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Eugene,OR

Who has "planted" earthworms in their patch? If you have, how does it work and where do you get the cocoons?

11/26/2004 2:02:00 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

http://www.wheatgrasskits.com/worm.html

11/26/2004 2:04:10 PM

Western NY

i haven't, but have considered paying neighborhood kids to pick up nightcrawlers for me, and i would put them around the plants.

anybody try it?

11/26/2004 3:32:01 PM

[email protected]

We farm Canadian &/or European Nightcrawlers in Rubbermaid storage tubs. We pick up a few dozen grown adults of each at the local bait shop at the start of the fishing season. Those we haven't fed to the fish or drowned end up in the patch. I've never purchased cocoons but after a couple weeks in the homemade brooders you can find plenty.

In the Rubbermaids I just layer shredded b&w newspaper, brown leaves from the top of the compost pile & Peat Moss. 6 layers is good, 2 of each. Lightly spinkle with a watering can. On top goes a handful of corn meal.

The Rubbermaid tubs have 1.5 inch holes bored in them every couple of inches for ventilation. These are covered with regular black Nylon window screening that is epoxied into place to prevent escapes.

I keep the brooders in the shade since worms hate heat. Anytime we want some worms for fishing, they're here for the grabbing & no time wasted at the bait shop.

11/26/2004 4:04:41 PM

Montoursville, PA

If you have five to fifteen percent humus, or more and low salts and/or poisons you will have lots, of worms, without buying them. If you do not have them work, on reducing natural salts and applied poisons, in your growing medium.

11/26/2004 9:19:38 PM

San Diego, Ca.

Russ, I planted worms in my patch just a few weeks ago. We have a worm farm nearby where you can get thousands of worms. I mixed a generous portion of corn meal in the soil then added the worms at various spots all around the patch to spread them out.
You can buy earthworm cocoons from Gardens Alive (www.gardensAlive.com) 50 cocoons cost $12.95 I'm not sure how many worms a single cocoon will produce.
BTW, thank you for all the seeds, I just got them in the mail today.

11/27/2004 2:14:56 AM

Roanoke Il

If you don't have earth worms now there is a reason and importing them is just a waste of money they will leave or die.. get you patch in order more organic matter (coffee grounds,egg shells)they love the stuff. Tilling is probably the worse thing for worms. stop tilling in the fall more om and the will come. Before i stared growing i have close to 8-12 worms per shovel full of dirt it only took me 2 years to alomst wipe out every worm in the patch now after 2 seasons of trying to get the little guys back there are 1-3 in every shove full of dirt. I think by next spring there numbers will even be greater. I know you want to till those leaves, cow maure , sea weed ect in the patch right a way in the fall but hold off. untill mid may you say i put my plants on may first just work up the area that you are going to plant them in lets say a 5x5 area first then in 3 weeks till the rest of your patch or till the area as the plant gets bigger. mark

11/27/2004 9:19:41 AM

[email protected]

Dwaine brings up a good point. If a patch doesn't have worms then finding the cause is more important than obtaining more worms.

Our soil ranges 17-19% OM but used to range 5-7%. Since "working the dirt", worms just about trip over themselves to get here. The amount of organic matter they consume is amazing. Annual renewal is NOT an option if we want happy & healthy worms.

Definately go easy on high salt fert. Sevin insecticide & the Benzimidizole fungicides do a number on them too.

11/27/2004 9:49:19 AM

Long Island,New York

I disagree Mark. Tilling increases worms....I saw at least two worms for every one after tilling. Smaller ones though, wierd thing.lol

11/27/2004 2:43:01 PM

Key West, FL

I read a saying on here, I thought it was pretty good. "Worms don't make good soil, but good soil makes worms"

11/27/2004 7:10:52 PM

In the shade - PDX, OR

Provide the proper food resources and the worms will come to you.

11/29/2004 1:36:08 PM

Puyallup, WA

My pumpkins just love "wormy soil"!

11/29/2004 6:13:37 PM

Montoursville, PA

Ben if you believe that worms don't make good soil please read a bit more on the subject. Glenn........if you would just till a bit more you maybe could double your worm count even another time. Sharpen the tines for more effcient slicing. :)

12/1/2004 2:22:44 PM

Utah

Doc-
Ben is agreeing with you ! :O

12/1/2004 3:16:43 PM

Key West, FL

i think I even quoted you with that doc??? haha

12/1/2004 5:10:34 PM