A Word Of Warning!

Hiya folks.
I planted out my broad beans a few weeks back, they were looking good and healthy. For the last couple of weeks something about them hasn’t seemed right, they haven’t looked ‘happy’. At this point I should add that these are planted in one of my new raised beds, which had a good amount of composted manure (bought in from a GC) spread over/incorporated, along with MPC. Last night I suddenly remembered an issue from years ago, namely a weed killer called ‘Aminopyralid’ that farmers used to kill weeds in their fields, which found its way into the subsequent manure. As I said, this was an issue over 10 (?) years ago, but doing a bit of googling it seems like the issue is back. If I remember right, @Steve R raised the issue at the time and had been looking into it.
Some beans are worse than others, but they’re all showing symptoms, curling/distorted leaves.



It seems Aminopyralid is long-lived, so I’m now faced with the prospect of having to dig out and get rid of all the ‘fill’, not happy ☹️

 

I had a problem with MPC last year couple of bags where stuff just failed to grow properly, lost some stuff other things recovered when repotted into clean material.

 

Hi,

Before you go to such trouble as emptying your beds, run a simple trial with some more seeds, start off three large pots with similar composts but the first use fresh plain compost, the second fresh compost with some of that manure from the bag, the third with the compost/manure from your existing bed.

Depending on the results it should clearly indicate whats causing the problem as it might not be down to just the composts ?

 

Hiya Ricky
Unfortunately, I have no more of the composted manure. I have though been reading up on it. According to the RHS, Aminopyralid infected manure once applied, breaks down under microbial action in the soil, so should be ok next year. Only certain crops are affected, including beans. So, as back-up I’ll sow some cabbage just in case the broad beans snuff it (brassicas aren’t affected). My spuds don’t look quite right either ☹️

 

Hiya John
Thanks for that, your thread made for interesting reading. Unfortunately, I can’t pin down what composted manure was used, or where I bought it. What I can say is that it had been sat in my garage for maybe a year, awaiting use. When I put it on my beds, it had completely broken down and I have to say it looked lovely stuff. This just bears out the fact that it’s persistent. As you said, the answer seems to be to dig it over a few times. I’d be interested to know what you did to rectify, and the outcome?

 

I seem to remember people used to try cress seed to judge contaminated soil, mainly because it germinates very quickly, and is very susceptible to anything dodgy.

Might be worth a try before you dump the whole bed of soil.
It could be a virus.

 

Hiya Pete
Unlikely now that I’ll be dumping the soil. As I said earlier, apparently it (Aminopyralid) breaks down once in the soil, but it does take a while and the ground will need to be turned over a few times to accelerate the process.

 

Hiya John.
Yes, quite frustrating. I thought I was doing the right thing, and although the beds are ‘fresh’, the ground was looking in great condition. The broad beans were very healthy and looked to be full of growth...



I’ve sown some cabbage to replace the beans, should the beans fail. If they do fail (which I expect), I’ll give the ground a good turning-over at that point. I was really looking forward to my first crop too! In readiness for next year, I’ve already got 12 bags of composted manure sat in the garage (different stuff). Caution needed I think! Gardening eh?

 

I can see that onions leeks etc. might not be effected.
I'm not sure about this, but I presume the weedkiller only kills dicotyledons, Monocots, I assume should be unaffected.
The scientist in me is not always right, but I'd be interested to know if that is true.

 

I see lettuces are also susceptible, but as yet, mine look ok (I think)

 

Yeah remember you seeing them glowing in the dark.

 

Pete. You are getting as bad as me. You just can't resist it. All's well as long as no one takes offence. In for a pound. In for a giggle.