What's eating my borage?

Borage is a tough, fast-growing herb but aphids — particularly the black bean aphid — can colonise stems and flower buds in large numbers. Slugs and snails target seedlings and young plants. Cabbage white caterpillars sometimes feed on leaves. Borage's rapid growth usually outpaces minor infestations, but heavy aphid pressure on flowers reduces pollinator visits.

Dense black colonies massed on stem tips, flower stalks and undersides of leaves; sticky honeydew and sooty mould Squash small colonies by hand early; spray with insecticidal soap; encourage ladybirds, lacewings and parasitic wasps

Young plants and seedlings chewed at the base or eaten entirely; slime trails visible Sow direct and thin rather than transplanting vulnerable seedlings; apply iron phosphate pellets; hand-pick at dusk

Irregular holes eaten in leaves; larger larvae can strip significant amounts of foliage Hand-pick caterpillars and egg clusters; apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt); use fine netting as a physical barrier