I planted my sweet pea seed yesterday, I always do this on October 8th as I then get a good plant ready for February planting. The best protection IMO is mouse traps baited with pea nuts as these do not go mouldy and are a natural food for mice, I put in 60 seeds and will look for around 55- 60 plants. I have to grow them on my allotment now as we lost our garden and greenhouse.