Pest identification
What's eating my chinese broccoli 'kailaan green'?
Diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella)
Signs: Tiny wriggling green larvae mine into leaf tissue from the underside, leaving translucent 'windows'; attack all growth stages including flower shoots.
Control: Bt kurstaki sprayed to leaf undersides; row covers prevent adult egg-laying; avoid broad-spectrum insecticides that kill natural enemies.
Flea beetle (Phyllotreta striolata — striped flea beetle especially targets Brassica oleracea)
Signs: Shot-holes throughout leaf blades; concentrated on seedlings and young transplants; reduces marketability of edible stems.
Control: Row covers from planting; kaolin clay spray; delay transplanting to reduce pressure during peak adult emergence.
Cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae)
Signs: Grey-green waxy colonies clustering on stems and inside developing flower shoots; honeydew and mould follow heavy infestations.
Control: Insecticidal soap or neem oil; water-jet knockdown; monitor frequently as colonies spread fast in warm weather.
Cabbage root fly (Delia radicum)
Signs: Root maggots stunt plants; outer leaves yellow and wilt; seedlings may die before they can bolt and be harvested.
Control: Brassica collars at soil level; fine mesh row covers; biological control with Steinernema feltiae nematodes in moist conditions.
Keep chinese broccoli 'kailaan green' pest-free
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Chinese Broccoli 'Kailaan Green' pests — FAQ
What is eating my chinese broccoli 'kailaan green'?
Chinese Broccoli 'Kailaan Green' faces the same brassica pests as kale and broccoli: flea beetles, diamondback moth caterpillars, aphids, and cabbage root fly. Flea beetles and diamondback moth larvae are especially destructive on the edible flowering shoots. Row covers and Bt are the headline controls.
How do I get rid of diamondback moth (plutella xylostella) on chinese broccoli 'kailaan green'?
Tiny wriggling green larvae mine into leaf tissue from the underside, leaving translucent 'windows'; attack all growth stages including flower shoots. Bt kurstaki sprayed to leaf undersides; row covers prevent adult egg-laying; avoid broad-spectrum insecticides that kill natural enemies.
How do I get rid of flea beetle (phyllotreta striolata — striped flea beetle especially targets brassica oleracea) on chinese broccoli 'kailaan green'?
Shot-holes throughout leaf blades; concentrated on seedlings and young transplants; reduces marketability of edible stems. Row covers from planting; kaolin clay spray; delay transplanting to reduce pressure during peak adult emergence.
How do I get rid of cabbage aphid (brevicoryne brassicae) on chinese broccoli 'kailaan green'?
Grey-green waxy colonies clustering on stems and inside developing flower shoots; honeydew and mould follow heavy infestations. Insecticidal soap or neem oil; water-jet knockdown; monitor frequently as colonies spread fast in warm weather.
How do I get rid of cabbage root fly (delia radicum) on chinese broccoli 'kailaan green'?
Root maggots stunt plants; outer leaves yellow and wilt; seedlings may die before they can bolt and be harvested. Brassica collars at soil level; fine mesh row covers; biological control with Steinernema feltiae nematodes in moist conditions.