Tortoisesupply.com "Testudo Seed Mix" Thread

[Tom]

That's like a crackpot buffet for babies lol. I've been meaning to try some of these planter boxes. But with so many tortoise we have, it's hard to keep up, and I just end up reseeding the pastures.

I started another one right next door to this one and its going like crazy too. I need to post some pics...

 

[Telid]

So much dedicated space!

 

[Tom]

So much dedicated space!

What? 4x8? I run 10 or so plots this size at any given time, plus my whole backyard is a pesticide and chemical free sulcata food grass and weed farm. I've got dandelion, prickly sow thistle, broad leaf and narrow leaf plantain, and at least three types of grass. I mow it with an electric mower, mix the clippings with weeds and leaves, and the torts munch it all down.

 

[Telid]

Heh - I meant the whole setup, Tom. I am in the process of looking for my first [starter] home, and am jealous of all the yard space!

 

[Tom]

Heh - I meant the whole setup, Tom. I am in the process of looking for my first [starter] home, and am jealous of all the yard space!

Ahh yes. Gotta have some space to do tortoises. That's for sure.

 

[Kapidolo Farms]

Be realistic, think in terms of acres, not square feet.

 

[DawnH]

Has anyone had any luck planting this directly where it will be grazed on? I am curious if it will come back... I have had this planted three weeks now (protected) and am hoping to let Tuleo loose on it in another two weeks...

 

[leigti]

I obviously live in a different claimant then you but yes, I planted directly in the outdoor pen. If you let your tortoise on it too early they will eat it all before it can get established. Maybe block off part of it and let it grow a little before you let your tortoise on it. And it should come back next year pretty well. Or grow year-round if that is your climate, you lucky person you.

 

[DawnH]

I obviously live in a different claimant then you but yes, I planted directly in the outdoor pen. If you let your tortoise on it too early they will eat it all before it can get established. Maybe block off part of it and let it grow a little before you let your tortoise on it. And it should come back next year pretty well. Or grow year-round if that is your climate, you lucky person you.

Thank you! What is your suggested time frame on when it is typically established? I do have some growing on his table in his enclosure and behind our garage as well (to cut from once he mows down what is inside his oasis.) Our winters are pretty mild and I'm excited to see how this stuff grows!

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Has anyone had any luck planting this directly where it will be grazed on? I am curious if it will come back... I have had this planted three weeks now (protected) and am hoping to let Tuleo loose on it in another two weeks...

Yes. My pens have that seed mix and a lot but not all of the plants return.
It looks like anything not eaten all the way to the ground comes right back.
I have it growing in an above ground planter also. I clip the plants with scissors and most of it also re grows.
The bag of seeds seem small, but you can do a lot with it.

 

[MichaelaW]

I planted that seed mix and the only thing that's growing is this watercress type stuff.

 

[FLGirl41]

I obviously live in a different claimant then you but yes, I planted directly in the outdoor pen. If you let your tortoise on it too early they will eat it all before it can get established. Maybe block off part of it and let it grow a little before you let your tortoise on it. And it should come back next year pretty well. Or grow year-round if that is your climate, you lucky person you.

I am very interested in growing this mix in outdoor planters. Do you have an idea of the minimum temperature it will tolerate?

 

[Tom]

I am very interested in growing this mix in outdoor planters. Do you have an idea of the minimum temperature it will tolerate?

Mine slows down in our winter here and almost stops growing. We have lots of below freezing nights, and it doesn't seem to bother my seed mix plots. When spring returns, it grows like crazy. I can fill a five gallon bucket once a week with a 4x8' plot.

 

[Oxalis]

Awesome thread, @Tom! I just love your photos!

I am very interested in growing this mix in outdoor planters. Do you have an idea of the minimum temperature it will tolerate?

Mine survived just fine through a Michigan winter! I did have to clear a lot of dead stuff out to make room for the spring growth though.

 

[nathanlevi]

I planted this 4x8' planter box three weeks ago. It has a mix of native dirt, and planting soil all mixed together. It serves as a shade shelter for my leopards, and in another couple of weeks it will be providing some food for them too. I planted it much more densely than Tyler recommends. Since I'm growing it where they can't reach it, I wanted maximum density. I'm experimenting with different ways to do this. I think doing it this way might over crowd some of the seeds that sprout later. I'll do another planter box a different way and also document the results.

Here it is within days of planting.

Here it is after three weeks.

More updates will follow.

If you post a picture of the insect or the bite marks people might be able to tell which insect it is if its a caterpillar then just flip over a leaf and you might find it if it is an earwig that you can put vasseline around the steps of the plants or put a newspaper rolled up and they will gather in the news paper.

 

[nathanlevi]

Forgive me if I'm being dense, but don't all germinating seeds need some water? The only plants I don't water much are freshly planted cactus pads.

This seed mix doesn't need any more water than any other seed mix that I've tried.

Do you know how fast cactus pads grow?

 

[Tom]

If you post a picture of the insect or the bite marks people might be able to tell which insect it is if its a caterpillar then just flip over a leaf and you might find it if it is an earwig that you can put vasseline around the steps of the plants or put a newspaper rolled up and they will gather in the news paper.

We have a ton of ear wigs. I'm going to try the newspaper thing and see what I get. I can feed the bastards to my tarantulas!

 

[Tom]

Do you know how fast cactus pads grow?

It varies a lot. I have around 40 stands and some grow quickly and produce a lot of pads, while another one of the same variety planted right next to it doesn't do much at all. That's why I tell people to plant a bunch of them. Some will take off and some will just sit there not doing much.

 

[nathanlevi]

We have a ton of ear wigs. I'm going to try the newspaper thing and see what I get. I can feed the bastards to my tarantulas!

Great Idea I would feed them to my gecko but I don't think he can process the pinchers

 

[Tom]

Great Idea I would feed them to my gecko but I don't think he can process the pinchers

That shouldn't be a problem for a gecko, and you could clip the pinchers off too.