Help! Holy lettuce!

Tris 4/14/2013, 6:46 pm

Any ideas what's eating my salad mix before I can?
Help! Holy lettuce! Eceaa6623aa10aa174ec9b64441589e7_zps32a3320f

brainchasm 4/14/2013, 7:07 pm

Tiny little green caterpillars.

Loopers. Mad

Check the underside of leaves at night with a flashlight. Little buggers are green and hide well.

Tris 4/14/2013, 7:11 pm

Dang it! I did poke around but didnt see anything. Are the plants done for? Can I kill em or discourage them?

They must think I'm so nice for growing them a buffet!

brainchasm 4/14/2013, 7:23 pm

In my garden, they were enjoying lettuce, chard, spinach, and occasionally eating my radish leaves. A couple/few nights of focused effort picking them off worked out best for me - I have no continuing damage so far, and didn't have to break out any pesticides, natural or otherwise.

I think the easiest way to find them was to look under leaves that had damage, and especially leaves that had new, unrecognized damage. Caught the little buggers in the act most of time! Twisted Evil

**camprn** 4/14/2013, 7:24 pm

Could be slugs, doesn't look like flea beetle damage. To check for slugs, just place a thin board down on the MM or dirt Over night. In the morning, about 10, flip the board and see if there are slugs on it.

HOUSTONMOM 4/16/2013, 9:55 am

Found the same problem on my lettuce and radish leaves .They look like tiny brown worms and one was a tiny greenish brown hairy caterpillar got rid of them right away.They were hiding under the leaves.Is there a way to treat or prevent them?luckily they were only in one box .Thanks
ps. found a severed radish steam i guess they are cutworm larva?

**RoOsTeR** 4/16/2013, 10:43 am

It's always good to catch things early if you can, but honestly your leaves look pretty darn good! Someplace around here there's a pretty funny quote about "sharing" with some of the critters.
This is also a fantastic post by Undertheblackwalnut:
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t12041-from-a-year-2-novice-to-all-the-new-sfgers-or-how-to-get-past-the-fear-factor#118167

Tris 4/16/2013, 12:52 pm

Found the critter! They are cucumber beetles, looks like green ladybugs. Just ordered some tulle, that should keep em out Very Happy

Does anyone know when the lettuce/leafy greens are ready to eat?

Goosegirl 4/16/2013, 1:07 pm

Tris wrote:Does anyone know when the lettuce/leafy greens are ready to eat?

A lot of us raid them as they grow, taking the outside leaves as they are big enough to put in a salad. Some have he patience to wait for them to fully head, but I am not one of them!

GG

Tris 4/16/2013, 1:54 pm

Fabulous! I cut some off today, they were going over my lines and shading another plant so I figured it was time Smile

I tasted one, and fed the rest to my rabbits Laughing

FamilyGardening 4/17/2013, 2:43 am

im with Rooster....while looking at your pic I thought what holes?....your greens look awesome to me..... Very Happy

glad to hear you found what was eating the greens Very Happy

happy gardening
rose

Tris 4/17/2013, 1:56 pm

FamilyGardening wrote:im with Rooster....while looking at your pic I thought what holes?....your greens look awesome to me.....

glad to hear you found what was eating the greens
happy gardening
rose

Thank you! They are growing SO fast, I'm going to cut some up to eat tonight I think Very Happy

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