What's eating my turnip 'golden ball'?

Turnip 'Golden Ball' is an heirloom variety with mild, sweet yellow flesh. It shares the standard brassica pest profile: flea beetles attack seedlings, cabbage root fly maggots tunnel into the roots, and caterpillars shred foliage. Slugs and pigeons add to the pressure. Row covers and brassica collars are the backbone of control.

Wilting plants; maggots tunnel into the golden roots causing black rot and collapse. Place brassica collars on the soil around each stem at planting. Insect mesh over beds prevents adult flies from laying eggs.

Clusters of tiny holes in young leaves; seedlings can be wiped out in hot dry spells. Sow under insect mesh. Keep plants well-watered during establishment. Diatomaceous earth deters adults.

Ragged holes in outer and inner leaves; frass and caterpillars found on inspection. Inspect weekly, removing egg batches from leaf undersides. Hand-pick or use Bt spray.

Seedling loss and surface scarring on maturing roots at or just below soil level. Iron phosphate pellets around plants. Beer traps nearby. Remove decaying plant debris that shelters slugs.