Seed Mixes

[rearlpettway]

NaturesSeeds:
This is the best seed mix that we have found.
http://www.naturesfinestseed.com/pasture-seed/tortoise/tortoise-forage-blend

Tortoise Supply:
This is the grasses seed mix that we like the most for hatchlings and young Sulcata.
This grass mix grows to a short height. After it is clipped it grows very very slow.
http://www.tortoisesupply.com/AfricanGrazerMix

Pasture mixes or other seeds from http://www.groworganic.com/seeds.html

Sulcata Food:
It grows extremely fast.
The picture is 9 days of growth.
In our hands when this mix is grown in a pot it doesn't regrow very well after it is clipped.
http://www.sulcatafood.com/Seeds.html

Carolina Pet Supply:
The Grazing Tortoise Seed Mix.
This is good for hatchlings, yearlings and adults. http://www.carolinapetsupply.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=41&products_id=179

Prairie 3 Plus:
http://www.stockseed.com/Shop/grass-mixtures/prairie-3-plus-prairiegrass-mixture

Arizona Tortoise Compound:
http://www.arizonatortoisecompound.com/Tortoise-Seed-Mixes/

 

[Tom]

Great thread my friend. Good info.

Here in Southern CA, I've tried all sorts of grass mixes and none grows better than this one for me:
http://www.groworganic.com/premium-horse-pasture-mix-irrigation.html

I'll have to try out your top one there.

I've got the got the "African Grazer Mix" from tortoisesupply.com, but I haven't started it yet. I'll have to see how it does here for me. Their "Testudo Seed Mix" is my favorite seed mix of all time. I use it everywhere and it thrives.

 

[fanofthedog]

Great thread my friend. Good info.

Here in Southern CA, I've tried all sorts of grass mixes and none grows better than this one for me:
http://www.groworganic.com/premium-horse-pasture-mix-irrigation.html

I'll have to try out your top one there.

I've got the got the "African Grazer Mix" from tortoisesupply.com, but I haven't started it yet. I'll have to see how it does here for me. Their "Testudo Seed Mix" is my favorite seed mix of all time. I use it everywhere and it thrives.

The one from sulcatafood.com surprising does not work for us. I have spots in his enclosure where I filled empty patches and those spots are the only greens Tyler will NOT eat. Frustrating! Tom- what do you use/what grows best under the intense blinding sunshine and heat? Im in SFV and its very challenging!

Thanks,
Karen

 

[Tom]

The one from sulcatafood.com surprising does not work for us. I have spots in his enclosure where I filled empty patches and those spots are the only greens Tyler will NOT eat. Frustrating! Tom- what do you use/what grows best under the intense blinding sunshine and heat? Im in SFV and its very challenging!

Thanks,
Karen

Some of it has to do with your methods too. Birds eat the seeds, gophers and bugs try to eat the plants and roots. It has been a bit of a learning curve for me…

The pasture mix I linked in my post grows the best by far for me of any grass seed mix I've tried. I also have good success with Tyler's "Testudo seed mix".

Some of my grapevine's take off like a bad weed and others barely survive. Don't know why that is. Just plant a bunch them in hot sunny areas.

Mulberry trees thrive if you can keep the gophers out of them.

I have several varieties of spineless opuntia that do very well.

I've got some lavatera bushes that are going great now.

If you can get some broadleaf plantain seeds somewhere, those are thriving for me too.

Gazanias also do well in our dry heat.

Alfalfa loves the heat and full sun.

African hibiscus grows very well, but it dies in fall. You can get regular hibiscus growing down there if you pick the right place to plant it. Some morning sun, but afternoon shade. Then prevent frost for the first couple of years. After that it should take off.

 

[fanofthedog]

Some of it has to do with your methods too. Birds eat the seeds, gophers and bugs try to eat the plants and roots. It has been a bit of a learning curve for me…

The pasture mix I linked in my post grows the best by far for me of any grass seed mix I've tried. I also have good success with Tyler's "Testudo seed mix".

