What's eating my welsh onion?

Welsh onion is targeted by onion thrips, allium leaf miner, and sometimes slugs on young shoots. Its hollow leaves make thrips damage especially conspicuous. The strong allium scent discourages deer and rabbits. Good air circulation, crop rotation, and insect mesh barriers are the main defensive tools.

Silvery white streaking and distortion of hollow leaves; plants look papery under heavy pressure. Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil at first sign. Avoid excess nitrogen fertilizer which promotes soft, thrips-attractive growth. Remove and dispose of old foliage.

Lines of white feeding dots on leaves progressing to maggot tunnels inside stems; leaf tips die back. Cover with insect-proof netting during the two adult fly periods (March–April and October–November). Destroy infested stems; do not compost.

Ragged holes and slime trails on young emerging shoots, especially in wet conditions. Apply iron phosphate pellets around plants. Use copper tape on raised beds. Hand-pick at night. Encourage ground beetles and hedgehogs.