[mralgae]

hi folks, got my first problem with growing F&V.

butter head lettuce bought from garden center partly gown. all was going well untill the last few days when i was checking them over and found what looked like a mildew on one or two of the leaves. checked them again today and i have had to removes a load of the leaves.
have searched around even on google and although have found a bit of info i cant find anything to treat it, if it is treatable at all.

any help would be appritciated....thanks..

[michael brenock]

you probably have downy mildew on your lettuce or else Botrytis. The former is encouraged by warm moist stagnant air and the latter is very common in cold damp conditions. There are few chemical controls available to the home gardener for treating these and the disease probably came with the plants. Give plenty space and good ventilation. Try and grow from seed in future and reduce the Nitrogen feed and increase the Potassium feed. Observe good rotation and try different varieties of lettuce.
michael brenock horticultural advisor (retired)

[mralgae]

hi michael, thanks so much for your help. to be honest i have every intention on growing from seed next year, just this year was very rushed as its a new garden to use so just got what we could. seen the downey type and looks very similar to it, which again is my own fault as they are probably to close together in their site, (self made growing box) will see if i can space them out more tomorrow.

thanks again for your help....