Varmints et ma peas - agin.

I sowed several trays of sweet peas over two weeks ago and have been eagerly awaiting some dear little green shoots.

I went to look at them yesterday to find lots of little brown husks all over the compost, rodents have been in there again and scoffed the lot. I can't Adam and Eve it, why do I set myself up for this every year?

Not only that, there was a tray with a well-fitting lid which the mice couldn't get at. They still haven't germinated, though. Chiz.

Not only that, the tray of beetroot I sowed under Monty's instructions, has done absolutely nothing.

Granted, they are in an unheated greenhouse, but I thought I'd be getting a result by now. Am I too rash, too hasty, too impatient?

 

Is it not still a bit cold for anything to happen in an unheated greenhouse? I have seedlings in windowsills in unheated rooms in the house (cool, but warmer than an unheated greenhouse), and they are making progress but very slowly.

 

my beetroot have just germinated on the windowsill. Will move them outside soon to stop em getting leggy.

Some folk sow peas in lengths of guttering suspened from the greenhouse roof to keep the mice off them.

 

I always germinate my SPs on a window sill . I'll be moving them into the GH at the end of this month.

 

Like you Madahhlia, I too have trouble with germinating seed at the moment. Perhaps we are to hasty with sowing as it is a bit early and our fingers itch so.

 

Ah well, resow tomorrow and keep them under lock and key indoors - they'll be safe indoors, I think......

 

Mice like it in the warm.......

 

Early March is the soonest I've ever sown peas either in pots or in guttering in the polytunnel.

 

I wouldn't sow anything else this early but sweet peas are very tough and I've had them germinate at Christmastime before now.

Anyway, did we not have a clip from Monty showing us how to get our beetroot off to an early start by sowing in plugs on this very forum a couple of weeks ago? So it MUST be Ok......How could the combined authority of Monty and GC be wrong??

 

Aaarghh. They might crawl through a ventilation brick to get my peas if I bring them indoors. How will I know if I've got mice?

 

Small pellets black in colour and all over the place where they go.