Becky Ward, PGRO principal technical officer, offers advice on disease control in winter and spring bans as changeable weather conditions are giving rise to chocolate spot and downy mildew.  

Winter beans

There are reports of severe chocolate spot in winter bean crops, and the current unsettled weather will encourage the disease. Disease pressure is very high and crops should be sprayed to protect new growth using full rates of fungicides. Reduced rates will not give adequate protection.

Spring beans

There have been reports of downy mildew in spring bean crops, again encouraged by the cool, unsettled weather. Plants develop pale patches on the surface, with grey-mauve fluffy mycelium on the underside of leaves. Crops should be treated when a threshold of 25% of the tops of plants are infected.