That's why I mention the weather and variables Fairygirl and even the mice have more to eat in spring so are less likely to eat the seedlings, in theory at any rate. If I decided to grow some then I'd sow the seeds in the spring too because of where I live.
I don't really get a problem with mice eating them, and I have mice here. Even with one of those plastic g'houses, I didn't get them going in, and they were left open.
It might be slightly better where you are, weather wise, but it's not consistently warm enough when it matters. We're still getting snow/frost etc through April, so it just doesn't work.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I’ve never grown sweet pea before but I was given a free plant last summer when buying bedding plants. It went so well that I collected some seeds to plant next spring ; however I noticed recently that there are self seeded plants popping up near the original plant in the garden. Will these prosper if I just leave them (mice allowing, although they seem to hang around my bird feeders mostly) or will the frosts do for them ? I do have some empty planters with domed lids if that is a better option ...
It might be worth putting the domed tops over the plants where they are growing, if possible. I do not think lifting the plants and moving them into pots at this time of year would be a good idea. Mice dig down a couple of inches to get at the pea seeds so sink the edges of the domes well down and keep your fingers crossed. Sweet pea plants are surprisingly tough, as long as they are under cover, no heat, they will survive quite low temperatures.
My pots of seeds were in tall pots, 5 seeds to a pot, sown deep, a few yards away from my bird feeder so plenty of other food for the mice. The pots were standing in a wire mesh freezer drawer, lined up in varieties, on a plastic shelving unit on my patio so elevated off the ground to about 28 ins. Mice climb!
Re. the perspex sheets. A good idea but make sure you sink the bottom edges well down into the soil, at least 4 ins., as I have already said, mice will dig down to reach the seeds. They are resourceful little blighters.
Thank you fairygirl and Joyce. I might try yoghurt pots with clear lids over the top of the plants in the ground and also sow some seed in my plastic raised planter with the dome on. Presumably I should pull up last summers plant now ?
It seems a lot of effort for some self sown seedlings! I'm surprised you still have plants growing @muckyhandsmike, but unless you have worthwhile flowers on them, yes - pull them out. If you're sowing just now, use old compost. You don't want them growing quickly at this time of year. It would be far too late to sow here - they wouldn't germinate, even under cover, but it might be ok where you are. Otherwise, just wait until Feb/March or so. Mice just climb the fences to reach my bird feeders as they're mostly against my fences. They're expert climbers, which is why they get into all sorts of places inside houses too
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Ok thanks fg. Yes I’ve had some things growing. I put the domes back on my plastic planters and the carrots have been growing recently ! Turned cold here now though ...
I gave up autumn sowing of sweet peas,yes mice from neighbours,year before last free packet in another gardening mag,they were fantastic. So last year I did just a few hand collected ones, again grew really quickly.BUT I can't use my top green house (with power) tried propagaters with lids they still got in! I posted this year about stopping mice....lots of different replies. A few weeks ago,they ate all my dance line and ice cream tulips,bar half of one,still in the packet. They'd been in the shed,hubby put them in the green house to plant. We've seen the mice. Bought plastic humane traps called The Big Cheese,every single day,the peanut butter has gone,where's the mice!!!!
Having calmed down I checked my sweetpea pots and found the mice had missed a few seeds so I sorted out the carnage and found I had 9 out of 80 plants. I have already bought replacement seed so will sow them after Christmas and keep them in the conservatory along with the broad beans and veg. peas.
I have used humane traps in the house quite effectively. A family of 5, disturbed by my neighbour rooting around in his loft installing CH.
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If I decided to grow some then I'd sow the seeds in the spring too because of where I live.
It might be slightly better where you are, weather wise, but it's not consistently warm enough when it matters. We're still getting snow/frost etc through April, so it just doesn't work.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
My pots of seeds were in tall pots, 5 seeds to a pot, sown deep, a few yards away from my bird feeder so plenty of other food for the mice. The pots were standing in a wire mesh freezer drawer, lined up in varieties, on a plastic shelving unit on my patio so elevated off the ground to about 28 ins. Mice climb!
Re. the perspex sheets. A good idea but make sure you sink the bottom edges well down into the soil, at least 4 ins., as I have already said, mice will dig down to reach the seeds. They are resourceful little blighters.
I'm surprised you still have plants growing @muckyhandsmike, but unless you have worthwhile flowers on them, yes - pull them out.
If you're sowing just now, use old compost. You don't want them growing quickly at this time of year. It would be far too late to sow here - they wouldn't germinate, even under cover, but it might be ok where you are. Otherwise, just wait until Feb/March or so.
Mice just climb the fences to reach my bird feeders as they're mostly against my fences. They're expert climbers, which is why they get into all sorts of places inside houses too
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I have used humane traps in the house quite effectively. A family of 5, disturbed by my neighbour rooting around in his loft installing CH.