Something eating lettuce but not spinach?

11 years ago

I know it's late in the season, but we've had a warm enough "winter" here that I've still got lettuce and spinach in my garden. Problem is, something seems to be eating my lettuce, but leaving the spinach completely alone.

It's not slugs, I don't think, because the damage is a slew of tiny holes in the center of the leaves. I thought aphids, but as I understand it, they should also go after the spinach that's a foot away, and they haven't. They seem to like the red-leaf lettuce best, since those didn't get past sending out a couple true leaves before they were eaten to a nub.

I dislike the idea of using Seven on lettuce when there might be a better solution, and I really want to know what my picky eater is.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Sloan

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Comments (4)

digdirt2
11 years ago
slew of tiny holes in the center of the leaves

Sounds like flea beetles although it could still easily be slugs. You can't rule them out just because they have focused on one crop and not another. Aphids don't leave holes and are easily seen as they don't move much.

eaten to a nub

Sounds like rabbits, mice, or rats.

Unfortunately it can't be diagnosed from a distance. Only you can determine for sure with close observation and monitoring. You will have to examine the plants closely and look for any signs of mice or slugs. Sevin 'may' work if it is flea beetles but it won't work for any of the mammals.

Dave
Donna
11 years ago
Agree with Dave on every point. Would also add that "eaten to a nub" could definitely be DEER.

If you have flea beetles, rotate your crops. They particularly like eggplant and brassicas in my garden. For me, crop rotation and/or growing in pots has pretty well solved the problem.
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Agreed. It's very common to harvest lettuce and spinach by picking individual leaves instead of the entire plant. At that time, you could discard the outermost leaves, which are often getting pretty battered by then anyway. If you harvest the whole plant, the oldest leaves will likely look even more unappetizing.
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My corn shoots, about 3" or they should be haha, are also getting attacked. However, in my case I do not believe it is bugs. This is because in the morning when I check them, the bit of leaf that is torn off is laying right there next to the plant. It's as if something is biting the leaf off only to realize it does not want to eat it after all and then leaving it there. I do have lots of birds around, since I have two feeders(seed cage and finch sock) and a birdbath on the other side of the backyard. I have seen the sparrows picking around the corn patch, but not actually seen them messing with the plants themselves. If this keeps up I'm going to try hanging foil over the plants as I've read those birds don't like shiny objects fluttering around.
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That's caterpillar frass. Have you not noticed that your plants have been munched on for several weeks?
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Hello :) Yea there's no worse feeling then going out the garden before heading to work in the morning and seeing your young ones with holes or even half eaten leaves, slowly getting worse and worse, day by day. I finally had it when I had some young leaf lettuce going and one morning I went out and _____________ GONE! Right next to where the empty spot was a big fat happy caterpillar. Im not sure what kind, it was black with green on it. Now no worries I show it mercy and gently fast-balled it into the woods where it can munch all it pleases. The lesson learned: use pesticides. They also ended up getting some young onions and tomato plants. I got me self some neem oil concentrate and have been spraying everything in my garden every two to three weeks ever since. Make sure to spray early or later in the day so the oils mixed with direct sunlight cause burn. I haven't had that problem yet at all, plus it is organic and can be used all the way up to harvesting. I hope this helps! Also...you're very pretty, lol. Good luck!
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Jacey192
10 years ago
I'm pretty sure it is slugs. I've been doing research on lettuce vs spinach preference for school as are my classmates and the slugs prefer lettuce, usually leaving the spinach untouched.
seysonn
10 years ago
EARWIG is often overlooked. Because they are snicky. They come out at night like slugs and snails but the are smart and run away and hide. They hide in similar fashion to slugs in the cracks, under rocks/stones, ...during the day. They eat much bigger holes than flea beetle. Also they start with the parts of the plants close to the ground(like slog/snail) while flea beetles eat the top most leaves. Of all these insects, slugs damage is more severe. A big fat slug can eat a whole seeding in one sitting.
Another thing is that flee beetles love peppers and eggplant, tomatillo .... all in the nightshade family. FB damage is only critical when seedlings are very small and not when on the established plant.

One more thing: Slugs have chewing/eating pattern similar to caterpillars. The will not usually eat in hole or circular pattern.

This post was edited by seysonn on Wed, Nov 6, 13 at 5:53

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Something eating lettuce but not spinach?

Comments (4)

digdirt2

Donna

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seysonn

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