Broad beans... Leaves wrapping up, flowers not opening, few beans and deformed.

elkin_tony

The entire packet of seeds has gone this way. Pica are from the first planting. A second planting in a different location is doing the same. There is no blackfly infestation of the plants. Anyone advise the cause please if you have met this. Cannot see any bugs /eggs/mites. Are the seeds carrying a virus or is there something I have missed? Thank you. 

Dovefromabove

I wonder if it’s the same as this problem on an earlier thread?
https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/comment/2197372#Comment_2197372

elkin_tony

Thank you for that link. Looks similar and I do compost grass clippings treated with a moss tox + feed, but the compost has also been dug into the runner beans and other veg which looks perfect. It's a bar steward! 

Dovefromabove

I’ll keep my fingers crossed your runners develop normally 🤞 
Let us know how things go. 

elkin_tony

Just found a few threads and pics from around the web looking exactly the same as mine. In all cases the problem is put down to a long lasting herbicide. In some cases found in animal manure from their grazing. Interestingly I used a commercial bulk compost from a production facility near me which takes in organic material from all sources I guess including grass cutting by the local authorities. Unfortunately I mixed in my own compost so it could be either source causing the problem.  Now I see the top of the tomato plants are looking the same, curling up with poor setting of the fruit. Worryingly it may take 3 years to degrade in the soil. Flowers next year I guess. 😝