What's eating my herb garden?

Herb gardens face aphids, whitefly, vine weevil, and slugs as the main threats; basil draws leafhoppers, mint attracts rust. The greatest risk is aphid infestations, which spread quickly across a mixed bed. Companion planting with nasturtiums and regular inspection keep populations manageable.

Clusters on soft new growth; sticky honeydew, curled leaves, and sooty mould; can stunt basil, parsley, and dill badly Blast off with water; introduce or encourage ladybirds and parasitic wasps; use insecticidal soap spray; nasturtiums act as sacrificial trap crops

Irregular holes in leaves of basil, parsley, and young seedlings; slime trails visible in the morning Use iron phosphate pellets; water in the morning so soil dries by evening; set beer traps; hand-pick at dusk

Clouds of tiny white flies under leaves; sticky honeydew and sooty mould on basil and sage; plants weaken over time Use yellow sticky traps; introduce Encarsia formosa in a greenhouse; spray with pyrethrin or insecticidal soap

Orange, yellow, and brown powdery pustules on mint stems and leaves; heavily affected plants distort and die back Remove and bin affected stems immediately; do not compost; cut mint hard to the ground in autumn; replace severely infected plants with certified clean stock