Q.
Hi team, I have plenty of flowers on my bean plants but they keep dropping off. Do you know why they would be doing this and what I can do to stop it so I can enjoy bean harvests?
A.
This often happens early in the season when the plant it putting all its energy into actively growing leaves, plants do grow out of it within a few weeks usually. If this problem is ongoing once you get into January, it may be a fertiliser issue.
Beans, like all flowering vegetables such as tomatoes and chillies and eggplants don’t fruit that well if there is too much nitrogen in the soil, if this could be the case, add a side dressing of tomato or strawberry food or sulphate of potash around the base of your plants. All the best.
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Why are my bean flowers dropping off? Comments
Hi Tui, all the leaves on my bean plants have dropped off, why is this? Please help.
Sila
Hi Sila, there could be several reason for this to occur, falling leaves is an indication the plant is under stress. One cause is irregular watering or not enough water and the hot temperatures we have been experiencing lately. Increase watering to daily and place some shade cloth over your beans for protection if you think this may be the problem. Poorly drained soils will also cause leaves to drop and plants don't thrive, ensure they are planted in good free draining soil that has had plenty of organic matter added to it. Check for any signs of sap sucking insects such as green shield beetle or aphids. If they are present, talk to your local garden centre for a suitable control. Your beans may benefit from an application of fertiliser, apply Tui Vegetable food and water into the soil well. The Tui Team.
Hi Tui, will my board beans flower again after falling off due to rain and wind?
kamila
Hi Kamila, your broad beans will continue to flower and produce bean pods – new flowers will come, the more pods you pick, the more the plants will produce.
Lianne, Tui Team.