Pest identification
What's eating my rocket candytuft?
Flea beetles
Signs: Small round shot-holes peppered across leaves; seedlings can be severely set back or killed by heavy attacks.
Control: Sow under fine insect-proof mesh and keep covered; delay outdoor sowing until plants are stockier; use sticky yellow traps.
Slugs and snails
Signs: Seedlings and young soft growth eaten; slime trails left at the base of stems or on the soil surface.
Control: Use iron phosphate slug pellets around seedlings; hand-pick in the evening; apply diatomaceous earth as a barrier.
Cabbage white caterpillars (Pieris rapae)
Signs: Holes chewed through leaves by pale green caterpillars; frass deposits visible near feeding sites.
Control: Inspect undersides of leaves weekly; hand-remove eggs and caterpillars; apply Bt spray as a targeted, wildlife-safe option.
Aphids
Signs: Soft-bodied insects massed on stem tips and buds causing curled, sticky, distorted growth.
Control: Knock off with a water jet; spray with insecticidal soap or diluted neem oil; avoid over-feeding with high-nitrogen fertiliser.
Keep rocket candytuft pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Rocket candytuft pests — FAQ
What is eating my rocket candytuft?
Rocket candytuft (Iberis amara) shares the Brassicaceae family with cabbage, making it a target for the same brassica pests. Flea beetles and slugs are the most frequent problems, particularly on young seedlings. Cabbage white butterfly caterpillars and aphids can also appear. Overall pest pressure is low on established plants growing in good conditions.
How do I get rid of flea beetles on rocket candytuft?
Small round shot-holes peppered across leaves; seedlings can be severely set back or killed by heavy attacks. Sow under fine insect-proof mesh and keep covered; delay outdoor sowing until plants are stockier; use sticky yellow traps.
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on rocket candytuft?
Seedlings and young soft growth eaten; slime trails left at the base of stems or on the soil surface. Use iron phosphate slug pellets around seedlings; hand-pick in the evening; apply diatomaceous earth as a barrier.
How do I get rid of cabbage white caterpillars (pieris rapae) on rocket candytuft?
Holes chewed through leaves by pale green caterpillars; frass deposits visible near feeding sites. Inspect undersides of leaves weekly; hand-remove eggs and caterpillars; apply Bt spray as a targeted, wildlife-safe option.
How do I get rid of aphids on rocket candytuft?
Soft-bodied insects massed on stem tips and buds causing curled, sticky, distorted growth. Knock off with a water jet; spray with insecticidal soap or diluted neem oil; avoid over-feeding with high-nitrogen fertiliser.