My balcony lettuce got fried in one afternoon because I forgot the sun moves

Jesse Lewis · 2026-10-20T10:00:04.357757+00:00

Last Tuesday I came home from work around 5pm and my whole row of butterhead lettuce on the east-facing balcony was limp and bleached white on one side. I had put the pots out on Sunday thinking morning sun would be gentle, but by mid afternoon the sun swings around and hits that rail hard, and we hit 91 degrees in Portland that day. I panicked and moved everything into the shade with a bedsheet draped over two chairs, then soaked the pots until water ran out the bottom. Three of the six heads came back by the next morning, and the other three were too far gone so I pulled them and tossed them. Now I keep a cheap $12 patio umbrella clamped to the rail and drop it down after noon, and I check the pots with the back of my hand before I leave for work. Has anyone else had a plant look dead and then totally bounce back like that?

The Community Guide

Loading…

My balcony lettuce got fried in one afternoon because I forgot the sun moves | Balcony Gardeners - The Community Guide