When should I get Earthworms?

If you can’t find any worms in your garden you might want to introduce soil dwelling earthworms or inoculate (technical term) your soil or raised beds with earthworms. When you find only very few worms and you want to have more and different species you can introduce a mix of soil dwelling earthworms.

Please do not introduce compost worms when you need earthworms living in your soil. Compost worms live mostly on top of the soil and eat litter and organic waste.

How do worms eat?

Worms have a simple digestive system. It is basically a tube running from the mouth to the anus with some glands and structures that help to break down the food.

Worms have a mouth, but no teeth so they have to swallow their food without chewing. If their food isn’t ground up or rotting (soft enough to swallow), they won’t be able to eat. Imagine your grandad trying to eat a fresh apple without his false teeth. A worm would struggle too!

When a worm finds some organic matter (food) to eat, it sucks it in using the muscular walls of its pharynx. The food is coated with saliva and swallowed. It passes through the oesophagus and into the crop and gizzard. The gizzard is a little pouch that the worm holds small grains of sand in. When the swallowed food passes through the gizzard, it is ground up by the sand into smaller particles before moving into the intestine. This makes it easier for the digestive juices to break the food particles down even smaller so the worm can absorb the nutrients into its bloodstream and pass out the rest of its food as castings (poop).

Eisenia fetida (tiger worms) can eat up to half their body weight in a day!

How do worms move?

Worms have no bones so they are classed as invertebrates (they have no spine). This makes them very flexible and able to change direction very quickly.

Worm have two types of muscles in their bodies: longitudinal muscles that run the length of their bodies and latitudinal (circular) muscles that run around their bodies. On each segment of the worm, there are setae (fine bristles) that can be extended and retracted to ‘grab’ the soil. Muscles and setae are needed for movement.

First, the circular muscles contract (squeeze) stretching the worm out and pushing it forwards. Then the bristles at the head of the worm grip the soil. Next the long muscles squeeze, pulling the tail towards the head. The bristles at the head let go of the soil while the bristles at the tail grip the soil. Finally the circular muscles squeeze again to lengthen the worm and push the head forwards. The worm repeats this over and over to move forwards (or backwards).

How do worms breathe?

Just like us, worms use oxygen and produce carbon dioxide. Unlike us, worms do not have lungs. Instead, they have a special skin that oxygen and carbon dioxide pass through. Worms do not have control over oxygen moving into and carbon dioxide moving out of their bodies. This happens because of an automatic process called diffusion.

Diffusion is the movement of molecules of something (like oxygen or carbon dioxide) from an area of high concentration (where there are lots of molecules) to an area of low concentration (where there are fewer molecules). You can observe diffusion in your morning coffee. Put a spoonful of coffee (highly concentrated molecules) into a cup of hot water (low concentration). The water turns brown as coffee diffuses into the water. Stirring speeds up this diffusion.

There is no stirring when it come to diffusion of gases into and out of the worm. To make sure diffusion happens fast enough for the worm to survive, worms must keep their skin moist. To do this, worms live in a moist environment (underground, safe from the drying wind and sun) and produce a slimy mucus that coats their skin. Too much water is a bad thing though as worms can drown.

How much and when do I apply vermicast?

From more than 12 years of experience in applying MyNOKE vermicast, our customers recommend following application rates: Orchards: 20 t/ha of MyNOKE vermicast either as band or broad spread for initial application or when the soil fertility is poor e.g. new orchard. In the following years application rates may be reduced to 10 t/ha. Ideally applied by the end of winter or early spring. MyNOKE vermicast can be applied throughout the year depending on access to orchards. Maize and cropping: 20 t/ha of MyNOKE vermicast for maintaining the humus level and improving root development. After conversion and contouring up to 50 t ha (7 mm) can boost soil humus content, stabilise soil pH, and establish a productive cations exchange capacity CEC. Application best after soil tillage (if any) and before planting. Pasture: 20 t/ha before renewing pasture to improve germination and root development of new pasture. On established pasture either 10 t/ha in spring or 5 t/ha twice a year as split application after grazing or mowing. MyNOKE vermicast can be mixed with RPR, lime, farm manure if required. Please also take a look at our knowledge resources for more information.

