I was losing 70-90% of my peas. I have a woodland garden and there is plenty
of evidence of woodmice-pretty little brown and white creatures.
My heighbour uses paraffin or white spirit and I had 80-90% success by
soaking the peas in white spirit for 20minutes.-He has success with
germination and recommended 15-30minutes.
No water soaking is needed and the white spirit can be strained off and
re-used.
I think mice were the culprits.
" Jeanne Stockdale" wrote in message
...

"Broadback" wrote in message
...
The last peas and broad beans that I have sowed have been very patchy
in
germination, part of the rows are fine, then there will be a complete
gap of a foot or so, this is repeated along the rows. What may the
cause be? I'm pretty certain that it is not slugs and I have laid the
pea sticks over to keep the birds off.

Is it likely to be mice? If so what is the prevention, I have a vague
idea that my father dipped his in paraffin?

TIA
John
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I read recently that a scattering of chicken manure pellets at time of
sowing helps - the smell of the pellets hides the smell of the seeds. It
certainly worked for us - no gaps in peas or runner beans and it looks as
though we have only lost a couple of broad beans

Jeanne Stockdale