Alright, I've decided I'm going to grow some worms this summer, but I have a few questions. First of all, I've read that the red worms that are best for composting in containers in the house cannot live in garden beds because they require constant moitsure. I also read that 2,000 worms will become 1 million worms in a fairly short time. Ok, question 1, is there a type of worm that is good for composting that could also be put into the garden? And question 2, how do you deal with population growth? Just let them eat each other? Any help about composting with worms would be great! Thanks!

-- Elizabeth (Lividia66@aol.com), April 10, 2001

Answers

I'm using the red fishing worms from our local bait shop for my ranch. These are just manure worm breeders from my understanding. In answer to your question #1, they seem to transplant to the garden just fine, I turn some up whenever I cultivate the soil. Also when I add castings to the garden, I always include some hatchlings and coccoons. One thing I have noticed is that the wigglers from our gardens are often 2 to 3 times larger than the average bin stock I have, so I wrangle some of these to add to my bins as breeders. As far as the constant moisture requirement, yes its true, however, as long as you have a water table, the worms will migrate to the moisture, returning to the foodsource when it suites their needs. Also, in a garden, if theres enough moisture for the plants, there is enough for the worms also.

On question #2, Population growth is desirable. I started with about 60 breeders in the beginning, estimate the possibility of maybe 500000 in 6 or 7 months if I'm lucky. My plan is to keep adding bins and feeding them well, culling the herd on a regular basis for fishbait sales and garden additions.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), April 10, 2001.

Go to the bait shop and find out what they will buy from you. Then get those. I have heard that night crawlers don't grow in captivity. Gee... said the same thing about Peregrines and Panda bears...

That is what I did. I grow them under my rabbit hutches with bedding of shredded newspaper. What doesn't get fed to dogs, cats or rabbits (and unfortunately some of what IS fed to the rabbits) goes in. Including coffee grounds and filters, etc.

Population growth is dealt with the same way... Sell them, throw them in the garden, use them for fishing - whatever. I have heard that some folks supplement livestock with them but I don't have any that would eat them. Besides... I haven't heard from reliable sources that this is a good thing to do.

I've had mine in (here) for over a month now, and they have reproduced, but not to the point where I'd have to worry about them out eating their home.

I am also not sure that those growth rates are all that accurate.... I think they are a great sales pitch, and little more.

-- Sue Diederich (willow666@rocketmail.com), April 11, 2001.

And don't let someone sell you "hybrids" . This is just a sham sales pitch to charge a higher price. According to researchers there is no such thing as a hybrid worm. Before you can force hybridization , the worm will mate with itself since it has both sex glands. I was kind of surprised to see Countryside running a classified ad for "hybrid" worms. Course with genetic engineering now, they may clone some, but with over 9000 species naturally, whats the use

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), April 11, 2001.

I finally saw some of those hybrids at a bait shop, and man are they big. They look like striped night crawlers. I don't know if they are actully reds but thats what they call them.

-- Wayne Vining (WTV@mindspring.com), May 06, 2001.

Alright, Red Worms, AKA - Red wigglers, compost worms, manure worms, etc., etc. are the only the third largest worm behind the field worm and the king, the night crawler.

My favorit, and the ones I raise are the European night crawler, AKA- Belgium worm, large red, super red and sometimes I've heard the called Reds.

These common names can get confusing because some people call the European Night crawler (Eisenia ortensis) Reds and the Red wiggler/Red worm (Eisenia fetida) the same thing. The wiggler is easy to raise and is a good composter. Some raisers put red food dye in their meal to try and make them more red. BUT, they are small!!!!

For #1 - That is why I like the Euro's. They compost just as good, live well in your garden, turn your soil better (which wigglers can't) and are liked by fishermen more due to their large size. Hey, if a rare fishermen wants a smaller worm, give him a yung Euro!

For #2 - deal with population by puting excess in your garden, sell or give away for fishing, or just give to friends and family for their garden. Hey if non of these suits you, fust let them go. They do nothing but help any were they are.

Just for FYI, I also love African crawlers. These monsters are great. They like it hot, well I live in AZ.

-- Ed (Ed_Heiser@python.cac.cc.az.us), July 02, 2001.