What's eating my garden pea?

Garden peas are most damaged by pea moth caterpillars, which tunnel into pods and ruin the harvest unseen. Pea aphids weaken plants from the tips. Pea and bean weevil notches leaf edges in spring. Mice raid seeds at sowing. Birds peck at emerging shoots in early spring. Fleece or fine mesh solves most of these issues.

No external sign until pods are opened; caterpillars feed inside, producing frass among the peas; most damaging on June–July-flowering crops Cover with insect-proof mesh when flowers first open to exclude egg-laying moths; avoid peak-risk sowings (early May); early and late sowings escape the main flight period

Large green aphids cluster on stem tips and tendrils; stunted growth; honeydew and sooty mould; virus transmission can cause leaf roll Insecticidal soap or neem spray; strong water jet; encourage predatory insects; avoid overcrowding to allow airflow and predator access

Scalloped semicircular notches in leaf margins, most visible on young plants; adults active from early spring Vigorous, well-fed plants outgrow damage; pyrethrin in serious cases; clear plant debris in autumn

Mice dig up and eat sown seeds; pigeons and sparrows peck at emerging shoots and strip leaves from young plants Sow in guttering or modules; protect rows with pea netting or wire guards immediately after sowing; mouse traps along the row edge