Update on winter bean crops ... Drill spring beans as soon as possible

Winter bean crops

"More reports have been received where a high level of chocolate spot is evident on many plants," says Becky Ward, PGRO senior technical officer. "This is the result of the harsh winter predisposing the plants to disease. Damage is mainly on lower leaves showing up as blackened areas, but the more typical chocolate spot symptoms tend to be on the younger leaves.

Spring crops

Soil conditions in many areas are now starting to improve and the forecast spell of dry weather for most of the country should allow drilling to continue. Make sure spring beans are planted as soon as possible - temperatures are now increasing and once planted, the beans should establish quickly.

Pest damage

With the recent improvement in weather, there is now an increased risk of seedling attack by thrips and weevils as crops start to emerge. Thrips are more likely to occur in dry and stony soils and where there is a history, spray at first signs of attack. One of a number of contact acting insecticides may be used to control thrips in spring beans, but in peas, where thrips are hidden between the enclosed leaves, Hallmark with Zeon Technology which is approved for weevil control in peas, will give good thrips control.

Where weevil are a known problem, especially in cloddy seedbeds, peas or spring beans should be sprayed at the first sign of leaf notching and again a number of approved products are available.

PGRO technical information

All PGRO Technical Updates have been revised to include the changes in pesticide availability for peas and beans. PGRO publications are available as free downloads to levy payers and associate members from the PGRO web site. User passwords are available on request through the web site.