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Bean Leaves #201787

Asked July 23, 2014, 3:47 PM EDT

Yellow leaves of beans, both pole and bush, several varieties and in both gardens. I seem to never find photos of my problems. This yellowing showed up suddenly in 2009. Nothing in my notes or my memory tells me that I did something differently - same watering, same fertilizing, no sprays. I have researched and tried many things. This year a soil test was done and the garden remineralized. The major cations are in near perfect balance, Boron, Sulfur and Manganese deficient, Zinc and Iron in excess, pH 6.3. Back to the leaves. The problem has been worse in the past but rather spotty along the plant and among the planting. Some leaves begin with interveinal chlorosis with green veins, progressing to all yellow then dying and falling to the ground. But iron is in excess and manganese was applied. Others seem to go all yellow with the same progression. It starts on the oldest leaves which would indicate, if it's a nutrient deficiency, that a mobile mineral is deficient. This year I used more nitrogen,and though the problem is less severe, it is still there and progressing upward. I believe I don't overwater. I garden organically using soybean meal and a small amount of blood meal as nitrogen source. Thanks, Peggy Miller

Linn County Oregon

Expert Response

This looks like a normal occurrence in beans when the lower leaves of plants will yellow and fall off because they are shaded and/or the plant is putting nutrients towards new growth or pod production.  The high heat that we recently experienced may have expedited this process.  This photo doesn't show any signs of diseases or insects.  
Good Luck!

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