Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Examine the pods for sunken dark marks.
- Check if the spots have a yellow halo.
- Look at the stems for lesions.
Likely causes
Anthracnose
Most likelyHow to tell: Dark, sunken lesions appear on leaves, stems, and pods.
What to do: Remove and destroy all infected plant parts immediately. Avoid overhead watering to keep the foliage dry.
Bacterial blight
PossibleHow to tell: Small water soaked spots that turn brown with a yellow halo.
What to do: Improve air circulation by spacing plants further apart. Do not work in the garden when the leaves are wet.
Find out what's wrong with your common bean
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
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When to worry
If the spots cover a large portion of the leaves or move to the pods, the harvest may be compromised. Small, isolated spots can often be managed by pruning.
Stopping it coming back
Always use disease free seeds and rotate your crops every year.
Common Bean: spots? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your common bean and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free
Questions people ask
- Can I eat beans with spots?
- If the pods have lesions, it is best to discard them. Do not save seeds from infected plants.
- Does humidity cause spots?
- Yes, high humidity and wet leaves create the perfect environment for fungal spores to spread.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Common Bean
- Why are my common bean leaves turning yellow?
- What is eating my common bean leaves?
- Why is my common bean plant drooping?
- Why is my common bean plant growing leggy?
- Why are my common bean leaves getting brown tips?
- Why are my common bean leaves falling off?
- Why is my common bean not producing flowers?
- How do I fix root rot in my common bean?
- Why are my common bean leaves curling?
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.