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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: Mrs Ava on July 13, 2005, 19:06:49

Title: slimey lettuce
Post by: Mrs Ava on July 13, 2005, 19:06:49
What causes the heart of some lettuces to go all black and slimey?  Is it just water sitting in there during this warm weather?
Title: Re: slimey lettuce
Post by: Svea on July 13, 2005, 19:26:59
hmm, i thought there was something mentioned in dr. hesswhatshisname. have you checked there?
some mention in the celery section - maybe it's the same kinda thing?
Title: Re: slimey lettuce
Post by: tim on July 13, 2005, 19:48:22
Wish I knew - get it in all types every year.
NOT overwatering.
Title: Re: slimey lettuce
Post by: Icyberjunkie on July 13, 2005, 20:36:00
If not an infection,  it can be due to the lettuce growing too rapidly resulting in large weak cells that then breakdown internally and rot.   Over irrigation or to rich a soil can both be factors in this coupled with the hot weather. i.e. growing conditions that are to good!

You may need to try a different variety more suited to hot conditions. 

Iain
Title: Re: slimey lettuce
Post by: Icyberjunkie on July 13, 2005, 20:45:44
http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/nreninf.nsf/FID/-5DAD879463CD25E4CA256D9B000BD0F0?OpenDocument

Try the link above EJ

Iain
Title: Re: slimey lettuce
Post by: Mrs Ava on July 14, 2005, 12:30:41
Yup, that is me.   Tip burn and thus rotting hearts in my lettuce, and it looks that there isn't much that can be done about it.  Oh well, I have plenty of different lettuce, and of course, it isn't such a problem with the cut-and-come-again types. 

Thanks for the link Iain.  ;D
Title: Re: slimey lettuce
Post by: tim on July 14, 2005, 12:44:40
Yes - so we just have to suffer it!!
Title: Re: slimey lettuce
Post by: Icyberjunkie on July 14, 2005, 20:36:11
You can say that again - I rejected 20 tonnes the other day for the same reason......
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