The Truth about How Worm Castings Help Organic Fertilizer

[@Vermicompost]

Mousepocolips😂🤣😂Glad to hear you and the cats are winning!! Great info on how you use your castings with your organic fertilizer! I do a lot of worm casting tea on my garden and adding castings when I first plant. Excellent video Ann!!🪱🪱🪱

[@PlantObsessed]

Recent development, the puppy dog is also a mouser. He also has an upset tummy. I think he should leave it to the cats.😃👍🏼🪱

[@Vermicompost]

@@PlantObsessed Oh Boy!!

[@brianseybert192]

I do believe there is some science to the benefits of working healthy soils with bare hands, I am sure the benefits would translate into worm bins, I very seldom use gloves, unless I have a nasty cut. I stopped using any fertilizers, even organic a couple years now. I have had my castings analyzed at the UW soil and forage labs (sending in another sample this week), plenty of nutrients, only exception is nitrogen. When I go to plant my garlic this year in a 16' X 3' raised bed, I will probably mix in about 12 gallons of castings, an equal amount of leaf mold/ compost then will mulch with a couple inches of chopped up comfrey. I do believe I had some benefit from soaking my garlic cloves in a casting/compost extract overnight before planting, ended up with some really nice sized bulbs. Enjoy your videos! Stay Well!!!!

[@PlantObsessed]

Good tip. I have not tried the soaking thing yet. 😃👍🏼🪱

[@rajendralamichhane4064]

Very informative. Always enjoy watching your videos. Keep it up.

[@PlantObsessed]

😁👍🏼🪱

[@thomasbazin1529]

Hey Ann, thanks for the upload and your opinion about nutrient availability & other stuff. ;) I think you're right, and that's probably 90% of the benefits of worm castings, the microbes, as they break down the nutrients & minerals in the growing medium for the plant to absorb. As I mentioned in a comment on one of your previous videos, I only use castings and rice water. At least it works for most of my plants (even for cacti 😅 but then I use less castings & more diluted rice water). At the end of the growing season I'll simply cut off and chop up the stems, incorporate it into my planters, cover with newspaper, and let it sit on the balcony until Spring. Then add some castings and plant whatever I want to. We'll see what happens! 😜 Last batch of the hot peppers' harvest coming soon... heh ;) Cheers from 🇨🇭 ! -Thomas

[@PlantObsessed]

😃👍🏼🪱

[@cherylhowker1792]

I am using the castings, with blood,fish and bone meal, that’s ground up fertiliser. And when needed I water with seaweed liquid feed. But that’s all I use now, and compost ofcorse. As always good to see you and blue xx

[@PlantObsessed]

🪱👍🏼😃

[@conniebates4220]

MIGardener is close to where I live. 30 minutes away, great company and very reasonable priced. Love your videos.

[@cherylhowker1792]

@@conniebates4220 was this ment for Ann??? Sorry I’m confused as to reply to my message to Ann Maybe I’m missing something… I don’t live in the us so can’t get or so his seeds

[@heatherba3656]

Good worms! 🪱💩🪱

[@PlantObsessed]

🪱👍🏼😃

[@A-V]

Uh oh! I think there was a knock-on-wood moment there at @04:07 that you missed - no? :) Good luck to you & the cats on coping with the mousecopalypse situation; good to hear that you guys are winning 👍🏻

[@PlantObsessed]

I will have to look at it. Half the corn is still up so it really could go either way. Lol.👍🏼😃🪱

[@ausfoodgarden]

I'm so jealous of Big Blue. I'm stuck with a tower system and a couple of totes. It still works fine, just on a smaller scale. I tend not to wear gloves too and I'm way older than you (I think) and never had a problem. Can't give you any advice on garlic, as I tend to rely on elephant garlic and I'm in the opposite hemisphere to you. Cheers!

[@PlantObsessed]

I have always wanted to try elephant garlic. I also would love to visit AUS. Someday 😁👍🏼🪱

[@the_green_anna]

Oh yeah! I see a long awaited, nerdy, sifting-video in the future! 👏😂❤️

[@PlantObsessed]

😃👍🏼🪱 I ordered the screen today

[@the_green_anna]

@@PlantObsessed Great News! I get all relaxed just thinking about it. 😁 Lots of work with the outside compostbins this time of year. We haven't had frost yet, so there has been no clearing. But soon I'll get to spread a lot (!) of beautiful worm-worked compost on my growing area. It's so satisfying! 💚

[@lisalarson938]

Same zone in SE Nebraska, will be planting garlic this week also! MI Gardener is a trusted source for seeds.

[@PlantObsessed]

I have never had a bad order.😃👍🏼🪱

[@CarlKeeling1881]

Nice I'm in Illinois too in between Danville and Kankakee

[@PlantObsessed]

🪱👍🏼😃

[@bartcalder2791]

About due west of you and planted Garlic yesterday. Hardneck also and some mystery spouting bulbs from the bed I missed harvesting. And the worms got a feeding today. And more mystery seeds sprouting in the worm home. Which is strange as all the food gets blenderized. Planted out.

[@PlantObsessed]

I think tomatoes and peppers survive the blender. I'm thinking next weekend here for the garlic. It rained pretty well here this weekend. 🪱👍🏼😁

[@karischmoyer7276]

Are castings able to be used as plant growth dirt straight or does it have to be incorporated into bought potting mix. This new to me. Thanks

[@tlnelson7598]

Both

[@ausfoodgarden]

Personally, I wouldn't use more than 25% castings. You can add compost, coir, peat, and/or your native soil to make up the rest. Potting mix is fine too but I hate buying it.

[@PlantObsessed]

Yep very true. According to the research, any more than 25% can inhibit growth.🪱👍🏼😁

[@PlantObsessed]

I have stuff grow in my bins all the time. I don't put more than 25% in my potting mix. 😁👍🏼🪱

[@Landfat]

How did she connect the buckets together??

[@PlantObsessed]

Sheet metal screws. Lots of them.😃👍🏼🪱

[@katiem9644]

That is quite a batch of castings! Jealous as all get out!

[@PlantObsessed]

It takes patience to get a big wedge going but then it is all gravy 🪱👍🏼😃

[@Linda-WalkingInYourSpiritMan]

How do you shred cardboard?

[@PlantObsessed]

In the description of all my videos there is the paper shredder that I use. Going strong for 2 years. amzn.to/3O2PUgh

[@carlafawcett6494]

I need a “ blue”. I plant garlic October 15 th ☺️

[@PlantObsessed]

If you have the room I highly recommend getting a blue. 😃👍🏼🪱

[@animalgeek.1027]

About mid October

[@PlantObsessed]

😁👍🏼🪱

[@theunskoch4256]

Sorry about the mousepocolips, it always amazes me to see how fertile castings are, even more is seeing bedding and kitchen waste turn into compost

[@PlantObsessed]

Mice are a part of every fall here. I have a hard time believing I used to throw away all the stuff I feed the worms now. It was shameful. Live and learn. Right? 😃🪱👍🏼

[@dnawormcastings]

Great video the worms will enjoy the rice and food. I only use worm Casting with my vegetables 🇳🇿🪱

[@PlantObsessed]

I finally have enough to use on ornamental plant.🪱👍🏼😃