What's eating my sea kale?

Sea kale (Crambe maritima) is targeted by cabbage white caterpillars, slugs, and flea beetles — all brassica-family threats. Rabbits and pigeons will strip young shoots in spring. Caterpillars are usually the most damaging pest once plants are established, skeletonising large leaves rapidly if unchecked.

Ragged holes through leaves, leading to near-complete skeletonisation; frass (dark pellets) visible on and around foliage. Hand-pick eggs and larvae; use fine mesh netting over young plants; apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray for heavier infestations.

Small, round shot-holes peppering the leaves, most severe on young seedlings and new spring growth. Cover with insect-proof mesh from germination; disturb soil around plants; use sticky yellow traps to monitor and reduce adult populations.

Irregular holes and slime trails on leaves and on forcing shoots; worst damage to tender emerging growth in spring. Apply iron phosphate pellets or copper tape around crowns; hand-pick at night; use grit or crushed eggshell mulch as a deterrent.

Whole shoots snapped or stripped; pigeons peck leaves down to stalks; rabbits graze stems cleanly at ground level. Net with bird-proof or rabbit-proof mesh (minimum 1 m tall for rabbits); individual plant guards on crowns in early spring.