Red leaves and pests

[veggiechicken]

I'm sure I've read somewhere that red leaves plants are less attractive to pests (butterflies/slugs etc) than green leaved ones.
Rary reminded me of this at https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...ml#post1669071
Also, I found these self-sown lettuces in the garden and they're undamaged by anything. Those in the pot are beside dahlias which have been decimated by something.



Have you found this?

[Small pumpkin]

I’ve found that the red leaves survive better against bug attack’s on most things. But I’m growing kale - KX1 for the first time this year and it’s full of holes

[rary]

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Have you found this?

I have a red lettuce in the garden but I sowed it myself, so it can't be the one you lost

[rary]

Sorry VC couldn't resist that last post but yes less damage to red coloured veg, though I see SP has managed to find a veg that is different, there must be a reason for this(less damage to red veg, not sp finding one that's different) and I wonder if anyone has looked into this scientifically, surely one for a graduate doing a theses or whatever you call it

[Penellype]

I grew redbor kale, hoping it would be pest free because of its colour. The first year it was attacked by tortrix moth and the 2nd year it became completely encrusted with grey cabbage aphid, so while I didn't have slug or butterfly issues, very little of it was actually edible!

[SarrissUK]

Yes! Red lettuce is definitely less attacked than green. I have oakleaf lettuce, some green and some red, or at least I think they're oakleaf lol The green soon perished, mostly to slugs I think, but the red has grown on and I've picked from it for a couple of months! Now it's gone to flower, I'm hoping to save seeds from it

[Sweet savory]

I agree. Grew red lettuce grenadine this year and it has thrived. But i’m with the slugs as I prefer the taste of green lettuce too!

[veggiechicken]

My experiment has started!
I've sown 4 x 4' rows of "Headed Mixed Lettuce * ", Red Iceberg and a red cabbage "Romanov F1".

* All Year Round, Black Seeded Simpson, Catalogna, Iceberg2, Lobjoits Green Cos, Lollo Rossa, Merveille des Quatre Saisons and Romaine Ballon.

NB They're all past their sow by dates so I don't expect all 1250 seeds to germinate.

Watch this space!

[SarrissUK]

My experiment has started!
I've sown 4 x 4' rows of "Headed Mixed Lettuce * ", Red Iceberg and a red cabbage "Romanov F1".

* All Year Round, Black Seeded Simpson, Catalogna, Iceberg2, Lobjoits Green Cos, Lollo Rossa, Merveille des Quatre Saisons and Romaine Ballon.

NB They're all past their sow by dates so I don't expect all 1250 seeds to germinate.

Watch this space!

Oooh I like a VC experiment! And you just watch, all 1250 will of course germinate now haha

[Babru]

Lots of my green leaved dahlias have confetti leaves, whilst my two red leaved ones are untouched. I think red leaf is the way to go!

[Bren In Pots]

I've got Salad bowl lettuce in my garden the green ones always have more holes than the red, same goes for Ruby chard its always least effected of all my Chard.

[Small pumpkin]

My experiment has started!
I've sown 4 x 4' rows of "Headed Mixed Lettuce * ", Red Iceberg and a red cabbage "Romanov F1".

* All Year Round, Black Seeded Simpson, Catalogna, Iceberg2, Lobjoits Green Cos, Lollo Rossa, Merveille des Quatre Saisons and Romaine Ballon.

NB They're all past their sow by dates so I don't expect all 1250 seeds to germinate.

Watch this space!

I’ll be watching with interesting. You’re growing some of my favourite varieties in your experiment.
I’ve found Lobjoits Green Cos is quite good at withstanding bug attack’s. then it is bitter and unpleasant. Don’t know why I grow it really....... hold on..... yes I do, I have seeds

[rary]

My experiment has started!
I've sown 4 x 4' rows of "Headed Mixed Lettuce * ", Red Iceberg and a red cabbage "Romanov F1".

* All Year Round, Black Seeded Simpson, Catalogna, Iceberg2, Lobjoits Green Cos, Lollo Rossa, Merveille des Quatre Saisons and Romaine Ballon.

NB They're all past their sow by dates so I don't expect all 1250 seeds to germinate.

Watch this space!

Are you letting them grow as they will VC or will you be feeding the plants or using any slug protection the reason for asking is that I have found that green veg growing in high fertility soil would appear to be softer? or lusher than plants growing in what may be called average soil possibly the red veg are the same but just not as noticable

[veggiechicken]

Give 'em chance, rary, I only sowed them yesterday!
I don't "feed" plants in the ground or use "slug protection". At the moment, they're in a "cage" to stop the dogs from digging the seeds up. It won't keep butterflies out or stop slugs crawling in.

[rary]

I’ll be watching with interesting. You’re growing some of my favourite varieties in your experiment.
I’ve found Lobjoits Green Cos is quite good at withstanding bug attack’s. then it is bitter and unpleasant. Don’t know why I grow it really....... hold on..... yes I do, I have seeds

Sp I think you are falling deeply under VCs spell, next you will be randomly sowing just to give the seeds a chance