Cool trick to increase worm population is to cut an avocado in half and put it flesh down on the soil surface. The worms congregate in it which leads to them mating.

@learningtogrowinChrist

3 жыл бұрын

I can dig that!

@lindadetweiler8109

3 жыл бұрын

I didn't know this about avocado shells until I recently was transferring from my compost trash can to a more permanent spot. Every single avocado shell was totally full of a cluster of worms. I was wondering if it was like a nesting place or something, but hadn't looked it up. I had wondered if avocado shells were too much for my little trash can compost bin and would just "clutter it up" - but very glad I put them in anyway. I was shocked how many worms I had in this in 1 year. The middle section was solid worms!!

@GrowVeg

3 жыл бұрын

This is very interesting to know - I had no idea! I'll have to try this out, thanks.

@wemuk5170

Жыл бұрын

Worms don’t mate so I guess they simply love avocados. Thanks VM for the tip! 😊🙏

@jeffree9015

Жыл бұрын

@@wemuk5170 Everything I have ever read disagrees with that.

In the wintertime I compost all of my kitchen scrap in my raised beds and the worms absolutely love banana peels. They go through those as fast as I can put them in . I also put my discarded coffee grounds in there as well.

I started a worry this year with just 100 store bought tiger worms and to date I have one of the fastest compost bins ever I love the worry and every bit of veg matter from the kitchen or garden docent go to waste ,, I love em

I cover my garden beds with leaves in the fall. They (worms)love that. In the spring when I plant, they are everywhere. Thanks for sharing so much useful information! ❤🙏

Three years composting leaves and grass clippings and I have more compost that I can ever use. Nice video!

@preciousmetalhead5155

3 жыл бұрын

You’re the envy of every gardener. 😁

@GrowVeg

3 жыл бұрын

You are blessed indeed!

@Dan-vb5tg

3 жыл бұрын

@@GrowVeg Great video, I really enjoy watching this and read your gardening articles. Worms are very important, an extremely valuable asset to every garden!

@jonathanlucas3604

7 ай бұрын

Can you send some to me?

Every later fall, I place 1 inch of shredded cardboard and 4 inches of compost on my no dig garden. And every year I have an abundance of worms.

@GrowVeg

2 жыл бұрын

You're clearly onto a worm winner!

I have tons of worms in my planters (can't do ground gardening). So I use plenty of compost and mulches to help them and they can help my plants!

I love your videos! Your enthusiasm and really clear explanations make me really interested in what you’re talking about. Now I love worms!!

@GrowVeg

3 жыл бұрын

Awesome, so pleased you enjoy the videos and especially that you now love worms!

@tweek218

3 жыл бұрын

I agree. You have the best gardening videos on KZread in my opinion. Thank you for all the information. I have learned a lot from you guys.

@shireenshahizad2337

3 жыл бұрын

@@tweek218 for suree!! I just found this channel when trying to grow squash and I’m blessed 😌

The now resident Australian magpie family perch on the edges of any compost pile I'm presently harvesting and jumping down to eat whatever catches their eye be in worms, beetle, centipedes, slaters etc. They need their protect and calcium.

I’ve been gardening for twenty years and worm farming for 5 months and my garden has never been this amazing, I love my worms, I made four bath worm farms as I have big gardens the worm juice is fantastic, I implore every gardener to grow worms 🪱

@GrowVeg

2 жыл бұрын

Worms are awesome Brian, for sure!

@bigdogbill119

7 ай бұрын

How?

Worms absolutely love my compost bins as it gets at least 3 litter boxes full from my Rabbit each week! Shredded paper, timothy hay and of course the poops!!!!! This goes on the Veg Garden in Spring, mid summer and Fall. Oh, and because I live in Canada I line my Fabric Pots with a base of this for my Cannabis Plants and they love it!

@GrowVeg

3 жыл бұрын

I bet the worms love all that pet litter!

I remember asking my dad why he always used a fork on the garden and never a spade; he said, "It's good manners." Yep. A spade is a very sharp blunt instrument. It pays to be polite and kind to those little wiggly dudes!

@GrowVeg

Жыл бұрын

Absolutely!

For my “wild” worms, we covered all bare soil with 6-8” of arborist wood chips and replenish twice a year. In my veggie beds, we have in-ground worm farms that allow worms to come and go from the buried bucket. We feed the bucket organic matter all season. I just harvested the buckets and restarted the worm farms in time for fall and winter. Then I have nine outdoor worm farms where worms work all year to produce castings and four indoor worm farms that do the same. This year, I harvested my leaf mold for the first time and am now using it as bedding in my worm farms. They love it! ~ Sandra

@GrowVeg

Жыл бұрын

You've got some very happy worms there. :-)

@bigdogbill119

7 ай бұрын

Can you show me how to do this?

