Allotments 4 All

Hi everyone.  Hope someone can help me with this one.  I put some brassica plants out to harden off just outside greenhouse - netted over to keep birds off.  They were just about ready to plant out when I discovered something had done for them.  Almost all the caulis had their leaves stripped off.  Cabbage largely untouched and sprouts were fine.  Strange thing was, the leaves that had been taken off (bitten through at the stem) were all piled neatly between two trays.  I found what I think were mouse droppings, but why would they hoard the leaves - nest material? 

Moved the whole lot above ground, onto a table, netted over, secured it down - two days later the sprouts have had it.  Same thing, leaves bitten through and piled neatly inside the tray.

Any ideas?  ???

The mice had some of my sweetcorn in the greenhouse a couple of weeks ago... guess its trap time guys and gals

Derek

It was suggested on another thread that peppermint oil helped repell them.

I tried it in the greenhouse (having lost all my peas, sweetcorn + sunflower + trapped 4 in less than a week), that is I crushed a bunch of mint, meered it round the entrance + scattered the tattered leaves about.

Only had one mouse since + that was in a period of 3 weeks or more.

Might be worth a try round the edges of the pots?

Thanks Diana - I like the sound of that one, I shall give it a go.  I was lucky enough to see a little owl in the vicinity - hope it's hungry!