[Kristen]

So ... having not grown peas for 30 years or more I read up, consulted the P. God ... decided on Gutters and Chitting ... chitted my peas, sowed them into gutters in my unheated conservatory ... and the next morning found the guttering apparently unmolested but strewn with just the roots from the chitted peas.

Gutted ... or should that be Guttered?!

Am chitting some more, and have moved the guttering to somewhere more vandal-proof ... but still not convinced its mouse-proof - on telling Mrs K of my devastating loss she remarked she had smelt mouse-wee around that area for a week

Support Staff : Position Vacant ...

[savbo]

could you rig up some kind of hammock system so that the mice have to abseil to get at the gutters?

[Jamie Butterworth]

I sow mine straight into the ground, but cover them with chicken wire to stop mice burying down, then i cover the chicken wire with top soil to make it look better, works a treat for me 

[Trillium]

I had the same problem as Jamie with both peas and beans - either birds or mice eating my seeds. Eventually I stretched a length of old tangled netting over the seeded area, pegged it down against wind, and everything popped up. I removed the netting before the seedlings reached 2" or the tangle would have been a real mess.

[mumofstig]

I've done similar with my recent sowings of peas and sugarsnaps... covered with enviromesh held down until after germination. It worked well last year, as it seems to warm up the soil a bit as well 

[DD.]

If you're referring to me, Kristen, I don't do guttering or chitting. Just throw them straight in.

Commiserations on your tragic loss, though. 

[8doubles]

Glue some peas on the trap!

[Kleftiwallah]

Here is my "Anti small brown beastie" setup. 



Cheers,   Tony.

[shokkyy]

Got anything to stop dogs? Last weekend I sowed a load of first early spuds in bags, and today I looked out of the window to see my evil lurcher digging up the whole lot and scoffing the seed spuds. I don't think there's many left.

[8doubles]

Got anything to stop dogs? Last weekend I sowed a load of first early spuds in bags, and today I looked out of the window to see my evil lurcher digging up the whole lot and scoffing the seed spuds. I don't think there's many left.

    I would have expected that from a lab but not a lurcher.

[bigben]

I have had the same problem - I had some in guttering inside a cold frame and came back to a row of perfect holes. I now spray the ground with a solution of chilli sauce which I think disguises the smell of the peas. You could just dust with curry powder - a less toxic alternative to the old solution of soaking them in paraffin.

[Kristen]

If you're referring to me, Kristen, I don't do guttering or chitting. Just throw them straight in.

Commiserations on your tragic loss, though. 

Yup ... you told me that when I consulted you. I ignored the advice though. That's me ex-communicated then!

[Aidy]

I think the secret, if your on a plot is to let the neighbours plant theirs first, give it a week or two so Mr Fury eats their fill and then sow yours, I do this with my brassicas, let the old boys plant theirs then a couple of weeks later plant mine, the flying rats don't bother then coz they have moved onto something else.

[DD.]

If you're referring to me, Kristen, I don't do guttering or chitting. Just throw them straight in.

Commiserations on your tragic loss, though. 

Yup ... you told me that when I consulted you. I ignored the advice though. That's me ex-communicated then!

Not at all, we're very forgiving in the church of AVG!

[stompy]

Put traps out with chocolate on and when you stop catching them try again.
At this time of year there will only be a couple or three mice.
It'll only take a couple of nights to get rid of the vandals (wish that was the case with the 2 legged type)