my OH did years ago when he used to help his grand-dad on his allotment. said it didnt make much difference from what he remembers his grand-dad saying.

Hi John,
Happy New Year again.
It's best to soak the peas or broad beans in paraffin for 24hrs. before sowing. The outside skin will take up enough to protect the seeds as they germinate, it's the smell which is given off that says "dinners ready", put on when the plants are growing. It's toxic and will remain in the plant for some time. I tried it once on carrots for showing, but they were tainted when eaten.

There is an anti-rodent powder about which deters mice, rats and squirrels, working in the same way that citronella does for cats, dogs and rabbits. Try your local garden centre or pet shop. You could also try planting french marigold or garlic around the peas, and I have been told that nepeta (cat-nip) works wonders to attract the cats - not what you may want, but deters the rodents!

Can't you see a row of happy pussies rolling in the catmint and consolidating the seed bed? I reckon you all know by now I swear by chilli pepper!

Thanks all. I think I'll try other than paraffin then. Even if it works, we intend to eat our peas and if they taste of paraffin I can see problems in the domestic scene. Scene probably being operative. Haven't grown peas for years and don't want to be forbidden from growing veges for years to come. Lol.

Like others have mentioned, my dad used to use it on his allotments to deter field mice from eating his peas. He also used red-lead powder but I wouldn't try that. One thing that did seem successful was naphthalene (broken mothballs) which masked the smell of the seeds. You could try Obas oil on old dry tea bags dotted about inbetween the seeds in your pea trench.

Lots of wonderful ideas - never thought of moth balls, or olbas oil, jimmy, ... thank you for the idea! Chilli works on my bird table against the squirrels, steragram, but seems to have no affect on the birds, so another good idea ... Thank you for your question, sarraceniac, on behalf of my peas!

I asked a very knowledgeable grower and he says to coat the Pea seeds in fungicide - the mice hate the taste, it helps keep the seed from rotting and does not affect taste or make them inedible. He says any garden centre will have some or the seeds may already be coated and to check the seed wrapper.