Plains eryngo

Slugs and snails

What you will see

Eaten holes in leaves and young shoots, at night and in damp weather. Young leaves.

How to protect

1. Prevention

   • Water in the morning, not in the evening.
   • In winter turn over the soil and remove fallen leaves — birds will pick out the eggs.
   • Encourage natural enemies (birds, toads, hedgehogs, ground beetles).
2. By hand evening, spring to fallCollect slugs and snails in the evening by torchlight on a warm, damp night; traps made of hollowed-out citrus peel or small containers of beer sunk into the soil — empty them in the morning.
3. Biological spring to early fallPhasmarhabditis hermaphrodita nematodes (they work on slugs, hardly on snails); apply to moist soil at 5–68 °F.

Leaf and bud eelworms

What you will see

Distorted, discoloured leaves and buds.

How to protect

1. Prevention

   • Use healthy plants.
2. By hand once noticedRemove affected plants.

Powdery mildews

What you will see

White powdery coating on leaves and stems.

How to protect

1. Prevention

   • Plant in a sunny, airy spot with good drainage.
   • Water in dry spells; plants that dry out are more susceptible.
   • Do not over-feed with nitrogen.
   • Water in the morning and do not leave leaves wet for long.
2. By hand summer, fallCut out affected shoots; in fall remove and destroy fallen affected leaves.

Root and crown rot

What you will see

Wilting, softening roots and crown.

How to protect

1. Prevention

   • Plant in dry, free-draining soil and protect from winter wet.
2. By hand once noticedRemove affected plants.