[missymaddox]

I have what I think is Flea beetle, small round hole on young leaves of my swede and also on my rocket leaves. But have also noticed similar markings on some young flowering plants.
What is my best way to get rid of these?

[Yorkie]

They don't actually do a lot of damage so the general advice is not to worry about them too much.

The RHS page on flea beetle contains some info on controls if you want to investigate.
http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/Profile.aspx?pid=510

P.S. I've changed your text to black from blue, as some members find coloured text difficult to read.

[Salmo]

They can be a menace on leaves like rocket that you want to eat. Under dry conditions they can kill young brassica plants. Keep the soil damp. You can try one of the knock down sprays but read the label about the interval between spraying and harvesting.

[Jay The Digger]

I agree with Yorkie.  They don;t seem to do too much damage as they seem to like the leaves of my radishes and turnips, and I won't be eating the leaves.

When they start on your salads, it can be very frustrating.  I find if you really want to put them off then try and keep the ground soaked for a couple of weeks.  Also try and keep the ground clear so they have nothing to hide under.  They can travel a fair distance (especially when it is windy) so even a log pile several metres away can be the source of the problem.  Just keep everything wet (or at least damp) and they will hop off.

[stompy]

They don't actually do a lot of damage so the general advice is not to worry about them too much

I disagree Yorkie,
I have in the past lost entire crops of Swedes, Radish and turnips to these little bugs.

I am now starting the Swedes especially off in cells to get them past the danger point with these critters.

They do say keeping the ground damp helps but you try doing that in mid summer, especially with the start we've had too.

Start them all in cells to avoid the problem.

[Gandan57]

I haven`t seen any sign of them yet this year but they can be quite devastating in hot, dry weather.

Last summer I planted out module grown winter brassicas that were a good four inches tall, which I didn`t cover with mesh and I lost more than half. Spraying with insecticide had no effect.

They also completely cleared late sown carrots and pak choi seedlings. Enviromesh or similar is the only answer IMO.

[Yorkie]

Clearly there are differences of opinion regarding the degree of damage which can be caused.

In the years I've been on the forum, the advice previously has always been that they do not do much damage.  However, clearly they have caused problems to some members.

Guess you pays your money and takes your choice!

[mumofstig]

I've never heard of flea beetle on carrots  apparently something else to look out for.........still if they're under enviromesh they should stay safe. Fingers xd