The Best Crops to Grow for All of Your Pets
Growing a vegetable garden is fantastic for creating a reliable, steady food supply for you and your family—but it can also provide food for your pets! We’re passionate about providing pets with the healthiest food options available, but if the deluxe food brands are a bit outside of your price range, planting organic crops to feed your pets can save you money while keeping your pets well-nourished.
What Kinds of Plants and Crops Can I Grow for My Pets?
Whether you’ve got cats, dogs, birds, rodents, or reptiles at home, there are plenty of delicious crops that you can grow to provide your pets with an extra boost of nutrients!
Remember, when growing edible crops to feed your animals, never use chemical pesticides or fungicides. Trace amounts of these products on your crops can seriously harm your pets, so always use natural pest and disease control products and wash your crops thoroughly before feeding. It’s also worth avoiding synthetic fertilizers and sticking to organic, natural formulas, plus plenty of compost to keep your crops healthy, strong, and chemical-free.
Crops for Cats to Eat
Got some furry felines at home? While cats tend to be pickier about their food than other pets, there are still many crops you can grow for them. Some cats love eating veggies, while others are entirely disinterested, so it may be a trial-and-error process to find out what your cat likes most. Other plants—most notably, catnip—have fragrances that will excite your cats, sending them rolling, pouncing, and playing for hours.
Plant these crops to give to your cats:
- Catnip
- Cat grass
- Catmint
- Rosemary
- Marigolds
- Oat grass
- Peas
- Corn
- Beans
- Squash
Plants for Dogs to Eat
There are many vegetables you can feed your dogs—you can cook them and mix them into their existing food, or you can chop them up for bite-sized treats! Stick to the veggies on this list—some vegetables are toxic to dogs, so if you’re unsure if a crop is safe for your dog, talk to your veterinarian and find a reputable source.
Dogs love eating these garden crops:
- Carrots
- Celery
- Zucchini
- Beans
- Peas
- Cooked potatoes
- Ripe tomatoes
Grow These Crops for Your Birds
There are far more things than just seeds and berries that you can feed to your birds. Consider chopping larger fruits and veggies into smaller pieces to make them easier to eat.
Here’s a list of bird-safe edibles to give your fine feathered friends:
- Bell peppers
- Squash
- Carrots
- Sweet potatoes
- Cantaloupe
- Melons
- Blackberries
- Raspberries
- Blueberries
- Currants
- Beautyberries
- Plums
- Peaches
- Cherries
- Nectarines
- Apples
Edible Crops for Hamsters, Rabbits, and Guinea Pigs
Rodents may be tiny, but they sure have massive appetites! Grow these vegetables and fruits in your garden so that you always have snacks available for hungry hamsters, rabbits, and guinea pigs:
- Carrots
- Romaine lettuce (avoid iceberg lettuce)
- Kale
- Spinach
- Apples (skins and seeds removed)
- Cucumbers
- Peas
- Bell peppers
Tasty Crops for Reptiles
Vegetables and fruits are great for your reptiles—especially dark leafy greens that are high in calcium. You can also chop fruits and veggies and toss them in calcium powder to give your reptiles a nutrient-rich salad!
Here are some reptile-approved snacks you can grow in the garden:
- Cucumbers
- Apples (skins and seeds removed)
- Honeydew melon
- Strawberries
- Squash
- Blueberries
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Collard greens
- Beet greens
- Turnip greens
- Parsley
Reptiles also love the scent and flavour of flower petals like roses, hibiscus, and pansies. You can toss a few of these into your pet’s salad bowl—just make sure they’ve been thoroughly rinsed and are free of any pesticides or chemicals.
To find edible crops for dogs, cats, and all your other pets, visit Mother Nature! We have plenty of pet-safe plants you and your four-legged friends will enjoy. We also carry an extensive variety of high-quality pet food for animals of different ages and with different health issues or dietary restrictions. Feel free to talk to one of our pet experts for advice on what to feed your pet!