One head here, one head there wilts and dies. I can't figure it out. These are pretty mature heads, not seedlings or transplants. The outside leaves wilt first, then the entire plant goes. Plants next to the wilted ones are healthy; it doesn't spread to them.
There is no discoloration, fungus or marks of disease. I can see no sign of cutworms or aphids or any other pests besides slugs.
Lettuce mysteriously wilting
Maybe something down below is eating the roots?
Agreed, sounds like mole damage.
Moles we don't have. Voles we do. But I've dug up the roots of the dead plants looking for damage and found no signs of it.
I had the same happening to some of my plants, and after some gentle digging, I found some termites. I sprinkled the surface of the soil with Epson salt, watered it in thoroughly, and am glad to say,it seems to have worked.
Maybe you have something similar?...
Does Epson salt work for ants too. The ants eat my lettuce like crazy.
From what I understand Mole eat grubs, etc. Voles eat roots, etc. One way to remember
Moles begins with M - M for Meat
Voles begins with V - V for vegetables
Sorry, I can't help with your wilting lettuce problem - I'm the only person on the planet that doesn't care for lettuce :(
onyxwar,
I can't find the article I read about the Epson salt, but this I know will work for ants. Just be careful with the Borax. It is poisonous, so keep away from your pets...
Mix 1 Tablespoon Borax (you'll get it at your pharmacy, or at in the same isle as other household cleaners) with 1 Tablespoon Sugar and 1/3 Cup of water. Mix this up, put it in a paper cup with the the lip cut down close to the mixture and then place this where you have an ant problem. Cover it with a pot or something similar. They take this to their nests where the little ones are killed.
Good luck
This message was edited May 21, 2010 6:15 AM
Thanks will try anything at this point!
Hmmm - I'd be a little worried about the Borax - wouldn't it be toxic to humans?
I found out that Borax was originally used as an eye wash. Crazy!
It is only toxic to animals in larger doses. I went ahead and put some small broken pots over them, the ants get in fine and the animals leave them alone, so far.