Pests & diseases › Leek Moth
Leek Moth
Small moth whose caterpillars tunnel into leek, onion and garlic leaves and bulbs.
Symptoms
- Pale brown patches and windows in leek leaves
- Caterpillars tunnelling down into the heart of the plant
- Secondary rot setting in
- Spreading rapidly across southern UK
Lifecycle
Two generations: May–June and August–September.
What to do
- Cut out tunnelled centres — plants often regrow
- Bin (don't compost) affected leaves
If it's bad
- None approved for home use
Stop it coming back
- Insect-proof mesh over leeks May to October — the only reliable control
- Cultivate empty alliums beds in winter to expose pupae
Crops it goes for
Plan the plot, track every sowing, cook the harvest
Sowing reminders and harvest forecasts for your own frost dates, the Seed Tin, Scan Centre for any label or packet, and the Potty Mouth Garden Club. Free to start.