My beans (on the plot) have small-bite sized chunks (about 3-4mm) around the edges of the leaves - is this slugs? If so what is the best way to control them?
thansk
Flea beetle?
If so, ignore. They'll survive.
exactly what I was going to say, Robin!
I don't know anything about it other than a couple of plot neighbours have had the same thing happen to the leaves of their peas and beans and apparently it's flea beetle. makes the leaves look very "pretty" but I didn't know how damaging it was to the plant or how to get rid of it :-\
They do more damage to radish and things than your broadies. You can smear a piece of card with vaseline then brush it over the plants. The beetles leap and get stuck to the vaseline, which you can then bin. It won't stop them, but reduce them for a little whilte. You could dust with Derris, but with my broadies, I don't bother. They don't seem to affect bean production. The blackfly and Jays do more damage!