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Rabbit’s Garden
Growing a Summer Herb Garden in Containers for Your Rabbit
May 5
Written By Jeanette Lyerly
Why garden?
Growing an herb garden for your rabbit can be easy and fun. You don’t need a lot of space, or to be a garden expert, to get started. There are lots of benefits to gardening, including relieving stress, having fresh food to enjoy, and helping your budget. My bunnies love fresh herbs, and herbs are among the easiest plants to grow yourself.
Planning your garden
First things first - how much space? Many herbs and vegetables grow well in containers in a sunny spot on a porch, deck or patio. I like to put my containers on my deck, which is right outside my kitchen. Look for a space that gets about six hours of sun, something many herbs prefer. If you don’t have that much sun, some leafy vegetables, like lettuce, and herbs like mint and parsley can do well with four hours of sun. You also want to consider your water source, and select an area close enough to a spigot that you can keep everything watered. If your house is like mine though, you might need a long hose for watering.
Selecting containers
Choose a large container, because larger containers hold more soil and need to be watered less often. That can be important in the hot North Carolina summer! You also want to have enough room for the roots to grow. Make sure your container has holes in the bottom for drainage. If the drainage holes are large, you can place paper towels in the bottom of the pot. If you need to be able to move large pots around your porch or patio, a plant caddy with wheels is a good option.
Choosing or preparing your soil
Good soil is important! A well drained soil that holds moisture and has some organic matter is a great choice. If you followed last month’s post about poop, you have a new use for all the litter from your rabbit’s litter box. Compost it! If you use a paper or wood litter, you can start a compost heap by dumping the entire litter box (perhaps in a spot where your neighbors can’t see it!). Turn the compost periodically. If you start this in the winter, by spring you will have nice organic matter to add to your soil. If you are just now thinking ah-ha!, then you can purchase compost at the garden center and compost rabbit litter for your fall herbs and veggies
Deciding what to plant
There are lots of choices about what to grow. Choosing plants is all up to your, and your rabbit’s, taste. Most herbs do very well in a large pot, and are loved by rabbits. Spring is a great time for planting many herbs. Favorites at my house are parsley, cilantro, dill, chamomile, sage, lemon balm, thyme, and oregano. You can start plants from seed, or purchase small plants at the local farmer’s market or garden center. If you have a friend who gardens, you can ask if they are dividing their plants. Oregano, thyme, mint, and lemon balm tend to spread, so your friend will probably be glad to gift you with some.
Herbs have strong scents, and often are not troubled by insect pests. To help prevent problems before they start look carefully at plants before your purchase them, checking under the leaves, to make sure plants are healthy before bringing them home. Avoid over-watering, since lots of moisture can promote fungus growth and attract pests. If you do notice bugs on your plants, your first defense is to wash them off. If bugs are persistent, you can make your own soap spray using one tablespoon of mild natural soap, such as Castile soap, in one quart of water. Spray on the plants in the morning to help with insect control. Remember to wash herbs thoroughly before using them.
Harvesting and pruning your herbs so they continue to grow
Herbs respond well to frequent harvesting, so they are great for adding to bunny salads. Cut the stem about one-third of the way down so your plant will continue to grow. For plants like basil and oregano, cut the stem just above a pair of leaves. Pruning regularly will prevent your herbs from going to seed as quickly and prolong your harvest. Herbs can be washed and served fresh in bunny salad, or dried and sprinkled in hay as a treat.
For more information, and links to help you get started, visit:
http://www.trianglerabbits.org/care/rabbitgarden.html
https://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/garden/container-gardening/slide/4
https://www.bhg.com/gardening/vegetable/vegetables/planning-your-first-vegetable-garden/
Growing Wheatgrass for Your Rabbits
Aug 1
Written By Michelle Underhill
Interested in giving your rabbit a fresh, tasty treat? Nothing is more fresh than live wheatgrass! Wheatgrass is easy to grow in a container at home, and because it does not require a lot of soil, you can even grow it in a an old food bowl or a litter box. Your bunny can enjoy a whole patch of wheatgrass! Just follow these few steps and in a couple of weeks, your rabbit will have a fresh treat!
Where to buy seeds
Look for organic, food grade wheatgrass seeds. Sometimes they are called wheat berries, and sold as sprouting seeds. Amazon.com has several organic brands. Two of my personal favorite brands are Sow True Seed and Starwest Botanicals. Store your unused wheatgrass seeds in either the refrigerator or freezer, to extend their life.
Planting the wheatgrass
Choose a container that is three inches or so deep. Place 1/2” to 1” of organic potting soil in it. Spritz it with water. Put a layer of wheatgrass seeds on top of the soil, then cover the seeds with a very light layer of the same potting soil. Spritz it again, then cover the container loosely with plastic wrap. Place it in indirect light.
Optional tip: To ensure the seed germination is relatively even, you can try giving your seeds a few days in cold temperature. After you start your seeds and wrap the container in plastic wrap, instead of putting it in indirect light, you may place it in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Then move your seeds back to room temperature.
Caring for wheatgrass
Once or twice a day, check the wheatgrass and spritz with water. You don’t want it to be dry, but you also don’t want it to be too wet. Just keep it damp.
After four or five days, when the wheatgrass is an inch or more in height, remove the plastic wrap. Keep spritzing daily until the wheatgrass is the desired height, and serve!
Things to watch for: Wheatgrass is susceptible to mildew. If your wheatgrass starts to mold at the roots, it’s time to throw it away. You can wash your container thoroughly and start a new batch.
Bon Appetit!
You can give the whole container to your bunny and let him or her comp on it! You probably want to remove it after a few minutes so they do not eat too much of the wheatgrass and experience stomach issues. While wheatgrass is a good treat for them, any sudden change in diet can lead to digestive issues for a rabbit.
You can also clip the wheat grass and serve it in your rabbit’s daily salad. Wheatgrass is also healthy for us, so you may want to add some to your own salads or smoothies!
