Pest identification
What's eating my globe artichoke?
Black bean aphid (Aphis fabae)
Signs: Dense black colonies inside flower buds and on new growth; honeydew attracts ants and sooty mold; buds become inedible
Control: Blast off with water jets; remove heavily infested buds early; spray with insecticidal soap; encourage hoverflies with nearby flowering plants
Slugs and snails
Signs: Holes in young leaves and tender new shoots near ground level; whole emerging crowns can be destroyed in spring
Control: Apply iron phosphate pellets around crowns in spring; protect young plants with copper tape; hand-pick at night after rain
Artichoke plume moth (Platyptilia carduidactyla)
Signs: Larvae bore into buds and stems; frass visible at entry holes; buds do not develop properly (mainly US West Coast)
Control: Remove and destroy affected buds; apply spinosad during early larval stages in spring; use row covers on young plants
Deer
Signs: Whole leaves browsed and stems snapped; plants reduced to stumps overnight
Control: Erect deer fencing at least 1.8m (6 ft) tall; apply deer repellent spray to foliage; grow inside a fenced vegetable garden
Keep globe artichoke pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Globe Artichoke pests — FAQ
What is eating my globe artichoke?
Globe artichoke is heavily targeted by aphids — particularly the blackfly — which cluster inside forming buds. Slugs ravage young crowns in spring. Artichoke plume moth caterpillars bore into the heads in California. Earwigs shelter in bracts. In UK and US gardens, deer find artichoke plants highly palatable and will browse them to the ground.
How do I get rid of black bean aphid (aphis fabae) on globe artichoke?
Dense black colonies inside flower buds and on new growth; honeydew attracts ants and sooty mold; buds become inedible Blast off with water jets; remove heavily infested buds early; spray with insecticidal soap; encourage hoverflies with nearby flowering plants
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on globe artichoke?
Holes in young leaves and tender new shoots near ground level; whole emerging crowns can be destroyed in spring Apply iron phosphate pellets around crowns in spring; protect young plants with copper tape; hand-pick at night after rain
How do I get rid of artichoke plume moth (platyptilia carduidactyla) on globe artichoke?
Larvae bore into buds and stems; frass visible at entry holes; buds do not develop properly (mainly US West Coast) Remove and destroy affected buds; apply spinosad during early larval stages in spring; use row covers on young plants
How do I get rid of deer on globe artichoke?
Whole leaves browsed and stems snapped; plants reduced to stumps overnight Erect deer fencing at least 1.8m (6 ft) tall; apply deer repellent spray to foliage; grow inside a fenced vegetable garden