Red Spots on My Lettuce

by Nicole
(MA)

I have some lettuce plants that I started early in a makeshift greenhouse. They are making good heads now, but at one point leaves got rusty looking spots. Newer leaves don't seem to have as much of this mottling.

Plants seem healthy and are growing well. Is this a plant "disease", and if a plant gets a disease is it still edible if it survives? Thank you!


ANSWER:

Many varieties of lettuce will form red spots naturally. Do you know which variety of lettuce seeds you planted? Ruby Red and Red Sails lettuce both will form red spots on their leaves naturally as the plants develop.

In general, it is safe to eat plants even when there is some damage from a pest or disease. As long as you wash it first, and it tastes good, it should be fine to eat!