Some of my grapevine's take off like a bad weed and others barely survive. Don't know why that is. Just plant a bunch them in hot sunny areas.

Mulberry trees thrive if you can keep the gophers out of them.

I have several varieties of spineless opuntia that do very well.

I've got some lavatera bushes that are going great now.

If you can get some broadleaf plantain seeds somewhere, those are thriving for me too.

Gazanias also do well in our dry heat.

Alfalfa loves the heat and full sun.

African hibiscus grows very well, but it dies in fall. You can get regular hibiscus growing down there if you pick the right place to plant it. Some morning sun, but afternoon shade. Then prevent frost for the first couple of years. After that it should take off.

Thank you - Im ready to roll. Im going to have a master gardener come over to help. I had to buy so many cinder blocks so that I can block off the area from Tyler- he is honestly a giant bulldozer. I have learned if I paint cinder blocks orange or yellow he will not push past. If they are brown or white or green (earth colors) he will not see it as a boundary. Such a comedian. Thank you!

 

[sulcatafood]

The one from sulcatafood.com surprising does not work for us. I have spots in his enclosure where I filled empty patches and those spots are the only greens Tyler will NOT eat. Frustrating! Tom- what do you use/what grows best under the intense blinding sunshine and heat? Im in SFV and its very challenging!

Thanks,
Karen

I am so sorry your tortoise did not enjoy the seeds. We would love to send you a replacement or can send you some other seeds or spineless prickly pear to replace what didn't work for you.

 

[sulcatafood]

NaturesSeeds:
This is the best seed mix that we have found.
http://www.naturesfinestseed.com/pasture-seed/tortoise/tortoise-forage-blend

Tortoise Supply:
This is the grasses seed mix that we like the most for hatchlings and young Sulcata.
This grass mix grows to a short height. After it is clipped it grows very very slow.
http://www.tortoisesupply.com/AfricanGrazerMix

Pasture mixes or other seeds from http://www.groworganic.com/seeds.html

Sulcata Food:
It grows extremely fast.
The picture is 9 days of growth.
In our hands when this mix is grown in a pot it doesn't regrow very well after it is clipped.
http://www.sulcatafood.com/Seeds.html

Carolina Pet Supply:
The Grazing Tortoise Seed Mix.
This is good for hatchlings, yearlings and adults. http://www.carolinapetsupply.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=41&products_id=179

Prairie 3 Plus:
http://www.stockseed.com/Shop/grass-mixtures/prairie-3-plus-prairiegrass-mixture

Arizona Tortoise Compound:
http://www.arizonatortoisecompound.com/Tortoise-Seed-Mixes/

Rodney,
So sorry to hear the plants didn't do well for you in a pot after being cut. We would be happy to offer you replacement seeds or some individual seed packets or plants to make up for what didn't meet your expectations.

 

[rearlpettway]

Rodney,
So sorry to hear the plants didn't do well for you in a pot after being cut. We would be happy to offer you replacement seeds or some individual seed packets or plants to make up for what didn't meet your expectations.

Well, that would be great. Just send me whatever you think is fare and I will be satisfied.
Thank you very much.
Rodney Earl Pettway
1903 North Thunderwood Circle
Fresno, Texas 77545

 

[LaSunshine]

Some of it has to do with your methods too. Birds eat the seeds, gophers and bugs try to eat the plants and roots. It has been a bit of a learning curve for me…

The pasture mix I linked in my post grows the best by far for me of any grass seed mix I've tried. I also have good success with Tyler's "Testudo seed mix".

Some of my grapevine's take off like a bad weed and others barely survive. Don't know why that is. Just plant a bunch them in hot sunny areas.

Mulberry trees thrive if you can keep the gophers out of them.

I have several varieties of spineless opuntia that do very well.

I've got some lavatera bushes that are going great now.

If you can get some broadleaf plantain seeds somewhere, those are thriving for me too.

