Three of my French Beans (so far) have reached a height of about 10 centimetres and then toppled over from a weak point halfway up the stem. They are currently in 3" pots on top of my shed roof. What is causing it and what can I do to stop it happening?
Thought this might be my problem - no problems with germinations so therefore have a weakness getting them to maturity.
I find the dear slugs often half nibble my stems and the beans keel over! Rotten *(&&*(&%^%£"£"!**(( things!
I have to say that was my first thought but other posts on here suggest they would not climb up that high. Could be snails but I do do regular snail patrols and I do not think there are many of them about at the moment.
wind maybe?
Are they snapping on the stem at the point where the seed leaves are? I have had a problem in the past where, as the seed leaves shrivel and die back you get a bit of fungus forming. This can eat back into the stem and cause it to break.
Jerry
Jerry, I think you may have nailed it - I have had a look and that is exactly where the weak point is. Do I remove the seed leaves to prevent thsi happening?
Quote from: redclanger on May 20, 2005, 15:30:22
Jerry, I think you may have nailed it - I have had a look and that is exactly where the weak point is. Do I remove the seed leaves to prevent thsi happening?
I do now. I just tap them with a finger and if they fall of I bin them. If they dont fall I leave it for a day and try again.
This year it has been worse on my climbing borlotta beans, the dwarf french beans have been OK.
Jerry
Thanks Jerry - just been and knocked some off. Why do French beans have such unusual seed leaves - effectively the seed?