“Rusty” Pinto Beans

Question

We live in Central Missouri and are growing flambeau and pinto beans (bush) for the first time. Harvesting the beans, I’ve noticed that some of them have dark stains that look like rust. Is this a mold? Or some other issue? Are they still OK to eat? Thanks!

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Answer 1

Rust usually shows up on the leaves or pods; did you see it there? Bacterial wilt, however, can cause a bean discoloration of orange, yellow or purple. Did your plants experience wilting or brown spots? The plants can survive to produce beans, but they can be discolored. I would not eat them if this sounds like what your beans have. Here is more info:

https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/agriculture/bacterial-diseases-of-beans-2-913/

http://arsftfbean.uprm.edu/bic/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Bacterial_Wilt.pdf

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/beans/rust-fungus-on-beans.htm

https://ipm.missouri.edu/meg/2021/5/beans-DT/

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/beans/how-to-grow-pinto-beans.htm