Pest identification
What's eating my beetroot 'boltardy'?
Black bean aphid (Aphis fabae)
Signs: Thick black colonies on stems and leaf undersides; honeydew and sooty mould; distorted new growth.
Control: Remove by hand or with a water jet. Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray. Encourage natural predators such as ladybirds.
Beet leafminer (Pegomya hyoscyami)
Signs: Blotchy, whitish mines visible within leaves; heavily affected leaves die back.
Control: Pick off mined leaves promptly. Fit row covers before adult flies are active (April–May in UK). No chemical control is reliably effective.
Slugs & snails
Signs: Seedling stems severed at ground level; irregular holes in older leaves; slime trails on soil.
Control: Apply iron phosphate pellets. Use beer traps. Sow under cover and transplant once plants are more robust.
Keep beetroot 'boltardy' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Beetroot 'Boltardy' pests — FAQ
What is eating my beetroot 'boltardy'?
Beetroot 'Boltardy' — one of the most popular UK varieties — is targeted by blackfly aphids, beet leafminers, and slugs on seedlings. Rabbits and deer also browse the tops in open gardens. Its bolt-resistance makes it a longer-season crop, giving pests more time to establish, so weekly monitoring is worthwhile.
How do I get rid of black bean aphid (aphis fabae) on beetroot 'boltardy'?
Thick black colonies on stems and leaf undersides; honeydew and sooty mould; distorted new growth. Remove by hand or with a water jet. Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray. Encourage natural predators such as ladybirds.
How do I get rid of beet leafminer (pegomya hyoscyami) on beetroot 'boltardy'?
Blotchy, whitish mines visible within leaves; heavily affected leaves die back. Pick off mined leaves promptly. Fit row covers before adult flies are active (April–May in UK). No chemical control is reliably effective.
How do I get rid of slugs & snails on beetroot 'boltardy'?
Seedling stems severed at ground level; irregular holes in older leaves; slime trails on soil. Apply iron phosphate pellets. Use beer traps. Sow under cover and transplant once plants are more robust.