What can cause my runner beans to die almost over night

Oxfordshire, United Kingdom

I had a good row of runner beans almost ready to pick, when I noticed on Sunday morning the middle of the row had marks on the leaves as though they had been sprayed. All these leaves have now curled up and died, and in spite of spraying with fungicide (Dithane) the rest of the row is now affected. We have lived here for 3 years and last year I grew some runners, and had a wonderful crop with no problems.

3 Aug, 2009

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Answers

Nickyt08

Could it be weed killer drift from a neighbour or farmer etc? Happens on windy days, esp if its a weedkiller that affects everything

3 Aug, 2009

Bertiefox

I suspect the hand of man too. Plant diseases tend to kill plants slowly bit by bit, while weedkillers act quickly and all together.
The only other possibility is that something has eaten through the stems at ground level (have you checked for this?) although this wouldn't explain the marks on the leaves.

3 Aug, 2009

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