| I live here in phoenix and have a huge garden. When my bush beans come up they are dark green. As they grow they are turning yellow. Do I need to add iron and how often should I be watering. Second, my cauliflower is not compacted and turns purple! |
| There are no easy answers for the yellowing leaves on your bush bean plants. It's normal for the oldest, lowest leaves to turn yellow and die but if the entire plant is turning yellow it can mean that it has finished its lifecycle and is beginning to die or that the weather is getting too warm for the plants to perform well. I don't know how long your plants have been in the ground or whether you've had a chance to harvest your beans yet so I don't know if a shot of iron will help them green up. Beans prefer to grow during the cooler months and will bolt or even die when temperatures get too warm. I have good success planting them in January and harvesting in April before the temperatures soar. You may want to plant yours during the winter or fall months so you can harvest before temperatures get too hot (or too cold). Likewise with cauliflower. It's a cool season plant and can suffer when temperatures get too warm. A purple color can indicate weather damage, or a need for phosphorous. If you haven't had your soil tested, it might be a good idea so you know what you're working with. And, amending the soil with lots of organic matter each year will not only loosen your clay soil, it will also provide nutrients to the roots of your plants. Hope this information is helpful! |
