Pest identification
What's eating my forellenschluss lettuce?
Slugs and snails
Signs: Holes chewed through outer leaves; entire hearts consumed on young plants; slime trails as evidence
Control: Iron phosphate pellets; gritty mulch around stems; water early in the day; raised bed with copper tape
Lettuce aphid (Nasonovia ribisnigri)
Signs: Dense green-yellow aphid colonies inside the head, contaminating harvested leaves
Control: Check hearts at harvest; dunk heads in cold salted water to dislodge; apply insecticidal soap before heads close
Rabbits and deer
Signs: Whole plants grazed to the ground, or outer leaves stripped; typically overnight
Control: Garden netting or low fencing (rabbits: 60 cm buried 15 cm below ground); row cover; harvest promptly when mature
Keep forellenschluss lettuce pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Forellenschluss Lettuce pests — FAQ
What is eating my forellenschluss lettuce?
Forellenschluss (Trout's Back) lettuce is an Austrian heirloom Butterhead type that attracts the same pests as most lettuces: slugs are the primary threat, especially to the tender base and heart. Aphids colonise the head interior, and caterpillars leave ragged holes. Deer and rabbits will readily browse entire plants if garden access is possible.
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on forellenschluss lettuce?
Holes chewed through outer leaves; entire hearts consumed on young plants; slime trails as evidence Iron phosphate pellets; gritty mulch around stems; water early in the day; raised bed with copper tape
How do I get rid of lettuce aphid (nasonovia ribisnigri) on forellenschluss lettuce?
Dense green-yellow aphid colonies inside the head, contaminating harvested leaves Check hearts at harvest; dunk heads in cold salted water to dislodge; apply insecticidal soap before heads close
How do I get rid of rabbits and deer on forellenschluss lettuce?
Whole plants grazed to the ground, or outer leaves stripped; typically overnight Garden netting or low fencing (rabbits: 60 cm buried 15 cm below ground); row cover; harvest promptly when mature