Topic: Something's eating my peas.........

[Mushy Pea]

Hi all

I am at war with the slugs.  They are chewing our pointed cabbages, making lots of holes in them,  and I thought, eating our peas as some of the pods on the bottom of the plants are being eaten.  However, I noticed this morning that some pods on the top of the plants are now being chewed.

Any ideas?  Could it be birds?  Or acrobatic slugs? ???

MP

[KathrynH]

Could be snails. My plot is always over run with them after a drop of rain and they don't seem to mind how high they have to climb!

[davyw1]

Are the pods still on the plant after being eaten, also have a look under the plants for any dropped part eaten pods it could be mice
 

[PurpleHeather]

Slugs do climb but not as high as snails, I have pulled them off tree tops before now. I assume that they can travel further because of the protection of the shells.

I found a large snail with a whole stalk of a baby pea plant in it's mouth earlier this year. As if to snap it off at ground level.  The snail did not survive.

A little mouse can't eat a lot of peas, they have such tiny tummies a pea must be like a full meal to them.

[Mushy Pea]

Hi,

Yes, the pods are still on the plant but there are no peas in them and the pods are half chewed.  Not totally gone. 

I have seen quite a number of small slugs around and no snails, up until now anyway.

Thanks
MP

[Mushy Pea]

Thanks for the replies.  I suppose it could be mice purpleheather but there were quite a few peas gone yesterday.!!!!!  As you say, one pea would probably fill a mouse.  I Probably wouldn't mind a mouse.  BUT, It couldn't be RATS could it? >:(  Would they climb a pea stalk?  It would need a few peas to fill a rat!!!!!!!!!!  grrrr

MP

[Robert_Brenchley]

I'm getting a few chewed pods on top of my peas; I'm convinced it's birds. Anything ground-living would tend to go for the accessible pods at the bottom.

[2DEGUS]

Pigeons are renowned for it, though around here (S. Wales) my main suspects are:
       a) slugs + snails
       b) magpies
       c) next doors "pet" squirrell which i held reponsible for digging up all my pea seeds in spring!

All these been seen on or near plot, never seen pigeons.

[Mushy Pea]

Hi Folks,

Many thanks for your help. I've finally managed to get a picture of the damage.

MP

[Robert_Brenchley]

Birds.

[asbean]

Sky rats  >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:(