@NanasWorms

7 ай бұрын

If you're talking about the buckets that are sunk into the ground, I have a playlist called Garden Worm Towers. The videos include everything from setting them up, to feeding, to harvesting. I live somewhere where the ground never freezes (Vancouver Island). If your ground does a deep freeze, you may want to move the buckets somewhere a bit warmer for the winter. Let me know if you have any other questions! ~ Sandra

@bigdogbill119

7 ай бұрын

@@NanasWorms how can the ground never freeze? Isn’t Vancouver very cold?

@NanasWorms

7 ай бұрын

No, it's not cold! Actually, here on Vancouver Island, we are zone 9b.

Oh I didn’t know that about pitchforks!!

Excellent advice, Ben. I've got raised beds full of loose, fluffy, soil & compost that I've been layering for a few years now. I just planted my pepper plants this afternoon & almost grabbed my spade, then decided to go for the big garden fork instead. Glad I did, because there were so many worms, lol. I'm glad I didn't kill any of them.

@GrowVeg

3 жыл бұрын

Excellent to hear Jeff - a few worms were spared I reckon!

Loved this video! We started a worm bin last year and used the worm tea on everything. Best garden ever! Our tomatoes produced hundreds of pounds each and this had never happened before.

@MarielasSister

3 жыл бұрын

I started a worm bin last year too. I plant mostly in containers. Every time I set up a new pot or container to grow in, I add a handful of compost from my my bin, worms and all. Now I have so many worms everywhere. The best part is that my worm bin never feels "empty". No matter how many times I take from it, the worms just keep multiplying. It's awesome!

@WinsomeWinslet

3 жыл бұрын

@@MarielasSister That is awesome! We might have to try that this year.

@GrowVeg

3 жыл бұрын

Nice work!

@bigdogbill119

7 ай бұрын

@@MarielasSisterhow do you start a worm bin?

0:19 that's a funny looking worm back there

I have a worm bin (where I put all my kitchen scraps and bulk mail) that I keep in my garage during the winter and move outdoors in the summer

I have a worm bin and feed them weekly.

I noticed my plants really love wood chips! Especially now with May ☀️

I don’t do compost bins since I live next to the forest & foxes, rodents + all other critters will feel invited! So I bury scraps & egg boxes deep under our soil & only use my compost bin to collect leaves for future leaf mould but worms are wonderfully uncomplicated to please. They are amazing handy helpers who also love simple things. Like dead leaves, dead weeds & dead roots.

@GrowVeg

Жыл бұрын

They really are the gardener's best friend!

I adore worms i have ever since i was a little girl and they thrive in my garden and compost binxx

@GrowVeg

Жыл бұрын

They're wonderful creatures!

Great info! Thanks!

Thank you so much Ben, so informative

My favorite organisms.

Excellent video. I have gardened since I was a small child. Now as an older adult and a Master Gardener I'm always learning something new and your videos are very educational and inspiring. Recently I have started 'no till' gardening and I love it. So much good advice in this video and thanks for the picture of the plastic bottles on the stakes with the bird netting, I'm definitely going to try that on my strawberries this year.

@GrowVeg

3 жыл бұрын

So pleased you've found the video useful Jeannette.

Great info thanks

Love the video iv made 4 tons on compost organic gardenr me keep them coming

This is really helpful, thank you!

@rhiannongrant6437

2 жыл бұрын

I have some work colonies arriving today :)

I have 3 bins of worms and soil in my basement! They are 10 years old!

@GrowVeg

3 жыл бұрын

Wow - that's an impressive age for your worm bins - nice job!

Thank for the video, just moved and starting a new garden I'm laying down leaves from last year and I plan to add twigs, grass clippings and maybe even horse manure this summer to get the area ready for next spring, hopefully the worms will help me!

@GrowVeg

3 жыл бұрын

I'm sure they'll pitch in to help, don't worry!

I myself have tons of them in my backyard and feed them with manure. Thanks for the information.

Amazing information, and so well presented! Thank you!!! 🌱🌲🦋

@GrowVeg

7 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching. :-)

I like that tree at the end.

