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Boardwalk :: Forum List Six (6) New Worm Digest Forums 1) General Earthworm Discussion Forum
babalubird
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A Hatchling Earthworm
Posts: 24
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 What worms can I order for garden? - 2009/04/13 00:30 We're working hard to restore our land for organic farming.

I'd like to find a worm that would survive year-round in the garden. Is there such a worm that can be purchased? Can one order the native worms that once occupied our lands? If not, what is my best bet and where can I order it?

We are in Texas, Zone 7B/8A. Very dry unforgiving country, but we will eventually drip irrigate the garden area but not right now.

Thanks.

Connie
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ArkieGold
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A Juvenile Earthworm
Posts: 42
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 Re:What worms can I order for garden? - 2009/04/13 06:56 What is/are that/those native specie(s)? Of all the worms raised for in-home bin purposes, the European Nightcrawler, (Eisenia Hortensis)fares best when places in the outdoor garden environment. They handle heat very well and do some burrowing in the deeper soil levels.

I would think your irrigation system needs to be in place prior to introducing the worms. Is your water from municipality system or well? If municipal supply, worms and soil in general don't do well with regular and constant doses of chlorinated water as it kills too many microorganisms to maintain a good balance in the soil. It would need to be discharged in an elevated tank or trough and let sit open to the air for a day to let the chlorine gas off. Arkie's Vermiculture
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babalubird
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A Hatchling Earthworm
Posts: 24
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 Re:What worms can I order for garden? - 2009/04/13 11:42 Thanks for info.

I thought the Euro nightcrawlers might be the best choice of the "bought worms."

Native worms? I have memories as a child of every rain storm bringing worms up out of the ground and being all over the sidewalks, they were so numerous then. And that every time you shoved a shovel or spade in the ground, you brought up a great number of worms. You just don't see that any more.

We are on a coop water system. They don't use chlorine but have some other chemical in the water just as bad I guess. I know it would kill our fish in the horse trough if we didn't let it sit about 34 hours. Didn't think about it hurting the worms in the ground. Thanks for warning.

Now, I must find a reliable source of European nightcrawlers. Any suggestions? Good experiences with any particular shipper?

Thanks.

Connie
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ArkieGold
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A Juvenile Earthworm
Posts: 42
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 Re:What worms can I order for garden? - 2009/04/13 12:18 Hi Connie,

I've known Bob Ingram for several years. He's located in Missouri and runs Trinity Worm Ranch. If I was to buy Euro's it would be from him.

That's strange about the local worms dying off. You might want to get a soil analysis and see if there's some sort of problem with it. I figure long periods of drought can deplete bacterial presence in the soil. No bacteria or lack of organic material over the years might have starved the worms out. Arkie's Vermiculture
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Boardwalk :: Forum List Six (6) New Worm Digest Forums 1) General Earthworm Discussion Forum

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