What's eating my belgian endive (witloof)?

Belgian endive (Witloof) is attacked by slugs and aphids in the garden phase, and by leaf miners on outdoor foliage. Rabbits will graze the large basal leaves readily. The forcing phase (blanching roots indoors) avoids most pests, making the outdoor growing period the main risk window for pest control.

Holes in outer leaves and damage to crowns; seedlings and young transplants particularly vulnerable after rain. Iron phosphate slug pellets; copper barriers around beds; hand-pick after dark; ensure good drainage to reduce slug habitat.

Clusters on undersides of leaves and at growing tips; stunted growth, leaf curl, and sticky honeydew deposits. Knock off with water jet; introduce or encourage natural predators; insecticidal soap for heavier colony buildups.

Serpentine white tunnels winding across leaf surfaces; outer leaves become weak and photosynthetically inefficient. Remove mined leaves; protect with insect-proof fleece; avoid planting near other susceptible hosts such as lettuce.

Clean-cut removal of outer leaves and growing tips; entire young plants grazed to stubs overnight. Install rabbit-proof wire mesh (at least 90 cm tall, buried 15 cm underground); use individual plant guards on young transplants.