I sowed my autumn cabbages during the warm dry spell just to get ahead: four days later, the little holes riddling the leaves weren’t from slugs
Those perfect little round holes punching through your autumn cabbage seedlings aren’t slug damage—they’re the telltale signature of flea beetles. This tiny jumping pest thrives in exactly the warm, dry conditions gardeners love for getting ahead, and it hits hardest during a seedling’s most vulnerable week. Here’s how to identify the culprit and defend your crop.