Butter Beans Are Not Filling Out

Question

We have a good crop of plants. The vines are green, healthy and with plenty of pods, but the beans are not filling out. This issue is common among several growers (3) in a 5 mile radius. Any help would be appreciated.

Answer 1

This can be attributed to a number of things, such as poor pollination, irregular watering, or the use of nitrogen feritilizer. A lack of pollinators can cause beans plants too produce less or develop poorly. Plants also need additional watering once they begin blooming. Since these are nitrogen-fixing plants, they do not need fertilizer, with exception to a side dressing of compost, if desired. An abundance of nitrogen will cause little to no flowering and poor pod development.

Also, could you be picking them too soon? If pods are harvested too early, they will not have finished their growth and the beans inside will be far too small.