LETTUCE TROUBLESHOOTER

Q Why are there yellow patches my on lettuce leaves? A Downy mildew can attack outdoor plants especially if they’re stressed, crowded and there’s high humidity. Yellow blotches on leaves are followed by white fur-like growth underneath and finally a browning and rotting of foliage. Remove affected plants promptly and dispose of the blotchy leaves; catch it early and you should still have the main part of the plant to eat. If you repeatedly experience problems, seek out resistant cultivars. Q Where have my seedlings gone and how can I protect them? A Look closely and you should find the remaining well-rasped stump. Young salad plants are delicious slug and snail caviar. Boost your defences by transplanting large module-grown plants or by using a combination of grit, nematodes, organic slug pellets and nightly patrols with a torch. Q Why have so few of my seeds germinated? A Did you sow them in a hot sunny greenhouse, or outside during the height of summer? Lettuces are cool-weather plants, which is why our British climate is perfect. However, hot spells will cause poor germination. Seek out cooler, slightly shaded parts of the garden if you’re sowing during summer. Q Why is my lettuce bolting and how can I prevent it? A Many leafy plants such as lettuce, rocket and spinach will start to flower if stressed – they’re producing the next generation of plants before they die. For maximum foliage, keep the plants growing healthily for as long as possible. Water deeply during dry spells and sow them in a moisture-retentive soil improved with organic matter. It pays to mulch around them too.