Worms, When & What Type?

Question

I would like to add 1000 of "a gardener's best friend" to my 800 sq. ft. vegetable garden. I live in southern Michigan, Zone 5b. When should I add them to the garden? Are either Earthworms or Redworms preferrable over the other?

Answer 1

When the ground is 58 degrees or above.

Red wigglers are best. Hopefully you have compost so they can have something to eat. I give them my scrap vegetable and apples.

Also, don't drown them.

Answer 2

Save your money on buying worms for your garden. If you garden has enough organic material in the soil to support worms, then worms will find it. If you don't then the worms you purchase will migrate away from the garden. Keep adding compost and other plant based materials and you will encourage the worms to come to your garden.

Once you attract the native worms, you will never have to worry if they are the right kind or not.

Answer 3

Redworms I believe will not winter over. Put those in your "worm bin" (if you have one) that you keep inside, or in a protected area that does not freeze. Put Earthworms in your outdoor garden.

Add them anytime the soil is not frozen - though I think I'd be inclined to put them in when the soil is warm - just to make sure they have an easy time getting acclimated.

Answer 4

Most importantly - will / does your garden have food for the worms?
Perhaps you would be better to invest in a composting system and put the worms in there...... as you unload the ready compost / humus into the garden, the worms will be introduced.
Seriously, there is no point putting worms into your garden if there is no food for them - they need to eat in order to produce worm castings - "Gardeners Gold".

Answer 5

eh.