What's eating my daikon 'tokinashi'?

Daikon 'Tokinashi' is targeted by flea beetles, cabbage root fly, aphids, and slugs in the garden. The biggest threat is flea beetles, which riddle young leaves with tiny holes. Use row covers early in the season and practice crop rotation to keep populations low.

Tiny round holes scattered across seedling leaves; heavy infestations stunt or kill young plants Cover seedlings with fine mesh row covers immediately after sowing; delay planting to avoid peak adult emergence; use sticky yellow traps to monitor numbers

Larvae tunnel into the root, causing wilting and rotting of the developing daikon Fit brassica collars or fine mesh at the soil surface around each plant to prevent egg-laying; rotate crops each year

Dense grey-green colonies on leaves and stems; distorted foliage and sooty mould Blast off with a strong jet of water; encourage ladybirds and parasitic wasps; apply insecticidal soap if colonies persist

Ragged holes in leaves at night; seedlings can be grazed to the ground Apply iron phosphate pellets around plants; hand-pick at dusk; use copper tape or gritty mulch as a barrier