Great northern beans harvest - Ask Extension
Hello,
We grew some Great Northern Beans this year but when shelling them we've noticed that a lot of them have a small grey spot(s) on them. Obviousl...
Knowledgebase
Great northern beans harvest #486047
Asked September 20, 2018, 12:46 PM EDT
Hello,
We grew some Great Northern Beans this year but when shelling them we've noticed that a lot of them have a small grey spot(s) on them. Obviously these are not ones you would sell or save for planting next year, but are they safe to eat? I have not been able to find any information on the whether or not they are still edible for home use.
They are still hard, and when we cut one open the discoloration does go a bit inside.
Thank you for any clarification,
Katie
Ramsey County Minnesota
Expert Response
This is likely a bacteria or fungi. I would probably not save, plant or eat these as they may be starting to rot.
These may also be soil-borne and you should also not plant beans in the same location as the pathogens can continue to infest the plants. The following webpage has some common issues in beans. These are snap beans and I know yours are dry beans, but some of the information especially cultural controls can apply to all beans. http://apps.extension.umn.edu/garden/diagnose/plant/vegetable/snapbean/podspots.html
These may also be soil-borne and you should also not plant beans in the same location as the pathogens can continue to infest the plants. The following webpage has some common issues in beans. These are snap beans and I know yours are dry beans, but some of the information especially cultural controls can apply to all beans. http://apps.extension.umn.edu/garden/diagnose/plant/vegetable/snapbean/podspots.html
