Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Lettuce with little spots and flies

BobMcFishBobMcFish Posts: 66
in Problem solving
Hi there
I am growing leaves in a planter. When harvesting them I notice little spots on the leaves. There are little flies on them which fly off when I harvest the leaves. Are these spots harmful? I have more leaves than I can get through but I don’t want to give them to my neighbours if they are not good enough to eat. Can anyone advise please? Hopefully you can see them in the attached photo
Many thanks for any advice you can give me

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited May 2021
    Almost perfect .... I'd be very grateful if you gave me some of those ... you're not anywhere near here are you?  ;)

    If you think there are too many creepy crawlies on them just give them a few minutes in some salted cold water then rinse and drain or shake dry gently. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • BobMcFishBobMcFish Posts: 66
    Dovefromabove said:
    Almost perfect .... I'd be very grateful if you gave me some of those ... you're not anywhere near here are you?  ;)

    🤣 thank you. I’d love to be in your area. I love Norfolk. Sadly on this occasion I’m in Hertfordshire so it’d be a bit of a stretch to bring you some
    Thanks for your advice 👍😀
    do you think it’s worth putting horticultural mesh over them or is it too late? 

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I was born in Herts (well Hitchin hospital ... didn’t live there ... it’s a long story 😂)   

    I wouldn’t bother with the mesh ... you're growing real veg for yourself and your friends ... not for a supermarket buyer .., I think ‘real’ veg with signs of a bit of wildlife are infinitely preferable to stuff that looks as if it’s probably been sprayed to kill off anything that might live anywhere near it. 😃 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • BobMcFishBobMcFish Posts: 66
    Good point. Thank you. Just wanted to check I wouldn’t be poisoning my neighbours 😉
    Hitchin is very nice 👍 
Sign In or Register to comment.