[Maryann]

I think I've got the darned things on my lates crop of cut and come again salad leaves  

Tiny tiny little holes all over the rocket and some of the other leaves.

First question:
Can I get rid of them - if so how?

Is it too late to put net curtain or fleece over (the crop is in a large tub)

and lastly....they don't look pretty and I have removed as many leaves as I can but would it hurt you to eat them?  :shock:

Thanks for any advice.

Ooh, and do you agree that it is flea beetle causing such tiny holes in crop?

Ta.

[gobs]

Strange for this late and cold but sounds like them.

You can eat no probs. Not much you can improve now. You can fleece a new lot next time.

[Maryann]

Oops, I may be posting this twice, not sure what happened but lost my reply mid-way, sorry if repeating myself  :oops:

Thanks Gobs, I was hoping the fleece might add some protection to the salad as I would like to keep growing it through the winter.

We have a sort of mini greenhouse - I say sort of as even after 2 weekends of shouting and swearing by hubby & son it never got finished. It was one of those 'bargain' cheapy jobs that you get instructions in Chinese and 100's nuts, bolts, washers and nothing fits!

Anyway it is like a large drafty coldframe now and the tub of mixed salad sits inside it with the last of the tomatoes. I have put some fleece over it now and it is growing well but wondered if it was flea beetles or thrips causing the holes.

some photos attached so you can have a laugh  

[gobs]

Thrips don't cause full holes for a long while.

But I can't see any holes.

[Maryann]

Well, I picked the worst of the "holey" leaves off and then covered it with fleece and I must admit it don't look too bad now.

I doubt you could have seen the holes anyway - they really were tiny but lots of them.

Fingers crossed, it might be too cold for them now - as you said.

This is the third crop of mixed salad leaves we have planted up in tubs this year and as it's right by the back door it gets picked most days for sandwiches and salads. Really good value. We change the soil and clean out the tubs for each new crop but I am so pleased with it and was really worried when I saw all those little holes.

Thanks for replies.

M.