Pest identification
What's eating my mizuna 'red kingdom'?
Flea beetle (Phyllotreta spp.)
Signs: Small circular holes through leaf blade; seedlings most vulnerable; leaves become ragged and growth is checked.
Control: Insect-proof mesh from day one; keep plants well-watered and growing vigorously; yellow sticky traps to monitor adult numbers.
Cabbage white caterpillar (Pieris rapae / Pieris brassicae)
Signs: Irregular holes and chewed leaf margins; frass in leaf axils; can cause significant defoliation.
Control: Exclusion netting; Btk biological spray; hand-pick larvae and egg clusters from undersides.
Cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae)
Signs: Colonies on growing tips; harder to spot on purple-tinted leaves — check undersides regularly.
Control: Inspect undersides weekly; insecticidal soap spray; encourage predatory insects; remove infested tips.
Slugs and snails
Signs: Ragged leaf damage and slime trails, especially in wet spells and on baby leaf plantings.
Control: Iron phosphate pellets; beer traps; hand-pick at night; grit or bark mulch.
Keep mizuna 'red kingdom' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Mizuna 'Red Kingdom' pests — FAQ
What is eating my mizuna 'red kingdom'?
Mizuna 'Red Kingdom' has the same pest vulnerabilities as green mizuna — flea beetles, caterpillars, aphids, and slugs — with the added nuance that the red/purple pigmentation can make it slightly harder to spot aphid colonies early. Flea beetle shot-holing is the most common complaint, especially on young plants.
How do I get rid of flea beetle (phyllotreta spp.) on mizuna 'red kingdom'?
Small circular holes through leaf blade; seedlings most vulnerable; leaves become ragged and growth is checked. Insect-proof mesh from day one; keep plants well-watered and growing vigorously; yellow sticky traps to monitor adult numbers.
How do I get rid of cabbage white caterpillar (pieris rapae / pieris brassicae) on mizuna 'red kingdom'?
Irregular holes and chewed leaf margins; frass in leaf axils; can cause significant defoliation. Exclusion netting; Btk biological spray; hand-pick larvae and egg clusters from undersides.
How do I get rid of cabbage aphid (brevicoryne brassicae) on mizuna 'red kingdom'?
Colonies on growing tips; harder to spot on purple-tinted leaves — check undersides regularly. Inspect undersides weekly; insecticidal soap spray; encourage predatory insects; remove infested tips.
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on mizuna 'red kingdom'?
Ragged leaf damage and slime trails, especially in wet spells and on baby leaf plantings. Iron phosphate pellets; beer traps; hand-pick at night; grit or bark mulch.