[Fen]

Something is taking off my broad bean shoots as they emerge and when they are up to 2 inches long. Not eating them, just leaving them laying on the surface. I guess slugs would eat them, not many slugs on this ground.  Now have house sparrows back and in the dim distant past when they were plentiful seem to remember that they were responsible. Anyone any ideas?

[mumofstig]

Birds peck at them, on our site. People often rig up some netting about a foot of the ground, to stop them.

[Nobbie]

Mice? Had some on my plot earlier in the year that started eating French bean shoots and young broccoli plants.

[Fen]

I can't work it out. Friend nearby has same problem. His are covered with a wide wire mesh but are still getting eaten. Have now covered mine with fine mesh and will see what happens. Oddly shoots are left on surface and not eaten . Have known birds do this for the moisture in dry times. Not now !!. Almost as though something is nipping them off out of boredom. Just thinking+ that the perpetrator might be eating the seed bean. Will have a look tomorrow.

[Enfield Glen]

It will be Mice after the bean, I had @15 out of 20 go overnight the other year, They were covered so not birds, Old fashioned mouse trap with a sacrificial bean caught the culprit.

[Growing Weather]

   Never heard of using beans as bait but on reflection it's a very smart move if the mouse was after the beans in the first place.

It will be Mice after the bean, I had @15 out of 20 go overnight the other year, They were covered so not birds, Old fashioned mouse trap with a sacrificial bean caught the culprit.

[Christine]

Now I know why I always start my beans in seed trays where rodents can't go and let them grow on till they are sturdy. Not that mice are a problem on our sites - it's them rats coming in from the locality.