Pests & diseases › Rhubarb Gall Midge

Rhubarb Gall Midge

Small midge whose larvae cause raised reddish blisters on rhubarb leaves. Mainly cosmetic damage.

Symptoms

  • Small red pimples or blisters on the upper leaf surface
  • Slight distortion of the leaf
  • Plants otherwise healthy and productive

Lifecycle

One generation per year, late spring.

What to do

  • Tolerate it — damage rarely affects yield
  • Pick off and bin worst-affected leaves if it bothers you

If it's bad

  • None needed

Stop it coming back

  • No specific prevention — cosmetic issue only

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.