Sasha CampbellEarthworms and their castings (also called vermicast or worm castings) can do many good things for your garden.
In this article, we will explain how to harvest worm castings at home and share some tips on using them in the garden.
Earthworm Castings: Benefits for Plants
Below, you will learn why worm castings are good for plants and lawns.
1. Seed Germination
Earthworms may help seeds germinate by improving soil conditions and mixing their castings into the soil [1].
Worm castings help the soil stay loose and hold water. This helps seeds sprout, and young plants grow well.
2. Lawn Conditioning
Grass needs water and nutrients to stay green. Without them, a lawn can become thin, dry, and unhealthy.
However, earthworms help make the soil more porous and better at holding moisture. Their castings improve soil structure and water retention.
The creatures digest organic matter and excrete nutrients into the soil, benefiting your lawn.
3. Organic Fertilizer
Worm castings are an organic fertilizer that benefits plants. Yes, you can use worm poop to make a natural liquid fertilizer or worm-casting tea.
This liquid can encourage helpful microbes around plant roots. It also enhances the size and vigor of indoor, outdoor, and greenhouse plants.
Many gardeners use worm-casting tea, although solid worm castings have stronger scientific support.
4. Break Down Organic Matter
Earthworms break down the organic matter they eat. They then excrete nutrient-rich worm castings.
These castings provide the soil with a wealth of nutrients.
5. Help Regulate Soil pH
Worm castings are usually close to neutral pH and may help reduce small pH changes in the soil over time.
Extreme pH levels (too acidic or too alkaline) prevent plants from absorbing nutrients from the soil.
6. Soil Aeration and Structure
The granular nature of worm castings allows oxygen into the soil, which is essential for plant development.
Worm castings can also improve the structure of sandy or coarse soils.
7. Help Maintain Soil Moisture
Worm castings create porous and loose soil, which reduces surface crusting and allows air and moisture to flow in.
Earthworms produce castings over time, which helps improve the soil’s ability to hold water.
8. Help Decrease Soil Erosion
Earthworm castings retain moisture and have granular qualities. These features help water soak into the soil and may reduce erosion.
9. Help Lessen Soil Compaction
Worm castings help form small soil clumps called aggregates. These keep the soil loose and reduce compaction.
10. Plant Growth Hormones
Worm castings contain natural substances that act like plant growth hormones. These may help plants grow stronger [2].
11. High in Nutrients
Worm castings contain many nutrients that help plants grow. They contain useful amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, iron, and calcium.
Worm castings also provide potassium and sulfur to the soil and plants.
Moreover, earthworms help improve soil quality for sustainable gardening. As earthworms digest organic matter, they turn it into nutrients that plants can use more easily.
Soils naturally contain microorganisms. However, vermicomposting increases the number of living organisms in the soil.
Vermicomposting also adds stable organic matter, sometimes called worm humus, which helps improve soil health.
12. Boost Microbiological Activity in Soil
One of the principal benefits of worm composting is the increased microbial activity in the soil.
The nutrients released from the casts assist in the growth of plant life and microorganisms. They may help reduce some plant diseases by supporting helpful soil microbes.
Worm castings add nitrogen to the soil. Healthy soil often helps plants grow stronger, making them better able to handle stress and some diseases.
13. Insect Pest Prevention
Some studies suggest that worm castings may help reduce problems caused by pests such as whiteflies, but results vary.
Along with hormones and good bacteria, the tea contains enzymes.
One of these enzymes is chitinase. It degrades the exoskeletons of insect pests by breaking down the essential structural component, chitin.
Without this covering, the insects may become weak, dry out, and die. The chitinase found in worm castings may make it harder for some insect pests to thrive, but worm castings should not be expected to eliminate insect infestations on their own.
How to Vermicompost at Home
To make vermicompost, obtain a suitable container or worm bin. The bin must not be too deep (10 inches is ideal), and drainage holes should be at the bottom.
At the bottom, add a layer of sand and moistened newspaper strips. Next, add dried leaves, compost, and manure, and then top it off with more moist newspaper strips and soil.
It’s now time to add the worms and their food. Add fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, crushed eggshells, and other compost-friendly kitchen waste. Then leave the worms to do their work for a few months.
However, not every worm will survive in compost bins. Lumbricus rubellus (red earthworm), Eisenia fetida (red wigglers), and Eisenia hortensis (European nightcrawler) are species suitable for vermicomposting. The good news is that you can purchase them from garden supply stores or online.
Alternatively, buy commercially produced worm-casting compost if the DIY process is too much.
Harvesting Worm Castings
After a few months have passed, lay out some old newspapers or a plastic sheet and empty your worm bin.
Next, collect the worms and add them to a new vermicomposting bin. The leftover worm-casting fertilizer can be used on your plants.
Cons
One of the disadvantages of worm castings is that they take a while to prepare for harvest.
Your worms take about three to four months to produce noticeable castings. Depending on the size of your worm bin, producing a large amount of castings can take several months or longer.
Another one is the cost. If you buy earthworm casting fertilizer instead of making your own, it may be more expensive than regular fertilizer.
Takeaway
Earthworms are some of the best helpers in an organic garden. Their castings improve soil, support healthy plants, and encourage helpful microbes.
While they aren’t a cure for every gardening problem, they are an excellent natural way to build healthier soil over time.
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