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Beans, Peas & Legumes

Pole beans wilting, too little water or too much?

7 years ago

I have a few pole bean plants (Kentucky Wonder) that I started indoors and moved outside when they were 6" and were ready to climb. Since moving outside the leaves have often wilted badly towards the end of the day despite soil not being particularly dry.

This is my first time growing pole beans so I don't feel like I really know what I'm doing besides the feeling that I've been guilty of over-watering in the past with my tomatoes.
Soil for these was new potting mix with about 25% compost mixed in. I've been watering 2-4 cups of water per day and the soil does not feel dry but not wet either just under the surface. The location is not ideal as it's south-facing so the plants get late sun from noon to sunset, but it's an urban balcony so it's the best I have. I'm in Boston and temperatures have been 60-80 degrees from night to day the past couple weeks.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated!

Featured Answer

alex_vogel99

7 years ago

did you harden them off before transplanting them outside?

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Comments (9)

ckingsbury64
Original Author
7 years ago
Not really, I waited until night temperatures were staying above 60 and had them in a spot with less wind. I figured the original leaves might get a little sunburned but the new growth has been wilting somewhat as well which is when I started to wonder.
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LoneJack Zn 6a, KC
7 years ago
My guess is that the bean plants were too mature when you planted them out and the root system is not able to take up the water needed to support the plants. Unfortunately they do not look like they will recover and produce to me. Kentucky Wonder is about 70 DTM so I would just pull them and direct seed in their place. If you direct seed now you should still be able to harvest by mid September.
ckingsbury64 thanked LoneJack Zn 6a, KC
ckingsbury64
Original Author
7 years ago
Lonejack, thanks for the comment. Just to be clear, I direct-seeded these in the container indoors, they were not transplanted. Are you suggesting I start them outdoors next time? Or maybe I watered them too much early on and they didn't build a strong enough root system?
LoneJack Zn 6a, KC
7 years ago
Well it might just be that they were not hardened off properly then. How deep is the box that they are in?

As a backup plan, you could direct seed some more in the same box on the edge closest to the camera in case the existing beans continue to have problems.
Labradors
7 years ago
You have to harden them off first. That means putting them in a shady spot outside and gradually moving them into full sun over a period of days. I direct-seed my beans directly into the garden, but I guess you will get beans sooner by starting them inside when it's still too cold to plant them outside. My house is full of tomato, pepper and eggplant seedlings in the spring, so I don't have room to start anything else!

Linda
Labradors
7 years ago
I'm guessing that they will probably bounce back, even if they drop some of those leaves, they will grow more.

Linda
susanzone5 (NY)
7 years ago
My beans are doing the exact same thing, and they were direct seeded in the ground. I have been growing green beans for over 40 years and have never seen this, whatever it is. I think it has to do with late planting (mid to late June), very hot weather here in the northeast, and maybe using seed from 2014 (Fortex leftovers). I have done everythig possible and still have dried up, deformed plants. Think this year's beans are a washout. Peas were incredible, so i give up. Every year it's something else. Part of the will of nature.
dfscudder
7 years ago
The original picture of the bean plants looks like too much fertilizer. My pole beans do wilt slightly in mid day sun but recover quickly. They don't get more than six hours sun so they get a little stressed when the sun is intense. Picture is early morning.

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