It's Veggie Time!

Finally, for just about everyone, spring has arrived in the US.  Time to get those veggie gardens going if you haven't already done so.

Many think that growing fresh healthy vegetables and greens for your bird is a whole lot of work. Maybe you don't have room for an in-the-ground vegetable garden.  Maybe you don't want to spend your free time getting rid of all those weeds you envision.  Maybe you don't feel like you have that "green" thumb you hear people speak of.

So let's put all those "maybe" thoughts away.  If you have land to plant a big garden, awesome, but if you don't, join the new generation of container gardeners.  Containers do not have to be expensive garden variety flower pots, any old, or new, plastic container will do.  Depending on the plants you choose to grow, containers can vary from a plastic shoe box, to a big storage tub, or anything in between.

Take your container, drill a few drainage holes in the bottom, add a layer of pine cones, rocks, or recycled cans to help hold the soil in the container.  Add some good vegetable garden soil, and then add the vegetables.  Purchasing plants rather than seeds will help get your garden growing quick and easy.  Most home improvement stores and local co-ops have healthy plants for your garden at very inexpensive prices.

Some great plants to try if you are a newbie, are romaine lettuce, cabbage, carrots, and radishes. They don't take much room, grow fast, and your birds will probably go crazy for them.  Just rinse and serve and watch the fun begin.  Rinse well and weave romaine leaves through cage bars for foraging fun.  Both carrot tops and carrots can be rinsed and fed to birds, and if you only cut the tops to feed, the carrot tops will continue to grow for all summer long healthy eating.  Cut tops off radishes, rinse the radish well, and give whole or cut into pieces.  You do not have to wait until cabbage plants grow into a round cabbage ball, rinse and feed at any time.


Since you are feeding these healthy goodies to your bird, do not use any type of pest control on the plants.  A few bugs never hurt anyone.  If the bugs begin to take over, spraying plants lightly with a mixture of water and a little dishwasher detergent will help deter the bugs for a while.

If you feel brave and experienced, try growing a big tub of corn, cucumbers or squash, and some carrots or radishes together.  Okra can be grown in a medium size containers easily and most larger parrots love the okra pods whole.  Watching our cockatoos open the pods and enjoy the okra seeds inside, is fun indeed.

Most of all have fun, enjoy gardening for your special feathered friend.  In fact you may enjoy a few veggies with your bird.

Find lots of gardening suggestions for you and your bird on our Pinterest Board Gardening for Parrots.