What's eating my good king henry?

Good King Henry is an under-used perennial vegetable closely related to spinach and chard, and shares their pest vulnerabilities. Leaf miners are the most damaging pest, tunnelling through the large leaves. Aphids and flea beetles attack young growth. Slugs are significant in spring when shoots emerge. Birds may peck at seedlings, and rabbits will browse if accessible.

Pale or whitish blister-like mines across leaf blades; entire leaves can be rendered inedible; worst in spring and early summer. Cover plants with fine insect mesh to exclude egg-laying flies; remove and destroy mined leaves; squash egg clusters on leaf undersides.

Dense colonies of green or blackish aphids on shoot tips and leaf undersides; foliage curls and growth is stunted. Blast off with water; insecticidal soap spray; encourage ladybirds and lacewings; check regularly from early spring onward.

Large jagged holes and shredded emerging shoots in spring; mucus trails visible; young crowns can be completely destroyed in a wet season. Surround crowns with coarse grit or eggshell; apply ferric phosphate pellets; hand-pick after dark during wet periods.

Peppering of small round holes in young leaves, similar to damage on other chenopods; seedlings are most vulnerable. Fine mesh or row cover from planting; kaolin clay dust on foliage; stagger planting dates so plants establish quickly past the vulnerable seedling stage.