My peas are being eaten

[OverWyreGrower]

I have some peas planted in the greenhouse (don't ask!)

They are growing up their netting very well, but something has been nibbling their lower leaves!

What can I do to stop it?

I'd thought of making some small plastic tubes (about 4 ins high) to put round them, and some beer traps in case slugs are the culprit.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

[Cutecumber]

Yep, could well be slugs and snails - they went for my peas when they were in the ground a couple of years ago. After some damage at low level, they began to climb up, too, so better to act now just in case.

Check the plants carefully to make sure there are none hiding - your traps aren't going to help if they are tucked up behind a leaf.

Beer or yeast traps should work well, as long as they are deep enough for the little blighters not to climb out. You have to dispose of the gooey mess, of course, that's the down side!

[Marylou]

Yes, beer traps work very well indeed - the cheap & nasty "Basic no frills" cans of beer or lager from the supermarket are great. Just remember to leave a stick poking out so that beetles, etc. can escape if they fall in. The "gooey mess" can then be tipped on to the compost heap and covered with grass clippings, etc.

[Nicky]

Could it be flea beetles? I have some growing on the plot about an inch high now but they're being attacked by something at the edges. They've been netted since I planted them. Might just be that I'm paranoid about flea beetles after they ate everything last year.

[Paulottie]

Next possibility is pea and bean weavil which are rife this year. Edges of the leaves have small notches and the weavil is brown/beige about 6mm long. hard to spot as they drop onto soil if disturbed. I have been starting peas in guttering as i've had probs with the lil blighters B4. (never in a greenhouse-not asking)

A pain if you have large plants but can be death to seedlings. I have just returned from the lottie where I have killed scores of the little s**ts on my broad beans. My method has been to put a plastic bag under them and shake them onto it & then squash 'em (which my 6 yo daughter enjoyed a lot!)

Again this is difficult if you only have seedlings. I have just started a thread in pest forum and i'm just off there to find out if anybody has some good Advice/methods

[dexterdoglancashire]

I had a couple of slugs in the greenhouse last year - Im still trying to work out how they got in! But if so, do try the beer method. It worked for me in the outside plot.
Bernie aka Dexterdog

[Flummery]

You can catch blokes with beer too!

[Two_Sheds]

Yes, me too. Pea/bean weevils are eating my broad beans (several have been ruined) and now tiny-teeny slugs are eating my peas. the mild winter has obviously been ideal for them.

[Paulottie]

Do you dip them in salt once you've caught them Flummery?

[dexterdoglancashire]

I threw them over the garden wall into the front garden for the birds!
Bernie aka Dexterdog

[Wendy]

i've been having some of the same problems - i've put copper tape around my pots and growbags and now the slugs seem to be keeping away, and i sprayed the broad beans and peas with SB plant invigorator which is a natural pesticide and seems to be keeping away the bugs!

[Flummery]

Do you dip them in salt once you've caught them Flummery?

Only if I've got no vinegar left!

[vicki lorraine]

How do you successfully get the peas sown in guttering to slide out into the drills for planting out?
Ive grown my peas nicely in the guttering but when it came to planting out i could not get them to slide out

What should i do? Any tips

[Flummery]

I lined the guttering with newspaper. You can haul on it to remove the contents and it will rot in the soil.