Add a little lime to your compost pile, the worms need calcium to help them with digestion. Great video Ben. I love how you promote no dig gardens and lashings of mulch. 👍

@GrowVeg

3 жыл бұрын

Mulch, mulch, mulch - it's simple but it works!

gotta love the worms! can one worm live happily in a gallon pot if you keep feeding it fruit scraps and take care not to drown it? haha

@GrowVeg

Жыл бұрын

I guess so. But a larger pot is likely to offer a healthier environment.

Thank you : )

Excellent video GrowVeg. I plan to get some Tiger worms to put in my compost area as you mentioned to speed up the decomposing of the organic materials.

@GrowVeg

3 жыл бұрын

Great idea, though they have a habit of magically finding their way there eventually.

I have a large unkempt wild area I’m bringing under cultivation. I strimmed it all down and for a couple of years I have been layering grass cuttings and leaves and rabbit and chicken bedding. Cardboard in parts too. You should see the worms. Thousands of them. Makes me wonder why I bother with my worm bins.

@GrowVeg

3 жыл бұрын

I bet they love all that organic matter - you're offering them a feast!

Good video that you show us worms to work in vegetable garden , in my garden there are many in garden bed as well , thanks for sharing nice content

@GrowVeg

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching. :-)

I love worms. Just got a fork last fall to swap out the spade

Great video I was looking into a worm farm a few weeks ago. Very cheap to make just need a few of the plastic drawers that you get out of B&Q.

@GrowVeg

3 жыл бұрын

Do take a look at our video on making a wormery also: kzread.info/dash/bejne/aYGlxJevmcapf8Y.html

love this'

Great video thanks, I'm a new gardener, I like using molasses, both in my raised bed and compost bin, the worms seem to love it, can't remember where I saw that tip.

@GrowVeg

Жыл бұрын

Great idea!

Thanks Ben excellent video as always. Can you tell me what that beautiful flowering shrub is at the end.

@margaechaveduran6006

3 жыл бұрын

Magnolia stellata I think

@GrowVeg

3 жыл бұрын

Yes, it's Magnolia stellata. It's absolutely stunning in bloom but, alas, the show only lasts for a few weeks.

We started a worm bin last fall as a school project, and I'm excited to add the casings and liquid to my plants this spring!

What's your experience with isopods? I feel like they are a double edged sword. They can eat anything, which is nice, but also potentially damaging. They were eating wood chips, autumn leaves, and vegetable scraps. Sounds really beneficial, but if they lacked a food source, they would scavenge live plants. They killed my seedlings a few times before I knew what was causing it and they damaged the stems of my tomato plants. I still think the worms benefitted immensely from them because I think the worms were eating the isopod poop.

@GrowVeg

2 жыл бұрын

I think isopods - or woodlice as I call them - are generally all good, especially in the compost heap. They're generally detritivores, eating up dead plant matter, so very helpful.

I use tobe a worm farmer, if the weather is going to really cold to protect your worm bed cover with cardboard or old carpet

How have the Beeb not signed you up? Great stuff!

Love the worms. Have you posted anything on worm composting? I've been reading up on it and it seems like a good thing to do. 🌷🌻🌷🌻 PS love your new book too.

@shireenshahizad2337

3 жыл бұрын

Check his how to make a wormery video, he used the worms for kitchen scraps compost :)

@GrowVeg

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Linda. So pleased you're enjoying the book. Yes, we've got a video on worm composting, here: kzread.info/dash/bejne/aYGlxJevmcapf8Y.html

whenever i dug up anything in my garden, our ducks always showed up to pick out the freshly exposed worms and bugs D:

@GrowVeg

2 ай бұрын

Ducks are great gardening companions! 🦆

i Like worms in my soil,,, and although my garden is very small i bought compost bag so i could collected healthy composts for my soils and my vegetables are healthy too.. since 2 yeras ago i never use chemical pesticides..just let the plants cure herself with healthy soil

@GrowVeg

3 жыл бұрын

Healthy soil helps so much when it comes to plant health.

Hi Ben. I hope this post reaches you as I would just like some advice regarding my earth worms. I am currently replacing my 1 foot raised beds (no dig) with 65cm high versions (fell in the garden and broke two ribs on the raised bed frame). Having made my 3m x 1m x 65cm high raised beds, I am now filling them with the earth and compost of my original beds. However, in doing so, I am also lifting large quantities of earth worms - some as long as 8 inches. Sadly, some are being damaged by the shovel even though I have broken up the soil with a fork. My question is having made my worms move house, will they survive and carry on their beneficial use? Thanks - keep up your good work

@GrowVeg

2 жыл бұрын

I should think that if the soil is the same and obviously the conditions are very similar, then most of the worms will survive and carry on as usual. So I think you'll be fine. Sadly it's very hard not to damage worms when moving the soil, but their numbers will rebalance quite quickly.

