Discouraging mice

[Dorothy rouse]

Am sure it's on here somewhere but can't find thread, sorry.

Am going to plant my mange tout seedlings in next few days,they are about 2 inches in height, have put netting up for them, but what do you all use to prevent mice eating them? They are going on plot.

[Knight of Albion]

An effective mouse deterrent I've used in the past and still use in my old greenhouse is to cut the bottom out of one of those big (plastic) sweet jars. Put it over the seedling I want to protect, firm it into the soil, maybe mound up a bit of soil round the base and there you have it, a mouse-proof plant protector.
A variation of the same would work just as well for anything else.

[rustylady]

Mice don't generally eat stuff after it's germinated Dotty. The little bu@@ers pinch the seeds out of the ground.

[Dorothy rouse]

That's what I thought, and why I started them in modules first. Have you put yours out yet?

[rustylady]

Yes, got one lot out. Still got some more to start.

[Scarlet]

I always get mice stealing my broad beans but they don't seem to touch my French beans- not sure why. My lettuces are being attacked by something though, all the tops are eaten and I'm left with a headless stalk....

[Dorothy rouse]

Slugs/snails? Pigeons?

[kathyd]

I always pre-chit my peas these days, and my broad beans, to protect them from mice. French beans seem to go soggy if I soak them... But I think I've had mice at my broadies' leaves like Scarlet says, or some really massive slugs .

[Bren In Pots]

I'm sowing my chitted peas today in guttering then I'll leave them in the GH until they're a decent size.

[Scarlet]

Slugs/snails? Pigeons?

There aren't any pigeons in my GH ..well I hope not, last year one got in and damaged a few of my chilli plants. I was so mad!

[Dorothy rouse]

Oh, you didn't say GH, must be slug/snail then?

[Mikey]

Its very easy to discourage mice, you just need to record this and play it on a loop.