Winter bean early dessication? Seed viable?

[Wigeon]

I've got a few ha of beans on failed osr headlands.

Haven't touched them since drilling. Choc spot has knackered them, but they are still worth cutting, though also full of rubbish which I'd like dead.

If I dessicated them now when i do the osr, what do people think about the viability of the beans if kept for seed? I suppose the Choc spot has already done part of the job, so won't make much difference? Be grateful for thoughts as I'm only a very occasional bean grower!

 

[Barleymow]

Roundup won't kill them in my experience

 

[Flat 10]

I've got a few ha of beans on failed osr headlands.

Haven't touched them since drilling. Choc spot has knackered them, but they are still worth cutting, though also full of rubbish which I'd like dead.

If I dessicated them now when i do the osr, what do people think about the viability of the beans if kept for seed? I suppose the Choc spot has already done part of the job, so won't make much difference? Be grateful for thoughts as I'm only a very occasional bean grower!

For me that’s too early. You want the pods to be turning and most leaves to be gone imo. You can then hit the rubbish more easily. Just my opinion but that’s when I do mine.

 

[Wigeon]

For me that’s too early. You want the pods to be turning and most leaves to be gone imo. You can then hit the rubbish more easily. Just my opinion but that’s when I do mine.

Agreed, thanks. It's just that I'll be doing the osr, and would prefer to do them at the same time as one job. If its going to knacker germination then I'll think again though.

 

[Steevo]

I normally aim to spray the bean fields off a day or two before I'm intending to start the wheat harvest.

 

[deleted user 837354]

I agree, wouldn't want to do them yet. If they were just for cattle feed less of a concern.

 

[Half Pipe]

For me that’s too early. You want the pods to be turning and most leaves to be gone imo. You can then hit the rubbish more easily. Just my opinion but that’s when I do mine.

If most of the leaves are gone will roundup etc be taken by the plant?

 

[Brisel]

The stems & pods should take some in. I think the word desiccation is misleading here - is it more about the weed control than the beans @Wigeon ?

 

[Wigeon]

The stems & pods should take some in. I think the word desiccation is misleading here - is it more about the weed control than the beans @Wigeon ?

Indeed, I want to spray it all off. But I also wouldnt mind keeping some beans for seed. If I do the former now, will it prevent me doing the latter? In reality weed control is probably more important than the seed, so I'll crack on if there is ever another spraying day, and then germ test the beans after harvest.

 

[principal skinner]

Technically you shouldn’t glyphosate anything being saved for seed. In the real world it probably will be ok. Early enough yet though I would think.

 

[principal skinner]

I normally aim to spray the bean fields off a day or two before I'm intending to start the wheat harvest.

I try to spray oats and beans before we start wheat…….. try being the word!

 

[alomy75]

Beans are a funny one. If you spray too early you remove their geotrophic response. They will still germinate but they won’t know which was is up and just grow a bit bonkers. People get caught out because they will germinate on a kitchen windowsill but won’t do as well as an unsprayed bean/proper timed spray

 

[principal skinner]

Beans are a funny one. If you spray too early you remove their geotrophic response. They will still germinate but they won’t know which was is up and just grow a bit bonkers. People get caught out because they will germinate on a kitchen windowsill but won’t do as well as an unsprayed bean/proper timed spray

Which is why I added the word ‘probably’

 

[Brisel]

A tetrazolium germination test will not pick up any kind of glyphosate effect. I would be very careful with keeping seed from something treated prematurely with glyphosate.

An old article on desiccation timings here

 

[Wigeon]

Many thanks, the knowledge on here never ceases to impress me!

 

[Flat 10]

Beans are a funny one. If you spray too early you remove their geotrophic response. They will still germinate but they won’t know which was is up and just grow a bit bonkers. People get caught out because they will germinate on a kitchen windowsill but won’t do as well as an unsprayed bean/proper timed spray

Well I never.