what food to give my Hermann's before my weeds grow!

[GemJam]

Hi,

Next week I am getting my first little Hermann's tortoise.
I am very excited and have started up a little greenhouse with some seed trays to start growing some weeds.
However, what can I feed my little one until I have some weeds?
I have read a few threads suggesting rocket salad and little bit of kale. I assume it is best to get organic and wash it thoroughly from the supermarket?
Then I have read about the flowers they can eat, such as Pansys. So could I get some from the garden centre for now? (Washed of course) I'm just worried about the chemicals they may use.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

[Alan1]

Garden centre stuff should be washed and wait a month before feeding it. Rocket salad and kale are high in oxalates which cause bladder stones so feed only very rarely. If it's a tiny tortoise you are getting you won't need a huge amount of weeds. Check out this site for what you can feed http://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/site/plants_19.asp

[lonelylayla]

Florette Crispy salad is a good one for "bought stuff". Lots of weeds starting to show now, particularly dandelion, ribbed plaintain, sowthistle, bit of clover etc. If you collect some weeds and leaves, they will keep for several days in a bag in the fridge

[sandy]

Romaine lettuce also is mostly water so helps keep them hydrated but can be fed as part of a mixed diet:0)

[Alan1]

Campanula is often in the shops around now, M&S and Homebase has sold them in the past. Blue/purple flowers in post for about £3.99

I noticed this morning garlic mustard and sowthistle growing in the car park flower beds

[Suze65]

The weeds are just beginning to come back here, should be able to pick enough soon for one little mouth.

[GemJam]

Thank you guys. The website you suggested has got a fantastic list and I will use this. I will also have a look out for weeds, however there aren't any in my garden yet!

[Suze65]

Have you got any where you can go out on a weed walk.

[GemJam]

There is a canal nearby. I'm not sure if the council treat it with weedkiller. But I assume they wouldn't have started that yet?

[emma_mcraf]

I get a lot of weeds from the old cemetery near us and also the botanical gardens. They grow along the paths too, so once you can identify a few, you'll soon start spotting them. I always have a bag with me, just in case!!