Edible landscape?

[Tony the tank]

I just finished my outdoor enclosure for my Russians.. 8x26.. It houses 7 females and 1 male... It's pretty bare except for 2 habiscus plant, 3 Geranium , and some ornamental grass... They're not interested in eating any of it..I'm also having an issue finding edible plants at the nursery.. Basically because I'm not sure what's edible...can anyone help me out with names of popular plants that I can find at lowes...

Thank you

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Only buy plants that are clearly meant for HUMAN consumption because most garden shops use systemic pesticides on the ornamental plants.
Plants such as herbs and aloe and spinless cactus work well.

 

[Yvonne G]

You're better off buying seeds and planting your own. Like Zero said, nurseries treat their plants with systemics that stay in the plant for quite a while.

You can buy seeds like pansies, violas, any vegetable (squash and pumpkin leaves are tasty and edible), grape, etc. If you plant these in trays you can move trays in and out of the habitat as they're eaten. Of directly in the ground is good too.

 

[Tony the tank]

I've tried the vegetables in the trays. But they eat it down to the roots in one day...preferring that over the spring mix.. Was hoping to find some type of bush or plant that can stay ahead of their voracious eating..

 

[Yelloweyed]

I don't know of any plant that can 'keep' up with tortoises' appetites but covering the trays with screens can help.



-just take out the chicken and add ramps to the sides!

 

[Tony the tank]

I don't know of any plant that can 'keep' up with tortoises' appetites but covering the trays with screens can help.

View attachment 167239

-just take out the chicken and add ramps to the sides!

That's a good idea...might work..

 

[Rue]

I like the chicken.

 

[Prairie Mom]

can anyone help me out with names of popular plants that I can find at lowes...

Thank you

Here are a few lists that may give you some ideas...
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...ls-cold-hardy-perennials.110773/#post-1030304
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...-and-retain-good-texture.128563/#post-1198931

Also the University of California made a couple cool plant lists. They have a list of completely safe non-toxic plants and their toxic plant list is so detailed it includes level of toxicity and even whether the plants contain oxalates...

Safe totally non-toxic plant list: http://ucanr.edu/sites/poisonous_safe_plants/Safe_Plants_by_Common_Name/
Plants that may be toxic: http://ucanr.edu/sites/poisonous_safe_plants/Toxic_Plants_by_common_Name_659/

You may also get some ideas from this article from The Tortoise Table:
http://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/site/plants_and_shrubs_59.asp

 

[Prairie Mom]

I've tried the vegetables in the trays. But they eat it down to the roots in one day...preferring that over the spring mix.. Was hoping to find some type of bush or plant that can stay ahead of their voracious eating..

You might consider potting plants so they can only eat what hangs down from the pot. I've also used hideous tires to give plants a rest

 

[Big Charlie]

Here are a few lists that may give you some ideas...
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...ls-cold-hardy-perennials.110773/#post-1030304
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...-and-retain-good-texture.128563/#post-1198931

Also the University of California made a couple cool plant lists. They have a list of completely safe non-toxic plants and their toxic plant list is so detailed it includes level of toxicity and even whether the plants contain oxalates...

Safe totally non-toxic plant list: http://ucanr.edu/sites/poisonous_safe_plants/Safe_Plants_by_Common_Name/
Plants that may be toxic: http://ucanr.edu/sites/poisonous_safe_plants/Toxic_Plants_by_common_Name_659/

You may also get some ideas from this article from The Tortoise Table:
http://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/site/plants_and_shrubs_59.asp

Fescue is on the UC toxic list. That is grass. The lists are for people, not tortoises.

 

[Prairie Mom]

Fescue is on the UC toxic list. That is grass. The lists are for people, not tortoises.

Really!? I thought tortoises went to the University of California!
The non-toxic list has many decent examples of good flowers that could be commonly found at Lowe's and many of which can be perfectly viable tortoise food. Just trying to give him ideas of things to look into.

 

[Yvonne G]

Fescue is on the UC toxic list. That is grass. The lists are for people, not tortoises.

It's pretty hard to find lists exclusively for tortoises. Most toxic lists are for mammals.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Hector, I'm also in South Florida and I lean hard on Hibiscus flowers and leaves.
I have a total of 9 hibiscus plants. All very old and established. No pesticides.
Are you any good at gardening? You could get some clippings from me and grow them out.
I also have a lot of plants growing from a small bag of seeds I got from tortoise supply. Even though the tortoises eat the green parts, the whole plants usually grow back. It's amazing stuff and there are about ten different types of plants/food in there.
Also, I have a few flower pots growing spineless cactus. A nice treat as well.

 

[Cowboy_Ken]

Basically because I'm not sure what's edible...can anyone help me out with names of popular plants that I can find at lowes...
Thank you

You can easily find most squash plants at Lowes. Once discovered, your tortoise/tortoises will eat then to the root level, killing the plant. So the key here is keeping the tortoise away from the the plant. Plant them in an old tire with good soil and the plant will grow out of the tire, the tortoise will eat on it when it grows over the side of the tire and all is good. Leaves, flowers, fruit, it's all food for tortoise.

 

[Tony the tank]

Hector, I'm also in South Florida and I lean hard on Hibiscus flowers and leaves.
I have a total of 9 hibiscus plants. All very old and established. No pesticides.
Are you any good at gardening? You could get some clippings from me and grow them out.
I also have a lot of plants growing from a small bag of seeds I got from tortoise supply. Even though the tortoises eat the green parts, the whole plants usually grow back. It's amazing stuff and there are about ten different types of plants/food in there.
Also, I have a few flower pots growing spineless cactus. A nice treat as well.

I appreciate the offer. I have a few hibiscus plants in the pen already. Only seen one or two nibble at the leaves. They seem to prefer to hide under them. I also tried the cactus they walk right by .. I did plant a few trays of romaine .. It was gone by end of day. .. I was really hoping they would go for hibiscus