Poor Pole Beans!

Second year growing these and having the hardest time! As soon as the pole beans develop their first leaves they are eaten. The stalk stays, the leaves are gone. I've planted twice now! I've looked under rocks, pots and mulch, and can't find the little buggers that are enjoying the leaves. Any suggestions? Will post pic later this morning.

P.S. This sounds gross, but we are having a rat & mouse problem now, would they be a possible cause? (I'm trapping them as fast as possible!)

sue - is your garden fenced in? i just lost the leaves of my italian squash because of deer and the fact that this part of the garden was not fenced in.

Hi Herbie! Yes, we do have a fence around the garden.

Sorry to hear about your squash, I hope you have time to plant more! ☼

What kind of fence? And have you checked the bottom of it for burrowing?

The three biggest threats, and the causes of what you describe, are rabbits, groundhogs, and deer.

Sue..the same thing is happening to me right now. I've been out all hours in the evening and morning looking for slugs, but this time I don't think they are the problem, because I'm not finding them in the beds. Several leaves look like a bug is getting them. This morning, I found 2 cababge leave that looked like the cat used for a scratch post...let me know if you find a reson and solution.

We NEVER see rabbits here and have no deer problems. I'm battling a mole and a few voles...will they come out and eat of the new shoots and leaves?

more

Here is how I found my squash this morning...last night both plant were the same size...now one is a gonner...HELP!!

Sue, is this the same thing with you pole beans?

Here is the photo

Here is what the fence looks like, I've checked for holes, I can't find any.

WaWild1, definately whatever it is, is creeping up, flying up or is tall enough to eat 'just the leaves'. It is frustrating to be sure. I've checked my squash and watermelons, they are ok and growing leaps. It's just these darn pole beans.

Scratching my head..............

Sue, I'm close by in Salem, Oregon - and I have not experienced your problems. To the contrary, my pole beans this year have been terrific!! Bumper - bumper crops! I planted 3 'teepees', Blue Lake variety - and harvested from late July to mid-September- several pickings. Beautiful beans!! I do have wonderful soil - and I did not add any fertilizer this year. Got lucky! I'm thinking that instead of bug problems you have, it may be a combination of soil make-up and weather?? Test your soil?

Hi Brandycat! I kept at it and finally did get a few nice crops of beans. This year the slugs have been terrible in our vegetable garden, and I think they might have been the culprits. I just kept planting seeds and then planting extras for the slugs. :-D

Nice to see more Pacific Northwest gardeners here!!

SueWa Really looks like slugs to me. If it is they will be back next year.They are experts at hiding but you should see their slime trail from time to time.

They come out in force after dark and you should be able to see them. You can attract and kill then by several chemical methods. Most of these ways are unpopular with some folks these days.

A coulple of accepical methods to work on these critters that are environmentaly friendly are.

Bury a pie pan flush with your soil and fill with beer the slugs will crawl in and drown.

Apply diomestic earth around your plants it will cut their bellies as they crawl through it and will die or quit going there. The problem with this is you need to replace this stuff every few days. I don't think I came close to spelling the name right some one else help please.

Put dry dog food near the edge of your gardenthen go out there several times nightly and sprinkle them with salt. Dog food crums not a supply or you will attract mice and rats.

Slugs are not coming from short grass they hide under things even in the tall grass they are under things.

I can't tell what's on the other side of that fence but I would wage war on the perimeter my bet is the fence. A slug can slime its way through a tiny gap with ease.

Ernie

Hi Ernie! I did the beer thing and my dogs keep drinking it! LOL, even WITH slugs in it...ewwwww! But you are right it does work! I have been known to prowl after dark with my flashlight looking for them with my salt shaker. I do have a hard time finding their hiding places.

I've never tried the diomatcious (see I don't know it either!) earth, but have read cases where folks swear by it.

I take great joys in clipping them in half with my pruners. :)

It is a war Ernie, and I will keep trying. Especially when it's the veggie garden!

SueWa I see a capitalistic opportunity here for you. Go out in the neighbohood and organize a slug partol then apply for a government grant to fund it.Ernie

Hee hee!!! Ernie, I think I like you my friend!

SueWa A lot of people do some don't and I'm comfortable with that. Glad you do.

Keep on sluggin. Regards Ernie