The worms that were put into my compost were immediately eaten by a mole.

@GrowVeg

3 жыл бұрын

What a shame, but I guess that's part of nature's rich tapestry.

Love using blood and bone meal, but it freaks the dog out. She’s absolutely convinced that someone buried a steak in the garden.

@GrowVeg

Жыл бұрын

Haha - yes! This has happened to me on ocassion too!

You kinda look like Alton Brown lol

Thanks for nice videos. I live in tropical climate where soil gets compacted without digging even after putting lots of compost and also surface compost gets very dry. Any advice will be appreciated.

@GrowVeg

3 жыл бұрын

Really it's just a matter of adding organic matter to the soil surface - but it can take time to open out the soil and have it nice and crumbly. If it's very dry, you may want to water the surface to help moisten it up, so it can get incorporated by the worms.

@syeduddin3114

3 жыл бұрын

@@GrowVeg thanks

Thanks for the video. How can we differentiate between slugs, snails and healthy worms? Also can mulching attract snugs and snails.

@GrowVeg

Жыл бұрын

Worms are long and thin and usually within the soil. Slugs and snails are on the surface usually. Mulch can potentially serve as a hiding place for slugs and snails, but the benefits far outweigh any risks and so definitely worth using.

Love your enthusiam! What is the tree with the white blossoms? I have the same in the house I just bought and don't know what it is.

@GrowVeg

3 жыл бұрын

It's stunning isn't it! It's a Magnolia stellata.

@nysigal

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

The soil at my home is dead due to decades of neglect and no one planting anything or watering. I cannot find any earthworms to buy. All I can find are "red wigglers" which are described as composting worms. They are not the same thing as regular earthworms are they? I would like to comment on your suggestion not to bag grass clippings. That is how things were done here, and all it resulted in was a badly thatched lawn and no earthworms in the soil. I do not understand why so many (government agencies especially) say to leave your grass clippings on the ground. Over a very short period of time, this just builds up an awful layer of thatch so that neither air, water, or nutrients get through to the grass roots.

@GrowVeg

Жыл бұрын

Yes indeed, red wrigglers aren't regular earthworms (also known as night crawlers I believe). From my experience of just letting the grass clippings fall where they are, I've never really had an issue with it. They rot down into the soil and definitely, I would imagine, help improve the soil. But it may be that we just have different climates and what works in mine may not work in yours.

@user-lz6dm5lk9y

Жыл бұрын

@@GrowVeg The council keep telling us here in the U.S. that this is what will happen here, too, but it does not. My lawn was suffering so much that a couple of years ago I had to invest in a dethatcher and dethatch the yard. The amount of thatch the machine took up was amazing. It simply does not work here. Perhaps if you only had to mow 3-4 times per year, the clippings would decompose quickly enough, but I have to mow here every 6-7 days.

what is the purpose of empty bottles inverted onto the stakes? near end of video, tia.

@GrowVeg

3 жыл бұрын

That is simply to support the netting that is draped over the top.

@silviejean

3 жыл бұрын

@@GrowVeg thank you, good idea

My garden area started as clay soil that had been covered by landscaping fabric for years. I've since removed that and placed raised garden beds on top of the clay soil and filled them with nutrient dense soil. I don't think I've ever seen a worm in my garden area and I think it's because the soil was so badly treated. I'd like to introduce worms but if I do, what happens to them in the winter as we are in the high desert and the ground does freeze? Will they borough down far enough in the hard clay or will I find a worm graveyard when the ground thaws? I want worms, but not dead ones.

@GrowVeg

2 жыл бұрын

Don't worry about the worms. So long as there's enough organic matter in the soil and perhaps a mulch on top to keep them cosy, they'll bury right down to escape the cold.

@christinamoxon

Жыл бұрын

We also have very clay soil, but loads of worms. The trick is to feed the soil and grow things in it. Plants will feed the soil through their roots and improve the condition. Look for things that grow particularly well in clay soil and keep feeding the soil all the rich things you can (mulch, worm castings, leaf mould, etc) and your soil will improve.

Hello rk

Thank you this great video! I have had a worm tower for a year they are barely creating compost soil. I think I should put them in my garden or outside compost heap. What is your recommendation ?

@GrowVeg

3 жыл бұрын

It's up to you really. If it's an extra chore to manage and you're disappointed with the results, you may as well consolidate everything into the one compost heap. The worms will be very happy there.

