Worm tea - which plants could benefit from it?

[davholla]

I have a wormery and over the winter it has produced lots of liquid.

I grow Apples, Gooseberries, Jostaberries, Raspberries, Strawberries in pots, black currants and white currants.

Which of the above would like worm liquid?

[davholla]

[aj]

All of them; diluted 1:10 with water.

[ripley]

I'm hoping I can get your advice!

I was bought a wormery for Xmas a few years  ago. Set it up as instructed but all the worms sent with the kit died.

I once again set it up with base layer of newspaper- compost and bits of veg etc. Kept it moist and cool in the summer. There were lots of little red worms when I set it up the second time(from the composter) but once again died.

Any advice would be great. Read up on internet but worried about wasting money on worms that I will kill again poor things.

Ripley

[davholla]

I'm hoping I can get your advice!

I was bought a wormery for Xmas a few years  ago. Set it up as instructed but all the worms sent with the kit died.

I once again set it up with base layer of newspaper- compost and bits of veg etc. Kept it moist and cool in the summer. There were lots of little red worms when I set it up the second time(from the composter) but once again died.

Any advice would be great. Read up on internet but worried about wasting money on worms that I will kill again poor things.

Ripley

They weren't being drowned were they?  If you don't drain the worm tea that could happen.

[pumkinlover]

Ripley -you don't have to buy worms- you should get brandling worms in your compost heap or manure ;)

[tonybloke]

there should be no liquid produced by a wormery if you are doing things properly.
worms don't urinate. they produce soil, add some more shredded paper, and a little soil ( pref worm casts) to the mix.

[aj]

there should be no liquid produced by a wormery if you are doing things properly.
worms don't urinate. they produce soil, add some more shredded paper, and a little soil ( pref worm casts) to the mix.

Why do all wormeries have taps to take off the worm wee then?

[goodlife]

Worms don't like acidic conditions in the wormery..I add thin layer of compost with little lime mixed in,  every now and then..or if you have some fine oyster shell grit...that would do as well.
Biggest killer for wormery worms is excess moisture. If you only get very small amount of 'liquid' from the 'tap' that would be ideal.
All veg and fruit waste has lot of moisture in it so it is good idea learn to put regular 'fibre' layer in to soak up the excess...shredded paper or cardboard, old bread etc.
I would really, really recommend book called 'worms eat my garbage'..for anybody who is interested of the subject..it is absolute 'gold mine' for info.  ;)

[InfraDig]

If you search on A4A under "leachate" you will find a very interesting thread which includes Baccy Man talking about the difference between leachate and "tea".

[ripley]

thanks for all your replies.

davholla- they didn't drown as they produced no juice.

Goodlife- I will put the book on my wish list for birthday ;D

I'm just going to lottie so will check compost bins for more worms- although I may be more successful in a few months!
But I will prepare the bin and have another go!!? Thanks for your encouragement!

ripley

[lottie lou]

Perhaps your wormery was too dry or too wet.  I didn't get a single worm in the one I tried.  Giving it another go this year.  By the way just turned over 2 dalek compost heaps - one was full of worms and the other none at all.  Think the one without was possibly either too cold and/or wet.

[davholla]

thanks for all your replies.

davholla- they didn't drown as they produced no juice.

Goodlife- I will put the book on my wish list for birthday ;D

I'm just going to lottie so will check compost bins for more worms- although I may be more successful in a few months!
But I will prepare the bin and have another go!!? Thanks for your encouragement!

ripley

Maybe they were too dry.  However I am not an expert so could be wrong.

Did you give them egg shells?

[ripley]

I wondered if they could have been too dry as they never produced any fluid. I never knowingly gave them egg shell- but some might have been in general compost. Is this a problem?

ripley

[zigzig]

It is odd that this has been mentioned because for several years now I have had a load of daleks and I compost just about anything and everything which will rot in them.

I have never  had a wormery but I always notice that when I take off the lids off the daleks that there are (I have never actually counted but others may say hundres-thousands or even millions ) loads and loads of worms which fall all over the place.

I have never understood why they congregate around the lid of the daleks like they do.

The stuff rots down to nothing, leaving a huge gap but the worms cling to the lid area.

I do not understand but as the rotted stuff seems to be a good fertilizer I just let it happen.