Allotments 4 All

What causes the heart of some lettuces to go all black and slimey?  Is it just water sitting in there during this warm weather?

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?

Wish I knew - get it in all types every year.
NOT overwatering.

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

http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/nreninf.nsf/FID/-5DAD879463CD25E4CA256D9B000BD0F0?OpenDocument

Try the link above EJ

Iain

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

Yes - so we just have to suffer it!!

You can say that again - I rejected 20 tonnes the other day for the same reason......