@dianassprouted9600

3 жыл бұрын

@@GrowVeg thank you happy gardening!

I would like to add worms to turf grass areas is there a better time or technique to do so?

@GrowVeg

Жыл бұрын

I'm not sure of the best way to add them to a lawn. You want conditions to be good for them. Certainly letting the grass grow a little longer may encourage better conditions for them. This website offers a few pointers: www.wormsdirectuk.co.uk/blog/should-worms-be-in-a-lawn/

May I ask how you control weeds & grass in your garden? I pulled the grass & weeds up or hoed it, put the weed barrier paper down & bark chips on top of that. Still have grass to grow thru. 😟

@GrowVeg

3 жыл бұрын

I have lots of weeds elsewhere in the garden - lots! I just hoe and hand pull, bit by bit. The vegetable beds are pretty weed free as I got on top of the weeds and now just pluck out the occasional weeds as I find it.

How do you combat New Zealand flat worms?

@GrowVeg

3 жыл бұрын

I heard about these many years ago but things have gone quiet on them. Here's some advice on dealing with them: www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/solve-problems/new-zealand-flatworms/

I just installed sonic mole repellents around my new raise beds - so far they are working. Moles have destroyed the yard in front and back of our house ... we live on 10 acres of pasture land. Because of them we have NO worms. What can I do to get some worms in my garden beds. I was thinking about buying some from local bait shop.

@GrowVeg

3 жыл бұрын

You can buy earthworms, yes. Make sure the conditions are good for them first - so they stick around.

I live in Texas where it gets really HOT. I have a tumbler compost bin. Could I put some worms in there to aid the composting? Or would the tumbling and heat hurt them?

@GrowVeg

3 жыл бұрын

I'm not sure, but my gut feeling says the tumbling and heat wouldn't do them any favours.

@ThePhiltrenbath

3 жыл бұрын

It will make them very dizzy 🥴

@aderyn1832

3 жыл бұрын

good way to kill a lot of worms

do i need to add worms to a compost bin/bag i've just started? Or do they just find their way there?

@GrowVeg

3 жыл бұрын

They should just find their way in - they're incredible like that.

@5:54 there’s a shot of a garden with pop bottles on stakes holding up netting? What’s the purpose of the pop bottles?

@InspirationSessions

3 жыл бұрын

It’s usually to prevent the netting from falling down the canes. A lot of people use upturned flower pots instead.

@rewbew9345

3 жыл бұрын

@@InspirationSessions I guessed at that but didn’t want to assume. Thanks!

Can we feed the worms with like oatmeal? How would I do that if I can.

@GrowVeg

3 жыл бұрын

Anything plant-based and unprocessed would be fine. I would imagine oatmeal, in small amounts with plenty of other different ingredients also, would be fine for your worms.

@1ANRS

2 жыл бұрын

@@GrowVeg I believe the oatmeal has the added bonus of being harmful for slugs without harming any predators who eat slugs.

If I have a raised bed off the ground, can I buy worms to put in it?

@GrowVeg

3 жыл бұрын

You can buy worms, yes. I wouldn't say it's essential to have them in your raised bed though.

I read coffee grounds would kill my earthworms. Sure enough, not a single worm could be found 😢. I purchased nightcrawlers today but I'm not familiar with those big, fat worms for my veggie and rose gardens. Did I make the wrong choice? 🤔

@GrowVeg

Жыл бұрын

Nightcrawlers are great for the garden. They will help to aerate the soil and keep everything healthy.

💩🪱🧑‍🌾Check out our The Worm Whisperer video!

#WormsLivesMatter :-)

I love worms as well and have always encouraged them in my garden. But please warn your viewers about invasive Asian jumping worms. They have destroyed my SIL'S garden in Ohio. They can be brought in inadvertently on your shoes, in soil around transplanted plants, or in leaf mulch from a neighbor. Once they take up residence they are nearly impossible to get rid of.

@GrowVeg

3 жыл бұрын

I'd never heard of those Barbara - I don't think we have them in the UK. They sound rather unpleasant!

@barbaraacosta4126

3 жыл бұрын

and thank you in advance for being vigilant so they DON'T invade the UK. Be very wary of plants imported from other countries.

🪴🪴Question do you recomend putting 🪱🪱🪱Eart worms on my plants I am growing 🥔🥔potatoes🪴🪴🪴

@GrowVeg

11 ай бұрын

I wouldn’t specifically add earthworms. I would just let them find their own way in naturally.