Garlic to deter mice from bean seeds?

Last year the mice came and carefully dug up and ate all my broadbean seeds, so this year I read somewhere about using garlic to deter them. I've mashed up 6 cloves and added to the dry seed with just enough water to cover them and them given it a good shake and left it overnight. My hope is that the seed will now smell like garlic to the little blighters and they'll leave it alone.

Anyone tried this sort of thing, any success? my one concern is that a compound in the garlic will adversely affect the germination of the beans as it's been sucked right into the seed rather than just used as a coating (which could wash off)

We have a couple of local cats that patrol the allotments and it has helped enormously with the mice - just a shame about the other things they do.

Thought I'd update this for anyone who does a search. This doesn't work Every single broad bean was carefully excavated and eaten. I'll sow some in modules and plant out.

Thought I'd update this for anyone who does a search. This doesn't work Every single broad bean was carefully excavated and eaten. I'll sow some in modules and plant out.

I have to admit that when I saw the title, I was a bit dubious - when storing garlic, you are advised to make sure it is safe from mice from eating it.

Mice like nearly all mammals are sensitive to capsaicin (that's what gives the heat in a hot chilli)  How about dusting some chilli powder where you sow your seeds (you might need to dust again later if the ground is wet until they germinate)

I haven't had the need Nobbie. What I do is simply net the bed and peg/weigh it down. As long as it's "watertight", that seems to do the trick for beans, peas and everything else those little darlings like to nibble. But then, maybe my mice are wimps.

Yes, your mice are wimps Ours would chew through the nets

Chicken wire may deter mice but voles just tunnel up under it.... and then eat the seeds or carry them away down their tunnels for their stash