Perennial Garden Planning

So in my email tonight I had a link for perennial veggies.  Of the 18 options they listed according to tortoise table only Rhubarb, Sorrel, Chives, Garlic, Onions, Ramps, Three Cornered Leek, Ferns, Lovage, and Good King Henry are on the do not feed list.


Horseradish is on the feed sparingly list and never feed the root to tortoises. Asparagus is also on the feed sparingly list.


Watercress can be fed to tortoises but it contains goitrogens which can interfere with the thyroid if eaten in excess. It can also cause liver flukes if harvested from non-free-flowing water. Not something I am willing to try with Rocky.


Jerusalem Artichoke A.K.A. Sunroot can be fed in moderation. Only the leaves and flowers can be fed to tortoises. The tuberous root cannot be fed to tortoises but can be eaten by humans.


Daylilies are another that the leaves and flowers can e fed to tortoises but the tuberous root cannot. Also leaves should not be eaten in large quantities as they can cause hallucinations. How do you know if your tortoise is having hallucinations? I do not want to find out.


Also the Globe Artichoke is safe to feed all parts of the plant to tortoises.


Radicchio leaves can be fed to both humans and tortoises.


Kale is the best on the list for tortoises. High in calcium and better than dandelions. That being said, Rocky will be the only one in our house eating kale if I decide to plant it.


While the fruit of the grape vine can only be fed sparingly, the young fresh leaves are fine in moderation. I really want to grow grape vines across the back and side fence in the backyard. They were something I wanted to plant before I got Rocky because I wanted to use the grapes to make wine, like my Mother used to. Now I have a use for the leaves too.


The link for perennial veggies also led me to 62 edible wild plants. The list has Dandelion which I really want to plant the entire lawn with. The list also has Fireweed, Chickweed, Chicory, Broadleaf Plantain, Forget-Me-Not, Garlic Mustard, Harebell, Coneflower, Mallow, Pineapple Weed, Red Clover, Shepherd's Purse, Sunflowers, Spring Beauty, Teasel, Wild Grape Vine, Bergamot A.K.A. Wild Bee Balm, Prickly Pear Cactus, Herb Robert, Knapweed, Cleavers, Sow Thistle, Evening Primrose, Pansy, Milk Thistle, Queen Anne's Lace, and Deadnettle which can be eaten by both tortoises and humans. In the flower box with the roses that I want to plant (which Rocky can eat) now I want to add Evening Primrose, Forget-Me-Nots, and Harebells. Inside the new terrarium perhaps I can plant Prickly Pear Cactus?