Can bean haulms affected by rust be composted?

[JohnParticipant]

Hi Charles

I assume this is rust affecting my Aquadulce broad beans. The RHS recommends NOT composting this material but is this another myth? I would prefer to compost the haulms but bear in mind that my compost heap tends to be a ‘cold’ heap.

Hope you had a good Alhampton garden open day, sorry we missed it this year.

John

[charlesModerator]

Hello John, yes it was a great day thanks. Those leaves are rusty and I would compost them, even in a cold heap.I think that such diseases are more to do with conditions and probably its a result of plants being short of moisture.

[JohnParticipant]

Thank you Charles. We have had less than 10mm in the last three weeks and most of that in the last few days – one of the drawbacks of sunny Exmouth!

John

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