What's eating my cardoon?

Cardoon (the wild parent of artichoke) suffers from aphids, especially black bean aphid, which coat stems and leaf undersides in spring. Slugs and snails attack young plants. In warmer US regions, the artichoke plume moth bores into stems. Leaf miners occasionally disfigure the large silvery foliage. Aphids are overwhelmingly the most common issue.

Thick colonies on stem undersides and leaf stalks; honeydew and sooty mold weaken and disfigure plants. Strong water jets to dislodge; insecticidal soap or neem oil sprays; encourage parasitic wasps and ladybugs; avoid excess nitrogen.

Young leaves and growing points eaten in spring, particularly under wet, cool conditions. Iron phosphate or ferric sodium EDTA pellets at planting and through spring; copper tape around containers; hand-collect at night.

Larvae tunnel into the central stalk, causing dieback of stems and loss of developing flower heads. Remove and destroy infested stems promptly; apply Bt kurstaki to young larvae; cover with row fabric to prevent oviposition.