How do you start a red wiggler worm farm?

Asked by: Manuel Pastrana

How do you start a red worm compost?

You can also add some leaves and I like to just sprinkle the leaves over the top they'll eat all of this they'll. Make all of this worm castings that you can use in your garden.

How long does it take to grow red wigglers?

It takes 40-60 days for the juveniles to develop into an adult or a mature worm. It develops the genital markings clitellum.

How many red wigglers do I need to start composting?

3lbs of composting worms would be the most you would want to buy. The Worm Factory and Worm Factory 360 both are recommended to start with 1 lb of Red Wigglers. So the example above of a bin 18 inches by 24 inches, the ideal number of worms is 3lbs and you would need 5.25 lbs to 7.35 lbs of food a week.

How long does it take for red wiggler worms to reproduce?

The breeding cycle is approximately 27 days from mating to laying eggs. Worms can double in population every 60 days.

What is the best soil for red wigglers?

As a member of the epigeic – Latin for “on the earth” – class of composting worms, red wigglers generally will not be found in soil. Rather, they thrive in and under leaf litter, manure, decomposing vegetation, and other organic matter.

How do you start a worm farm from scratch?

Place the newspaper on the base of your first working tray once your cocoa fiber brick has expanded. Grab it out of the bowl. And layer it over the newspaper.

What are red wigglers favorite food?

Best Foods to Feed Red Wiggler Composting Worms

• Vegetable scraps: apple cores, peels, carrot tops and wilted lettuce or trimmings. …
• Non-citrus fruit work best, such as watermelon rind, strawberry tops, old blueberries, etc. …
• Used tea. …
• Coffee grounds and filters. …
• Dried leaves.

What is the best food for red wiggler worms?

What Do Red Wiggler Worms Eat?

• The staple of the diet is leaves, preferably rotted and shredded a bit, which can be used as bedding and also serve as a food source.
• Vegetable scraps and peels, the slimier and smaller the pieces, the better.

What is the lifespan of a red wiggler worm?

1-5 years

The average life span for the red wiggler is 1-5 years.

How often should you change worm bedding?

After worms are added, bedding should be kept moist but not soggy and the top 6 to 8 inches turned every 7 to 10 days to keep it loose. About every 6 to 9 months the old bedding should be replaced with properly prepared new bedding. To change bedding, remove the top 5 or 6 inches (where most of the worms are).

How do you attract red wiggler worms?

So here I've got my little mix of a few vegetables that hopefully the worms will find interesting.

How often should I water my worm farm?

Once every week, pour about five litres of fresh water into the Top Working Tray, which will flood down through the lower trays, ensuring the entire worm farm remains very moist. The sudden ‘flood’ will not harm the worms. Adding water is especially important in the hotter months of the year.

How many worms do I need to start a worm farm?

For most average sized domestic worm bins, we would suggest you start with 1 lb. (approximately 800 – 1000) mixed sized worms. If the worm bin is larger, or you are composting food scraps for four or more adult persons, we would recommend 2 lbs. of worms.

Is it OK to have maggots in my worm farm?

There are flies or maggots in the farm!



Tiny little vinegar flies are occasionally present in worm farms (and compost bins) and are absolutely nothing to worry about. If larger flies or maggots are present, it is generally a sign that food (especially meat) is rotting rather than being eaten by your worms.

Do red wigglers eat grass clippings?

A hefty serving of grass clippings seems like all the food a herd of red wigglers should need in a week. But, alas, that just won’t do. A fresh pile of grass clippings soon begins anaerobic decomposition in a worm bin creating heat and foul odors.

Are coffee grounds good for worms?

Worms love to eat coffee grounds, and that’s great news for your garden. Add coffee grounds to your compost pile to help attract worms, which help speed up the process of turning food scraps into compost. You can also add coffee grounds directly to the soil, but you’ll have to be careful not to overdo it.

Can worms eat potato peels?

Vegetable Waste



Carrot peelings, potato skins, broccoli and cauliflower stalks, lettuce, kale, even onion peels (in limited quantities) are perfect for the worm bin. Vegetable waste like this isn’t prone to overheating your bin either, so this is another low-maintenance food.

What is worms favorite food?

Worms love lettuce, kale, Swiss chard, to name a few of these vegetables. Be sure to cut these scraps down into small pieces or even food process them. Remember to thoroughly rinse off all hot spices, sauces, oils, dressings, and cheeses because they can harm your vermicomposting project.

Is cornmeal good for worms?

Cornmeal is the perfect food to keep your worms lively and healthy. This is a simple trick that makes keeping a worm bin easier than ever. During the winter months, if you want to go on vacation, simply sprinkling a layer of cornmeal on the top of your bin, will give your worms a fresh supply of food the entire time.

Will worms eat banana peels?

Bananas are a great and inexpensive snack for both us and our worms. Those peels are desirable to compost worms no matter what shape they’re in. They’ll make short work of what otherwise would have taken up space in your trash.

Do worms like tomatoes?

Let’s dive in! *Tomatoes are slightly acidic, but worms still seem to like it and will tolerate it just fine in moderation. Whether you have an abundance of melon rinds, spoiled apples or fruit trimmings, you can feed them to your worms by slicing them up into manageable portions.

Do worms like eggshells?

eggshells – worms simply can’t eat them. They will still be there when you remove the worm castings, and you’ll have eggshells in the garden. Eggshells are good for the garden, so if you crush them up, and put them in the worm farm, they’ll end up adding calcium to your soil.

Can worms have grapes?

Worms have a sweet tooth so most fruits are a great idea (just not citrus). Compost worms love bananas and banana peels, grapes, melon, pears, berries, peaches, apples, and avocado (but not the pit or rinds) Green leafy vegetables (e.g., romaine)

Can worms eat tea bags?

Tea Bags: Yes! The tea bags will start to break down in the worm bin, and the worms will finish off the contents.

Are grass clippings good for worm farm?

Yes! You can add dry grass clippings and deciduous leaves to your worm farm, as long as you keep food scraps and dry waste balanced. Avoid adding fresh lawn clippings, evergreen or native leaves, and sticks or woody stems.

Can worms eat oatmeal?

Fruits and vegetables (uncooked or peels) – you can feed your worms any variation as long as it’s not citrus based (you’ll have to stay way from lemons, oranges, pineapples and all that since it has high acidity levels) Starchy food wastes – these can be in the form of bread, oatmeal, and pasta.