/ docs/folder/ikmp/fcp/lp/fb/pw/F11596.pdf

would red legged earth mite be like our red spider mite? They do feed on beans.

http://www.greenharvest.com.au/pestcontrol2/spider_mite_info.html

Derris also works on spider mite.

[undercarriage plan]

Thank you both. I will retire to my lab and let you know...! ;D Pretty sure it's chocolate spot, the lower leaves have brown, largish spots on them.  Cool photo Derek, you've had your hair cut!!! Lottie

[Amazin]

Redclanger - these herbal remedies sound fascinating. Got any more?

[wardy]

I put a clove of crushed garlic in my sprayer, fill it with water and go after aphids.  I also plant a clove of garlic by my roses to deter the aphids as well

Nasturtiums under my old apple tree to get rid of the woolly aphid (it worked well last year)

[gavin]

In total ignorance on my part!  I had a look at the images at the bottom of  http://www.inra.fr/Internet/Produits/HYP3/pathogene/6botfab.htm - it looks like something I used to get much later on in much warmer weather?

Could it be (following theirpage on horse beans) this http://www.inra.fr/Internet/Produits/HYP3/pathogene/6ascfab.htm?  In which case http://oisat.org/pests/diseases/fungal/anthracnose.html???

Hmmm - once again, in total ignorance on my part.  What wouldn't I give to have broad bean plants big enough to be diseased!

All best - Gavin

[undercarriage plan]

Ahh Bless you all! Beans still flowering and looking good on top, fingers crossed!  If no improvement will be trying all remedies one after the other :o Will keep you posted, thanks ;) Lottie