Worm Castings - Beneficial or Not
a1an
2 years ago
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Patti Chicago Zone 5b/6a
2 years agoa1an
2 years agoRelated Discussions
Worm castings - or worms?
Comments (9)I find that my red worms who live outside do really well, so long as the soil is kept moist and they are fed often with vegetable/fruit trimmings. I often will add some partially composted leaves from my compost bin. Although, I find that they do well without much attention in my raised beds that have lots of organic compost, I like to keep one 4ft square bed that is shaded and kept covered with cardboard to add my veggie/fruit trimmings/composted leaves. I go clockwise around the bed to add food and to remove the vermicompost as needed to use in my containers/other beds. There are so many worms in the bed that is necessary to spread the vermicompost out to let it dry out and get the worms to move back to a moister section. Try to use unchlorinated water to moisten the rest of the bed or some that has sat out for 24hrs so that the chlorine has mostly evaporated. Red worms will eat the bacteria from the decaying foods, and I never have a problem with offensive odors ....actually, the compost in this bed smells really good and the plants seem to really thrive on it. I agree that getting these worms from someone in your area may be better as they will have adapted to your local weather conditions. I live in a desert area that has temps from the 20's to the 110's and they have survived many years outside this way....See MoreDo worm castings need to be fresh to make worm tea?
Comments (2)You can brew worm tea but I have found a better method. It takes months to make worm castings. I have 5 worm bins made from Kitty litter buckets and 2 inside bins (rubbermaid containers). I have a lot of potted plants and hated tossing the spent potting soil (expensive) into the garden. I have 2 compost tumblers and when the exothermic reaction is done I add worms to speed up the process. All bins are raised and have collecting trays. The drippage is the best worm tea. I collect it daily using a turkey baster,bulb syringe, or toomey syringe if you have one. You can collect the tea long before the castings and pour it on your potted plants. I have a 5 foot cilantro that really loved it and have brought back many nutrient deficient plants. Recycling potting soil in worm bins really works too and the worms love them....See MoreHow to best utilize a bag of worm castings in the garden?
Comments (6)Microbes won't be completely killed off by soil or compost drying out. Fungi and some bacteria go into a spore stage, while other bacteria go dormant, awaiting more favorable conditions. But for sure a bag of compost sitting out in the hot sun all day (and doesn't have a moisture seal) is going to have less microbial life than one still moist and kept in the shade. Last year, I ordered abt 20000 red worms--- it was already hot, in late spring. I put in a big plastic crate with a whole bunch of holes---like dozens on the bottom and dozens on the top. Put fiberglass screen on the bottom to prevent escape. The bedding was moist aged horse manure. Put in the shade outside. The next day I opened lid, and every one of them had come to the surface and died. I think it got too hot! Summer temps here run 100+ deg. for many days. Last week it hit 111 deg. in the shade. So I am very discouraged about trying to raise worms again. Do you keep them in a pit in the ground? I hear some people actually put them in a pantry or closet in the house to keep them cool....don't know if the wife would go for that ;-) Having a worm farm is a GREAT idea...but I don't know if I can keep them alive and thriving in hotter-than-hell S. Texas. Thanks...I will be leery of buying such light/dry worm castings! Saves a lot on the shipping, but I'd rather have fresh stuff!...See MoreWANTED: worm castings, worm tea and live worms
Comments (0)If anyone wants some worm castings, worm tea and live worm for fertilizers and breeding, please email me rodliz12002@yahoo.com...See MorePatti Chicago Zone 5b/6a
2 years agoa1an
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoRichard Brennan
2 years agoa1an
2 years ago
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tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)