What's eating my radish?

Radish is a fast crop, but flea beetles are its most damaging pest — tiny beetles riddle seedling leaves with holes and can destroy germinating crops overnight. Cabbage root fly maggots tunnel directly into roots, making them inedible. Slugs attack seedlings. Because radishes mature in 3–4 weeks, early protection with row cover at sowing is the most practical defence.

Numerous small round holes peppered across seedling leaves, sometimes so dense leaves collapse; adult beetles jump when disturbed Cover seed beds with fine insect-proof mesh immediately at sowing; apply kaolin clay dust as a deterrent; sow densely so plants outgrow damage; keep seedbed moist (dry conditions worsen attacks)

White maggots tunnel into radish roots leaving dark, rotten channels that make roots inedible Grow under fine insect-proof mesh from sowing; use brassica root collars if transplanting; rotate brassica family beds each year

Seedlings eaten at ground level; surface pitting on developing roots; slime trails Apply iron phosphate pellets at sowing; use gritty mulch around the bed; sow in raised beds with copper-tape barriers