Grow Your Own Magazine

Does anyone know how long you should soak peas in parraffin, before planting them out? I have heard that it stops mice eating the peas. Can you do this to potatoes to stop foxes stealing them? If not what do i do to stop the foxes doing this? Some were part eaten and some (i think ) planted in other parts of my plot (only had it this year).

Just half an hour should be plenty. You may find that you dont need to though at this time of year as the mice are feasting on soft fruit and the like. My peas sown 3 weeks ago are up fine without soaking them.

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Kindest regards, David.

http://pigletsplots.blogspot.com/
updated - Sunday 19th at 2100hrs

Hi lost the plot. First of all, welcome to the vine. Why not start your peas off in plant modules and when they have germinated then plant them out and this should stop the mice from stealing them. I always do this and never have a problem and dont need to soak in parraffin.
Regarding the potatoes and the foxes, don't have an answer for that but am sure some one else can help.

I did do some in modules, but it looked like ants got some of them! I did peas, beans and aspargas(can`t spell) peas. only peas got eaten (by ants) , so put more in soil and only afew came up! Is it too late to put more in?

No, not too late yet, but don't leave it any longer.
Did you ever think maybe you're not meant to grow peas with all the bad luck you've had?
Anyway, good luck and happy growing.

I start my peas off in rootrainers on a window ledge in the house(in modules in the house till this year)It's the only way I've found of stopping anything getting at them!

I sow mine in lengths of guttering in the greenhouse and plant out the row when the plants are about 2 -3 " high. Never had any problems at all.
On a related but different matter, from reading various posts , it would appear that a lot of the grapes in the drought afflicted south ( sympathy vote) have had a poor year for peas, whereas us northerners have had a really good season, ( - not that sympathetic though ) so the secret is to water, water and then water again.

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Rat

British by birth
Scottish by the Grace of God

Blog updated Wednesday November 13th

Thanx for that. I had a look at the packet of peas and found that they were ones somone had given me and should have been used by 2003!!!!!!!!!! That might explain it! Ha ha.