Summer is the perfect time to start growing fresh food for your tortoises as well as other species of reptiles who benefit from greens.  We have 2 special seed mixes that provide all the nutrients for your critters.  Grazing tortoise seed mix has more grasses in it for the grazing torts such as sulcatas, leopards and any other species that include grasses in its diet.

The Russian tortoise seed mix has more broad leafed "weeds" for Russian but also works well with any speicies that will eat weeds such as redfoot tortoises.

These can be planted in your pen outside or in containers. Choose a sunny location that gets at least 4 to 5 hours or sun.  To plant outside prepare an area by removing any weeds and raking the soil flat.  Water well and sprinkle very sparingly with seeds. If you have a lot of birds you might want to cover with hay or a thin layer of soil.  Keep watered and in about a week you should have your seeds germinated and growing. 

When the plants get to be about 6" or so you can either cut to feed or let them graze on it.  We recommend if you are going to let them directly graze that you plant a couple of areas that can be
separated.  Let them graze on the first area until they have mowed that down and move them into the other area.  Replant the first one and this way you will have plants growing all summer until frost.

You can also start them in containers.  We like to use kitty litter pans.  Fill with soilless seed starting mix and water, moist not soggy wet. You can also use the same sand/coir mix that you use in your indoor pens. Its a great way to recycle it.  Sprinkle sparingly with the seeds and cover with plastic wrap to make a mini greenhouse.  This will keep the soil at the right moisture level. When the seeds have  begun to sprout remover the plastic wrap and put in a sunny location.  These grow best in full sun so if you are growing inside use plant lights or a very sunny window.