Pest identification
What's eating my black spanish radish?
Flea beetle (Phyllotreta spp.)
Signs: Shot-hole damage to seedling leaves; adults also active in late summer when this variety is often sown
Control: Row cover at sowing; kaolin clay spray; interplant with taller companions to shade the soil
Cabbage root fly (Delia radicum)
Signs: Larvae eat into the large root, causing wilting and extensive internal tunnelling making roots inedible
Control: Brassica collars; row cover; rotate brassica crops on a 3–4 year cycle
Wireworm (Agriotes spp. larvae)
Signs: Bore-holes through the root flesh, allowing secondary rot and rendering roots unsaleable
Control: Deep dig before planting to expose larvae to birds; avoid ground previously under turf
Slugs and snails
Signs: Surface scarring and tunnelling into protruding root shoulders during wet autumn weather
Control: Iron phosphate pellets; sand mulch around crowns; hand collection after dark
Keep black spanish radish pest-free
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Black Spanish Radish pests — FAQ
What is eating my black spanish radish?
Black Spanish radish is a large, slow-maturing winter radish that shares the Brassica pest complex: flea beetles attack seedlings, cabbage root fly larvae bore into the oversized root, and slugs feed on skin and flesh. Its longer time in the ground increases wireworm and root-fly exposure compared to quick summer varieties.
How do I get rid of flea beetle (phyllotreta spp.) on black spanish radish?
Shot-hole damage to seedling leaves; adults also active in late summer when this variety is often sown Row cover at sowing; kaolin clay spray; interplant with taller companions to shade the soil
How do I get rid of cabbage root fly (delia radicum) on black spanish radish?
Larvae eat into the large root, causing wilting and extensive internal tunnelling making roots inedible Brassica collars; row cover; rotate brassica crops on a 3–4 year cycle
How do I get rid of wireworm (agriotes spp. larvae) on black spanish radish?
Bore-holes through the root flesh, allowing secondary rot and rendering roots unsaleable Deep dig before planting to expose larvae to birds; avoid ground previously under turf
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on black spanish radish?
Surface scarring and tunnelling into protruding root shoulders during wet autumn weather Iron phosphate pellets; sand mulch around crowns; hand collection after dark