Wilting Lollo Lettuce

[Marb67]

Well, another plant that started life very healthy, potted on in a large hanging tim in semi shade (full shade in midday sun) and already it is wilting and the leaves are sickly. I just don't seem to have the knack as my sister in law is doing the same thing and yet look at hers in comparison. I'm using Lemingtons compost. She feeds with vitax Q4, which I have just done myself a couple of days ago but with no effect.


My effort


My sissy in laws

[rary]

Do you water from the top, if so I would suggest you sit the pot into water, other than how you water I would suggest that you keep the plant in semishade if its very warm

[Marb67]

I am keeping it in semi shade but alas, it's another failure. Watering from the top gently is fine as the plant needs to cool down.

[Vince G]

Could be cutworm (which is a generic term for a number of soil dwelling caterpillars of various moths). Basically they munch the root just under the surface meaning the plant has no chance. No idea how to prevent them other than bribe your local blackbird to come and root around. I just sow enough to make sure I have enough. I have perfectly healthy rows of lettuces but random lettuces along the row wilt and die thanks to these buggers.

[Marb67]

Could be cutworm (which is a generic term for a number of soil dwelling caterpillars of various moths). Basically they munch the root just under the surface meaning the plant has no chance. No idea how to prevent them other than bribe your local blackbird to come and root around. I just sow enough to make sure I have enough. I have perfectly healthy rows of lettuces but random lettuces along the row wilt and die thanks to these buggers.

never heard of them but one more to add to my list of pest woes. In such a small space I have never known so many pests.