Gazanias also do well in our dry heat.

Alfalfa loves the heat and full sun.

African hibiscus grows very well, but it dies in fall. You can get regular hibiscus growing down there if you pick the right place to plant it. Some morning sun, but afternoon shade. Then prevent frost for the first couple of years. After that it should take off.

I just bought the African grazer seeds from tortoise supply. Do I have to soak them? Any advice on sowing? Thanks ?

 

[LaSunshine]

Rodney,
So sorry to hear the plants didn't do well for you in a pot after being cut. We would be happy to offer you replacement seeds or some individual seed packets or plants to make up for what didn't meet your expectations.

Hi I just got seeds from tortoise supply, African grazer blend. Should I soak them and start inside? Or? Thank u

 

[Blackdog1714]

Great thread my friend. Good info.

Here in Southern CA, I've tried all sorts of grass mixes and none grows better than this one for me:
http://www.groworganic.com/premium-horse-pasture-mix-irrigation.html

I'll have to try out your top one there.

I've got the got the "African Grazer Mix" from tortoisesupply.com, but I haven't started it yet. I'll have to see how it does here for me. Their "Testudo Seed Mix" is my favorite seed mix of all time. I use it everywhere and it thrives.

Thanks gonna give it a try. Good price and shipping cost!

 

[Tom]

I just bought the African grazer seeds from tortoise supply. Do I have to soak them? Any advice on sowing? Thanks ?

First: Wait until spring. I try to anticipate the last frost of the year, and plant after that.
I break up the soil with a shovel and mix in amendments and fertilizer, if needed. Then, I soak the area heavily several times, scatter the seeds, and throw about a 1/4 to 1/2 inch of soil on top of the seeds. Then water some more, and don't let it dry out until after it starts to sprout and grow. On hot days up where I am, I have to water every hour or two during the day. Once it Strats to sprout, you can let the surface layer dry out a little bit and just water heavily in the morning and evening.

Once the stuff gets around 12" tall, I start to harvest it and feed it out. I grab handfuls and cut it with scissors. Once I've collected enough in my bucket, I feed it to my tortoises. It will keep re-growing and feeding your tortoises for months or years.

 

[LaSunshine]

Great! Thank you!! Btw. I’ve seen that you’ve posted images in the past about your enclosures. I can’t see them, due to the old format, any chance you will upload them on a newer format? (Very interested in enclosures) thank you!

 

[Yvonne G]

Great! Thank you!! Btw. I’ve seen that you’ve posted images in the past about your enclosures. I can’t see them, due to the old format, any chance you will upload them on a newer format? (Very interested in enclosures) thank you!

I've asked him that too. All it needs doing is for him to send the pictures to me and I can replace them in his threads.

 

[Yaaapops]

Great thread my friend. Good info.

Here in Southern CA, I've tried all sorts of grass mixes and none grows better than this one for me:
http://www.groworganic.com/premium-horse-pasture-mix-irrigation.html

I'll have to try out your top one there.

I've got the got the "African Grazer Mix" from tortoisesupply.com, but I haven't started it yet. I'll have to see how it does here for me. Their "Testudo Seed Mix" is my favorite seed mix of all time. I use it everywhere and it thrives.

Hey Tom! Can we use the grass mix you linked here for leopard tortoises??

 

[Tom]

Hey Tom! Can we use the grass mix you linked here for leopard tortoises??

Yes. Its great for any grass eating species.

Some leopards aren't too fond of grass, but if you introduce it slowly in small amounts, with tender young grasses, they should take to it.

 

[Yaaapops]

Yes. Its great for any grass eating species.

Some leopards aren't too fond of grass, but if you introduce it slowly in small amounts, with tender young grasses, they should take to it.

Awesome thank you as always. I’m going to try to sew it directly into the coco fiber we will see how this goes! says 3-4 weeks shipping but my lil guy loves to munch on everything so hoping this will work.