Our bush beans are producing well but the leaves are turning leathery and dark. Is this a bad thing?

[GardenToad]

 

[Chuck]

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This is probably a nutrition problem. What are you fertilizing with?

 

[GardenToad]

We did not use any fertilizer this year. We are new to this and are feeling our way.

 

[Chuck]

We did not use any fertilizer this year. We are new to this and are feeling our way.

You really should fertilize if you want a healthy productive garden. It makes a world of difference. Your beans are starving as evidenced by the dark green mottled with yellowing and the almost white leaves with green veins. I don't know how many beans you have produced but if you had fertilized I can guarantee it would have been a lot more. I am a strictly organic vegetable gardener. I recommend using only organic products in the garden whether it be fertilizer or fungicide. I would start using a pelleted dry fertilizer on everything. I would also go to the Organic Gardening thread on this forum and start reading it from the beginning. You will learn a lot.

 

[Meadowlark]

Leathery and dark is normal for bean leaves that are well past peak production and are likely in decline. The oldest leaves do that prior to a normal decline.

The leaf showing below those in the photo has some rust on it and is showing stress...a sign of fungus. Since you have already gotten good production, I wouldn't do anything to these. Bush beans don't have much of a life span after peak production....at least those I've grown for decades. You will need to rotate your planting next year and keep a close eye out for the rust.

I'd say well done on your first attempt and enjoy the produce.

 

[GardenToad]

Thank you both for the information. I'll rotate next year and fertilize.