What's eating my cavolo nero?

Cavolo Nero (black kale) is a brassica grown through autumn and winter, facing the same pest spectrum as kale. Pigeons are especially damaging in winter, stripping the long dark leaves clean. Mealy cabbage aphid colonies spread rapidly in spring. Caterpillars target summer sowings. Slugs are the primary threat to young transplants.

Leaves stripped to the central stalk; damage concentrated in late autumn and winter when other food is sparse. Drape insect or bird netting (max 2 cm mesh) over canes above the plants; check and reset regularly through winter.

Grey-white waxy colonies on undersides of dark leaves, camouflaged against the leaf colour; yellowing and stunted new growth. Water jet on undersides; insecticidal soap; crush colonies by hand; companion-plant with French marigolds to attract hoverflies.

Irregular holes through leaf blade; yellow and black (large white) or yellow-green (small white) caterpillars visible. Remove egg clusters from leaf undersides; hand-pick caterpillars; Bt spray; fine mesh netting from spring.

Young transplants eaten to soil level; holes chewed in lower leaves; slime trails on remaining foliage. Iron phosphate pellets around transplants; beer traps; copper collars; hand-pick at night.