Soaking peas in paraffin, does it work ?

I have a real problem with mice digging my newly sown peas up every year.

I've tried everything,covering in thorny branches even covering them in micro chicken wire but they still burrow under that and dig them up.

I've heard an old tip of soaking your peas in paraffin before sowing to repel the Mice.

Does this work ?

Or does anyone have any alternative solutions to keeping the mice off.

Cheers.

 

Hi veg. Have you tried "sprouting" them 'till they're about 4" high and then planting them? I've found that rodents prefer the seed to the actual plant. This advice from way back. I've got a cat now, I don't get problems from rodents, anymore.

 

I would love to do that in drainpipe gutter or something and then slide the lot into position but the trouble is I could only "sprout" them in the same place As I sow them and my SUPER mice seem to be Special Forces types who will manage to get anywhere.

I have some old School tables in my polytunnel which have 3 foot shiny steel legs but the little B***ers still get up them.

Cheers anyhow.

 

Ive heard of using tin cans sunk down to just above soil level with a creocote soaked rag in. Another can is cut in half and forced into the top to keep the rain off and holes made in the side to let out the vapour.

Aparently the creocote fumes keep the mice away, no idea if it works!

Perhaps the best thing is to set some traps with something strong smelling like peanut butter in and a tupperwear box or similar with holes in either end placed over the trap to protect birds etc.

 

On the subject of peas. could anyone tell me if its o.k to plant them into ground that has just has mushroom compost added? As i know they do not like such things as manure in the spring. thank you

 

I plant them in the greehouse first, then plant them outside. But i have never had a mice problem....

 

hi. Soaking peas in paraffin seems a good idea. a woman on a gardening programe did it to great sucess. none were eaten by mice or other pesky rodents!!

 

Parafin works a treat.

 

hove you tried putting any mouse poison down in boxes when you plant? its supposed to attract them but I suppose it depends on how attracted they are to that or the peas