Little Gem lettuce- what's eating it?
Total newbie, but the little gems planted 3 weeks ago are growing really well. The Outer leaves are clearly being eaten, they've got lots of holes in them. They're in a raised bed so no slug problems. I've looked at the underside of the leaves and can see no baby grubs or anything doing the munching.
What am I missing and what can I do?
I'm afraid raised beds don't stop slugs - they get everywhere. Also birds - especially pidgeons - love lettuce.
they're really well netted over so don't think pigeons are it.
(I will though keep a look out for slugs) but the pattern of holes rather than bits off the sides suggests some kind of fly or grub.
Hmmm...
Hi
Some thing ate all my iceburgs and now started on my little gems. The iceburgs were totally gone. They covered up so not the birds. There was no signs to say it was slugs, put a slug pub out but not had any slugs in it yet.
At least little gems are quick to germinate so just started some more.
Good luck
it will be slugs, I have beer traps on my allotment and they fill up and need cleaning out weekly. Remember for this type of trap to work you need one ever square metre.
Good luck
Tim
it will be slugs, I have beer traps on my allotment and they fill up and need cleaning out weekly. Remember for this type of trap to work you need one ever square metre.
Good luck
Tim
Try boiling up about 10 crushed garlic cloves in a couple of pints of water - leave in the water to cool and steep - next day filter of the garlic put the evil smelling potion in a plastic bottle then use about 1 teaspoon per large watering can and water your lettuce with it when you see the first munch has been taken and again after rain- slugs and snails hate the smell and I use it with great success on my hostas as well
I love the idea of using garlic to fend off the slugs, will try that thank you!
have started with beer traps and I only ever seem to catch one or two (how often do I change the beer?) It says once a week but if I'm not catching them maybe the cheapo beer I'm using isn't to their taste!! LOL.
that said I've basically accepted an amount of slug damage and it hasn't stopped the great lettuce I get from the plot.
here's an update in my Flickr stream for you lovely peeps!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34459063@N00/3610997354/