Pest identification
What's eating my celeriac 'prinz'?
Celery leaf miner (Euleia heraclei)
Signs: White to brown blotch mines inside leaf tissue; heavily mined plants produce smaller, misshapen roots
Control: Cover with fine insect mesh throughout the season; remove and destroy mined leaves immediately; clear all debris at harvest
Slugs and snails
Signs: Surface cavities and channels in the celeriac root; crowns grazed at night
Control: Iron phosphate pellets around plants; encourage hedgehogs and ground beetles; avoid mulching tight against the crown
Carrot fly (Psila rosae)
Signs: Rusty larval tunnels in lower root tissue; less severe than on carrots/parsnips but still disfiguring
Control: 60 cm upright mesh barrier; rotate away from Apiaceae each year
Aphids
Signs: Colonies on young leaves and growing tips cause distortion and can transmit viruses
Control: Squash colonies by hand; spray with insecticidal soap; avoid high-nitrogen feeds
Keep celeriac 'prinz' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Celeriac 'Prinz' pests — FAQ
What is eating my celeriac 'prinz'?
Celeriac 'Prinz' is most troubled by celery leaf miner, which mines foliage and weakens root development. Slugs scar the irregular surface of the celeriac bulb. Carrot fly occasionally attacks, and aphids colonise young growth. Insect mesh and slug control from transplanting onward are the key defences.
How do I get rid of celery leaf miner (euleia heraclei) on celeriac 'prinz'?
White to brown blotch mines inside leaf tissue; heavily mined plants produce smaller, misshapen roots Cover with fine insect mesh throughout the season; remove and destroy mined leaves immediately; clear all debris at harvest
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on celeriac 'prinz'?
Surface cavities and channels in the celeriac root; crowns grazed at night Iron phosphate pellets around plants; encourage hedgehogs and ground beetles; avoid mulching tight against the crown
How do I get rid of carrot fly (psila rosae) on celeriac 'prinz'?
Rusty larval tunnels in lower root tissue; less severe than on carrots/parsnips but still disfiguring 60 cm upright mesh barrier; rotate away from Apiaceae each year
How do I get rid of aphids on celeriac 'prinz'?
Colonies on young leaves and growing tips cause distortion and can transmit viruses Squash colonies by hand; spray with insecticidal soap; avoid high-nitrogen feeds