What's eating my broad beans?

Hi
I've planted some broad bean seeds a few weeks ago and they are just starting to peep through the soil, however it looks as if something (birds??) are breaking the top bits off. Is it birds and do I need to cover them with string or something.

Any suggestions greatfully received

 

Hi awizzbang
i think your problem is mice
the fella on the plot near me had the same problem its has been very mild this winter so Mr& Mrs mouse have been very busy if you see what i mean , go buy some cheap mouse traps
you could also try the old way to put them off that is drop the seed in some parfin before you plant also works for peas
spuds
sunny devon

 

Thanks

I suspect you may be right, we have lots of old stone walls near the growing position, perfect hide outs for mice.I think we might try growing some in pots and transfer them when they are bigger and out of the reach of mice. It might also explain what happened to my runner beans last year.

Any other thoughts greatfully received

 

There's an easy way to get round the mice issue, just cut the bottom off an old drinks bottle - 2 Litre size are great, and place over the seedling.

Dont forget to remove the bottle top, and press the cut off bottle down into the soil.

This acts like a forcing bell, and protects your seedlings !

Good luck.

 

Thanks for the advice, the bottle trick really seems to have sorted my problem out

 

put a cane through the top.
It stops them blowing away

 

I recently emptied the contents of one of my composters and when I was raking where the composter used to be I caught a mouse with the rake and it went limping for its poor little life. Then another shot out of a whole where the composter was and a third a pair of tiny eyes emerged from the whole and shot off in another direction. Wonder where they are now?
The little devils