What's eating my cherry belle radish?

Cherry Belle radish matures in just 22–25 days, but flea beetles and cabbage root fly can still cause serious damage in that short window. Flea beetles pepper cotyledons with tiny holes right after germination; root fly maggots tunnel into the developing root making it unsellable. Slugs attack seedlings. Row cover applied at sowing is the single most effective defence.

Numerous small round holes shotgunning cotyledons and true leaves; severe on seedlings in warm, dry weather Float row cover from sowing; keep soil moist (beetles prefer dry conditions); diatomaceous earth as a barrier; delay sowing until past peak beetle emergence

Larvae tunnel through developing radish roots, causing rotting, wilting, and unmarketable roots Brassica-collar discs around the base of plants; row cover; avoid growing after other brassicas in the same bed

Seedlings severed at soil level; pitting on the surface of young roots Iron phosphate pellets; remove hiding places; hand-pick at dusk