What's eating my 'bright lights' swiss chard?

Bright Lights Swiss Chard is most at risk from black bean aphids and beet leaf miners, which attack its large colourful leaves. Slugs and snails target young plants. In late summer, earwigs and caterpillars of the angle shades moth may also chew leaves. Row covers and regular scouting keep damage manageable.

Dense black clusters on leaf undersides and stems; leaves curl inward, and honeydew promotes black sooty mould growth. Hose off with water; use insecticidal soap for heavy infestations. Grow nasturtiums as a sacrificial trap crop nearby. Encourage ladybirds.

Translucent blister-mines between leaf surfaces, causing leaves to discolour and die back from the affected areas. Cover with insect mesh netting spring to early summer. Remove and bin mined leaves. Practice crop rotation annually.

Large, irregular holes in leaves, especially on seedlings; slime trails across leaves and surrounding soil. Use iron phosphate slug pellets or beer traps. Hand-pick after dark. Surround plants with grit or crushed eggshell as a deterrent.

Caterpillars chew irregular holes in leaves at night from midsummer onward; caterpillars hide in soil or leaf litter by day. Hand-pick caterpillars at dusk. Encourage ground-feeding birds. Use a biological control nematode (Steinernema carpocapsae) drench in warm, moist soil conditions.