What's so good about Vermicast - and is it good for all plants?

MyNoke sells only pure vermicast so there are no added chemicals, fertilisers or fillers.

What is Vermicast actually?

Vermicast is a technical term for earthworm castings (worm poop). There are approximately 2700 species of earthworms, but our Vermicast is predominantly produced by the earthworms Eisenia Fetida and Eisenia Andrei.

How can I use vermicast when I want to transplant trees?

Our recommended method is to incorporate vermicast into the planting hole rather than applying a layer to the soil surface (which is what we recommend for established trees).

Method

Dig/bore the hole. Some planting hole drills compact the side of the hole which makes it difficult for new roots to penetrate. Rough up the soil on side of the hole, add some vermicast mix to the base of the hole then place the tree in the hole. Fill the gap between the root plug and the wall with the remaining vermicast mix.

Quantity of vermicast

If the soil is low in organic matter, use up to 2/3 of vermicast and 1/3 of loosened soil for packing around the transplanted tree. If the soil is high in organic matter, use up to 1/3 vermicast in the mix.

Note

If the planting edges are not roughed up and vermicast is not mixed with the soil, the vermicast can soak up and hold a lot of water (a good thing), but the soil next to it remains very dry. This can create a barrier to new root development resulting in trees that become root-bound within the planting hole. If water is available, water the root zone well.

How can I use vermicast for established trees?

A 1-2 cm thick layer of vermicast can be applied to the surface of the soil around the rooting zone. Optionally, this can be gently massaged into the top 2 cm of soil by hand/with a small hand fork. If some mulch is available, place this on top of the vermicast. Water well.

How can I use vermicast in potted plants?

If your plants are already potted, you can sprinkle one handful of vermicast around the plant and massage it int the top 2 cm of the potting mix. If the plant is bigger like a shrub, use more vermicast! If you are making up a new pot for planting, combine one scoop of vermicast and four scoops of potting mix before planting.

What volumes of organic resources can be vermicomposted within a year?

At all MyNOKE vermicomposting operations together we are vermicomposting 250,000 tonnes of organic resources per year and are steadily growing. The smallest municipal ‘worm farm’ we are operating is at Maketu with approximately 250 tonnes intake per year. What range of moisture content of organic waste is suitable for vermicomposting? Vermicomposting is the ideal technology for wet organic wastes such as sludge and semi dewatered materials. Worms require a moisture content between 60% and 90% depending on the structure of the ‘feedstock’. At MyNOKE we are combining wet resources with semi moist materials. Sludge with no structure will be mixed with carbon rich fibre to provide the structure compost worms require.

What range of moisture content of organic waste is suitable for vermicomposting?

Vermicomposting is the ideal technology for wet organic wastes such as sludge and semi dewatered materials. Worms require a moisture content between 60% and 90% depending on the structure of the ‘feedstock’. At MyNOKE we are combining wet resources with semi moist materials. Sludge with no structure will be mixed with carbon rich fibre to provide the structure compost worms require.

Can I use anaerobic digested sludge for vermicomposting?

Yes – with some limitations though as anaerobic digestion is reducing the carbon content in the organic waste but increases nutrient content such as nitrogen. High ammonia concentration in the digestive can be toxic to earthworms. At MyNOKE we are buffering the nutrients with fibrous resources to balance nutrients and fibre for the wellbeing and performance of our earthworms. Plastics including bioplastics will not get digested in a biogas plant and remain in the digestate - earthworms don't like plastics, therefore we can't take this type of waste.

How much does your service cost?

How much does your service cost? There are a range of prices associated with our services, depending on what you need and where you’re located. Here’s a few things to consider before getting in touch for a quote - as it will help us to provide a more accurate breakdown of cost. ​

• Do you know if you need pure earthworm castings to apply to the soil or a liquid Vermicast extract to spray onto plants, or put into your irrigation?