Quick ID cards — the 13 pests you'll meet

Aphids — sticky, curled tips, ants nearby

• Blast with water from a spray bottle; repeat after 2–3 days (undersides).
• Mild soapy water wipe; rinse next day on edibles.
• Attract ladybirds and hoverflies with dill, fennel and calendula nearby.

Spider mites — fine web, speckled leaves, dry air

• Mist daily to raise humidity; shower the plant gently once a week.
• Wipe leaf undersides with a damp cloth; increase airflow around the pot.
• Isolate heavily affected pots so mites don't drift to neighbours.

Slugs & snails — big holes, silvery trails

• Evening hand-pick; copper tape stuck around pot rims is brilliant.
• Beer traps; wool pellets; tidy away damp hiding spots.
• Raise pots on feet; avoid heavy watering at dusk.

Whitefly — little white cloud, sticky leaves

• Yellow sticky cards hung in the canopy.
• Wipe with soapy water; rinse next day.
• Boost airflow; avoid crowded foliage.

Leaf miner — pale snake trails inside the leaf

• Remove affected leaves promptly (bin, don't compost).
• Use fine insect mesh over susceptible crops (chard, beetroot, leafy greens).

Tomato / potato blight — brown patches, blackened stems, rapid collapse

• Remove affected growth immediately; bin (do NOT compost).
• Water soil only, never leaves; increase spacing and airflow.
• Choose earlier or determinate tomato varieties for pots in blight-prone climates.

Fungus gnats — tiny flies hovering over wet compost

• Let the top 2–3 cm of compost dry out between waterings.
• Top-dress with coarse sand or grit to interrupt the life cycle.
• Yellow sticky traps placed flat on the soil surface.

Powdery mildew — white powder, dry still air

• Prune for airflow; never water overhead late in the day.
• Remove the worst affected leaves; keep new growth vigorous.
• Weekly milk spray (1:9 milk to water) is a strong preventative.

Vine weevil — leaf notches by adults, grub damage to roots

• Check at night with a torch for the slow black adults; hand-pick.
• Repot badly hit plants, washing roots and discarding old compost.
• Apply biological nematodes labelled for vine weevil in warm months.

Flea beetle — tiny shot-holes, jumps when disturbed

• Fine mesh over young brassicas and rocket from sowing.
• Keep plants growing fast with even moisture — stress invites them.
• Interplant with strong-scented herbs (mint, coriander) to confuse adults.

Cabbage white caterpillars — butterflies hovering, green grubs

• Fine mesh over brassicas; check undersides for yellow egg clusters weekly.
• Hand-pick caterpillars early — they're slow and easy.
• Grow decoy nasturtiums nearby to draw the butterflies away.

Damping-off — seedlings collapse, brown stem at soil line

• Use fresh seed compost and clean trays / pots.
• Avoid overwatering; give bright light and gentle airflow.
• Sow a little thinner; bottom-water (sit pots in a tray) when possible.