What's eating my redbor kale?

Redbor kale's deeply curled purple leaves collect water and debris, creating good shelter for caterpillars and aphids. It attracts the same brassica pests as all kales — white butterfly caterpillars, cabbage aphid, pigeons, and flea beetles — and the curled leaf structure can make scouting and washing more challenging than flat-leaved varieties.

Leaf tissue eaten from the edges inward; yellow egg clusters on undersides; frass throughout curly leaves Insect netting from transplanting; inspect curled leaves carefully; hand-pick egg batches; apply Bt

Waxy grey colonies hidden deep in the curls; heavy infestations prevent new growth from unfurling Strong water jets directed into the curls; insecticidal soap; avoid excess nitrogen fertiliser

Whole leaves torn and stripped; young plants can be killed; persistent problem from autumn through spring Rigid cage netting; post-and-wire fruit cage structure; bird-scarer tape short-term

Small round holes in young leaves; worst in the 2–4 true-leaf stage Row cover at sowing; start transplants under cover; kaolin clay spray on seedlings