Pest identification
What's eating my glaskins perpetual rhubarb?
Aphids (Myzus persicae and relatives)
Signs: Sticky honeydew and curled, yellowing leaves; colonies visible on leaf undersides and young stems.
Control: Blast off with a strong jet of water, apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; encourage ladybugs and lacewings.
Slugs and snails
Signs: Ragged holes in young leaves and crowns, slime trails left overnight.
Control: Apply iron phosphate or ferric sodium EDTA slug pellets around crowns; use beer traps; remove debris where they shelter.
Vine weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus)
Signs: Adult notches leaf margins; white C-shaped larvae eat roots and crowns, causing sudden wilting.
Control: Apply nematodes (Heterorhabditis bacteriophora) to moist soil in late summer; inspect and destroy larvae when dividing crowns.
Rabbits and deer
Signs: Young petioles and leaves cleanly browsed to the ground, especially in spring.
Control: Install a wire mesh fence (at least 3 ft high, buried 6 in below grade for rabbits); use motion-activated deterrents for deer.
Keep glaskins perpetual rhubarb pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Glaskins Perpetual Rhubarb pests — FAQ
What is eating my glaskins perpetual rhubarb?
Rhubarb's main threats are crown-boring beetles, aphids clustering on leaf undersides, and slugs shredding young stems in spring. Rabbits and deer will graze young growth if unprotected. Remove aphid colonies by hand or with insecticidal soap; use slug pellets or copper tape; fence against rabbits and deer.
How do I get rid of aphids (myzus persicae and relatives) on glaskins perpetual rhubarb?
Sticky honeydew and curled, yellowing leaves; colonies visible on leaf undersides and young stems. Blast off with a strong jet of water, apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; encourage ladybugs and lacewings.
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on glaskins perpetual rhubarb?
Ragged holes in young leaves and crowns, slime trails left overnight. Apply iron phosphate or ferric sodium EDTA slug pellets around crowns; use beer traps; remove debris where they shelter.
How do I get rid of vine weevil (otiorhynchus sulcatus) on glaskins perpetual rhubarb?
Adult notches leaf margins; white C-shaped larvae eat roots and crowns, causing sudden wilting. Apply nematodes (Heterorhabditis bacteriophora) to moist soil in late summer; inspect and destroy larvae when dividing crowns.
How do I get rid of rabbits and deer on glaskins perpetual rhubarb?
Young petioles and leaves cleanly browsed to the ground, especially in spring. Install a wire mesh fence (at least 3 ft high, buried 6 in below grade for rabbits); use motion-activated deterrents for deer.