Page 15 - ALG 1 2018 html5 version

Harvesting your wormery
I have had a small wormery nestled in the shade of some leafy plants on my plot since late spring. I started with a small box of worms and have fed them sparingly with kitchen waste but they are reproducing and the worm compost is building up. The compost can be used as a general soil conditioner or as a constituent of homemade growing media. It is generally rich in nitrogen and potassium. I leave the spigot open at the bottom so the leachate collects in a pot and I dilute this 10 to 1 to feed my plants. The nutrient composition of the leachate will vary and it needs to be used quickly as it is full of bacteria, some bene cial and some not.
Whilst researching wormery management online when I rst started my wormery I came across references to “worm tea”.
This is a liquid that is made from diluting the worm compost in chlorine free water, adding molasses or honey and then aerating for several days. I found some startling claims for the bene ts of worm tea as a fungicide, fertiliser and pesticide – even a claim that it is good for sunburn but very little academic research. It can be used as a foliar spray or soil drench. I do not have the patience for this process but would be very interested to hear from anyone who has tried it.
I will be moving the wormery to a sheltered spot to protect it from frost and winter wet and insulate it with bubble wrap.
I have read that a slice of bread placed in the feeding tray will also help to raise the internal temperature slightly so I shall try that. Next spring I’m hoping for enough worm compost to use in the compost for crops I grow in pots, such as peppers and aubergines.
Image: Mick Webb
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