Pest identification
What's eating my turnip 'purple top white globe'?
Cabbage root fly (Delia radicum)
Signs: Wilting plants that don't recover when watered; white maggots tunnel into the turnip root, causing rot.
Control: Place brassica collars (15 cm discs of cardboard or fleece) flat around each stem at transplant to prevent egg-laying near the base. Insect mesh also works.
Flea beetle (Phyllotreta spp.)
Signs: Masses of tiny round shot-holes in seedling leaves; heavy infestations can kill young plants.
Control: Cover seedlings with insect-proof mesh from sowing. Water regularly — well-watered seedlings outgrow flea beetle damage faster.
Cabbage white caterpillar (Pieris brassicae / P. rapae)
Signs: Large irregular holes in leaves; green caterpillars and frass visible on foliage and in heart.
Control: Check undersides for yellow egg clusters and remove. Pick off caterpillars by hand. Apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray for heavy infestations.
Pigeons (Columba palumbus)
Signs: Leaves stripped to ribs, especially in winter; entire young plants removed.
Control: Net beds with fine mesh or bird netting held above the foliage on hoops. Temporary fleece also deters birds.
Keep turnip 'purple top white globe' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
- What eats turnip — the species this cultivar belongs to
- What's wrong with my plant? — the diagnosis apps compared
- Common turnip 'purple top white globe' problems & fixes
- Turnip 'Purple Top White Globe' watering schedule
- Turnip 'Purple Top White Globe' light requirements
- Full turnip 'purple top white globe' care guide
Turnip 'Purple Top White Globe' pests — FAQ
What is eating my turnip 'purple top white globe'?
Turnip 'Purple Top White Globe' is a brassica and attracts the full brassica pest suite. Cabbage root fly maggots tunnel into roots, flea beetles riddle young leaves with holes, and caterpillars of cabbage white butterflies shred foliage. Slugs attack seedlings. In open gardens, pigeons and rabbits will also graze the tops.
How do I get rid of cabbage root fly (delia radicum) on turnip 'purple top white globe'?
Wilting plants that don't recover when watered; white maggots tunnel into the turnip root, causing rot. Place brassica collars (15 cm discs of cardboard or fleece) flat around each stem at transplant to prevent egg-laying near the base. Insect mesh also works.
How do I get rid of flea beetle (phyllotreta spp.) on turnip 'purple top white globe'?
Masses of tiny round shot-holes in seedling leaves; heavy infestations can kill young plants. Cover seedlings with insect-proof mesh from sowing. Water regularly — well-watered seedlings outgrow flea beetle damage faster.
How do I get rid of cabbage white caterpillar (pieris brassicae / p. rapae) on turnip 'purple top white globe'?
Large irregular holes in leaves; green caterpillars and frass visible on foliage and in heart. Check undersides for yellow egg clusters and remove. Pick off caterpillars by hand. Apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray for heavy infestations.
How do I get rid of pigeons (columba palumbus) on turnip 'purple top white globe'?
Leaves stripped to ribs, especially in winter; entire young plants removed. Net beds with fine mesh or bird netting held above the foliage on hoops. Temporary fleece also deters birds.