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mollymudkins
User

A Fertile Cocoon

Posts: 1

Weeds/Seeds - 2007/05/29 07:27 Hi all! I'm new to forums of any sort but have been into worm farming for about 9 months now. (Located in NE Victoria bordering New South Wales, Australia)I have had tomato seedlings, capsicum seedlings, pumpkin etc and some weeds spring up in my worm farm. Would love some advice on how to prevent this happening. Currently feeding worms(outside worm farm)household fruit and vegie waste, lawn clippings, leaves, shredded paper.

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nineandahalfacres
User

A Juvenile Earthworm

Posts: 29

Re:Weeds/Seeds - 2007/05/29 08:43 Welcome Molly, I myself have only been raising redworms for just over a year now, actually, I’m not raising the worms; I’m after the compost for my garden located here in central Kentucky. However, I don’t have tomato seedlings growing, but medjool dates sprouting; not that I will have room in my suburban home for ninety-foot tall medjool date palms. Everything I’ve read seems to indicate that this is a good thing; after all, what you are looking for is high nutrient content. I’ve read that one can use up to forty percent vermicompost(VC)as a growing medium and still have viable plants; however, I’ve have my date pits beyond that point, actually, I start sorting my worms when I think the VC is complete but in actuality at about eighty percent composted. If I’m wrong I hope someone else can give us more information.

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fourmares
User

A Protected Species Earthworm

Posts: 124

Re:Weeds/Seeds - 2007/07/06 16:46 Pull up the baby plants and toss them on top of the bin. The worms will take care of them.

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redhen

User

A Protected Species Earthworm

Posts: 629

Re:Weeds/Seeds - 2007/07/06 22:53 tomato seedlings, capsicum seedlings, pumpkin etc and some weeds spring up in my worm farm. Would love some advice on how to prevent this happening.
Vermicomposting is not hot composting. Worms do not eat anything living..(thank goodness). Anything that you put in your bin that has seeds will sprout.
I have an "All Volunteer Garden" growing now from seeds sprouted in the vermicompost put in with my plants. My kids call it the "surprise garden".
One of the only problems, that I have found, with having seeds sprouting in vermicompost, is if you are starting seeds, like "heirloom tomatoes", using VC in your potting mix. It is nearly impossible to tell one tomato sprout from another.
The only way I know to rid your compost of the seeds/sprouts is to thermally compost it.
I think you then would lose the biological benefit of VC.
I agree with fourmares...pull, toss and forget it as it will be worm food. Susan Quinby-Honer
redhen@nc.rr.com
Starve the Landfill...Feed the Earth.

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Worm Police

User

A Mature Breeder Earthworm

Posts: 96

Re:Weeds/Seeds - 2007/07/08 13:08 Hi Molly,
Yes, sprouting plants happen in a worm bin.
You have some control over the small stuff, like kitchen scraps, just nuke seedy items in a microwave, or heat them on high for a few minutes, stove top with some liquid, let cool, then feed to bin. That generally kills the seeds.
When I feed pumpkin or squash, I usually wiz the seeds in a blender, mix back into the food waste and feed.
there have been times when I rescued a seedling plant or two and replanted, as I was curious about the plant.
I discovered a worm bin is the perfect place to sprout cantaloupe seeds, as I could never get them to sprout before.
Have fun with your new discoveries.

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