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General Chat Topics >> Gardening >> What's eating my peas ? http://www.tortosaforum.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1455725994 Message started by Bigyin on Feb 17^th, 2016 at 5:19pm

Title: What's eating my peas ?
Post by Bigyin on Feb 17^th, 2016 at 5:19pm

Got a lovely crop of peas this year (thanks to planting in the Autumn) but something's eating them. I suspect birds or lizards. Any suggestions ? (and don't bother with the funnies) :-)

Title: Re: What's eating my peas ?
Post by JCsox on Feb 17^th, 2016 at 5:40pm

I have had the same problem :'( Slugs and snails were the culprits.

Covered them with netting after removal of the little blighters and solved the mystery 8-)

Title: Re: What's eating my peas ?
Post by Bigyin on Feb 17^th, 2016 at 6:42pm

Hmmm. Don't seem to have slugs and snails. Covered with fleece but it didn't stay long in the wind. You have to go through the hoops to grow successfully here 'innit.

Title: Re: What's eating my peas ?
Post by David on Feb 17^th, 2016 at 8:03pm

Mice or Rats most likely

Title: Re: What's eating my peas ?
Post by ColinB on Feb 17^th, 2016 at 8:58pm

If the leaves are penetrated with tiny holes then you've got what we have..... flea beetle. They're nocturnal which is why farmers growing green leaf crops and ground cover for game birds such as radish beet have to spray at NIGHT! Google flea beetle and have a look.

Title: Re: What's eating my peas ?
Post by Bigyin on Feb 17^th, 2016 at 11:26pm

Have seen rats here but not mice. The leaves are fine. Whole pods are disappearing and some scratched open and the peas removed. I've had a trail camera on them all day and tonight so I'll see if owt shows up in the morning.

Title: Re: What's eating my peas ?
Post by Betty_Swollox on Feb 18^th, 2016 at 8:43am

I have actually seen damned rats eating my cauliflowers! Have put down traps with good old fashioned mousetrap cheddar but the blighters seem to prefer fresh veg...... wierdos!

Guess I'll put an ad in the Wanted section for a shotgun.

Title: Re: What's eating my peas ?
Post by Bulldog on Feb 18^th, 2016 at 6:30pm

Betty_Swollox wrote on Feb 18^th, 2016 at 8:43am:

Follow Bigyin example, lights, cameras, action, name and shame these little blighter's.
IF ALL FAILS GET THE GUN because have you thought they could be healthy eating pests, as they maybe the 5 a day ones!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yours, the truth is out there Bulldog.

Title: Re: What's eating my peas ?
Post by Bigyin on Feb 18^th, 2016 at 8:34pm

Found the culprit. Don't know if I can upload a video on here ?

Title: Re: What's eating my peas ?
Post by David on Feb 19^th, 2016 at 8:12pm

Put us out of misery then . What was it ?
Cant stand the tension

Title: Re: What's eating my peas ?
Post by Bigyin on Feb 19^th, 2016 at 8:33pm

https://www.facebook.com/roger.thory/videos/10153936677359819/?l=8001595941718498585

Title: Re: What's eating my peas ?
Post by David on Feb 20^th, 2016 at 7:36pm

Sorry I cant view the video. Just say the word RATS

Title: Re: What's eating my peas ?
Post by Bigyin on Feb 20^th, 2016 at 7:42pm

The link should take you to my Facebook page with the video. I don't know if I can upload a video direct to here.

Title: Re: What's eating my peas ?
Post by cubetwo on Feb 20^th, 2016 at 8:08pm

The link doesn't appear to work... Is it set to "public"?

Title: Re: What's eating my peas ?
Post by Bigyin on Feb 20^th, 2016 at 8:59pm

I think I've changed it. Please try again.

Title: Re: What's eating my peas ?
Post by Bigyin on Feb 21^st, 2016 at 1:22pm

Freeze frame from vid.

Rat.jpg ( 25 KB | 216 Downloads )

Title: Re: What's eating my peas ?
Post by Michael on Feb 21^st, 2016 at 6:33pm

That really is taking the peas.

Title: Re: What's eating my peas ?
Post by Bigyin on Feb 21^st, 2016 at 7:13pm

Very good.
Put a pill out overnight and it was gone in the morning so won't get troubled by that particular critter in future. He's probably had lots of mates though.
Gonna build some cages this week.