Using Vermicompost to Start Seeds
In Texas, we are just starting to think about the tender crops that can't stand the heat. After carefully looking at the 10 day forcast, I started planting my fall/winter garden last Monday and Tuesday. Of course it was supposed to be in the high 80s this week, according to that forcast...now we are looking at 96F today. Phooey--hope my seedlings will make it if I baby them along.
The bed was prepped with lots of compost, composted leaves, molasses, and alfalfa meal. Where I put seeds in, I prep with a light coating of vermicompost. For example--I make a 1 inch depression along a row to plant my bush beans and sprinkle vermicompost into that depression. For lettuce, I lightly sprinkle vermicompost along the top, broadcast my seed, then lightly cover with garden soil.
I have dill, trying to get another round of cucumbers before first average frost (Nov. 15), cilantro, 2 varieties of spinach, at least 5 varieties of lettuce (Mesclun, 2 romaines, sucrine and red deer something), radish, purple bush bean and blue lake bush bean. I use the lettuce and spinach as a living mulch in between the beans and cucumbers. I left room for broccoli transplants later in the month.
On the side opposite of where I planted all the stuff mentioned, I still have some okra plants hanging out. I plan to pull those later in the month and make that my strawberry patch (which you plant in the fall in TX for a May-June crop). I will interplant borage and more spinach among the strawberries.
The amazing thing is that everything except the cilantro and dill were already sprouting by Saturday--5 days! I credit the vermicompost, which is known to help with seed germination. Now we will see if they can withstand this weeks temps.
Once seedlings are about 2-4 inches, I will use some diluted Worm Wine (TM) every 7-10 days to keep them happy and healthy.
Oh--my tomato patch had a little room for edamame and snap peas,which are coming along nicely. my tomatoes are rebounding and blossoming and I am hoping that worm tea-ing them throught the brutal hot months will help yield lots of fall tomatoes!
I really need to fix my computer-camera connection which has some technical problem--would love to have some pics to show either the genius or the folly of what is going on here in the hot Texas sun.
What are you planting? Give us a holler and share your garden throughout the fall and winter.
Enjoy your football, fall garden, and hope for cooler days ahead.
What to Feed Red Wigglers
In the Texas heat (85 degrees and above), it is important not to overfeed your worms. The process of decomposition does heat that bin up. The other 9 months of the year, Texas has it easy compared to our Northern neighbors and you can enjoy easy and productive vermicomposting.
Here are some general guidelines:
- Worms can eat most fruit and vegetable peelings, grains, coffee grounds and filters, and tea bags
- Food should be raw, or if cooked; have no additives (oil, salt, butter, spices, etc.)
- Worms will not be happy with garlic, onion, lots of broccoli or cabbage, or citrus (which contains the irritant limonene)
- Avoid meat, bones and dairy to keep smells at bay
- Avoid dog and cat waste if vermicompost will be used on a food source
- Beware of herbicides and pesticides on grass clippings. Wash fruit (especially bananas which have an anti-caterpillar pesticide)and vegetable peels
We'll have much more on this subject, but this should get you started!
HERE COMES THE RAIN!
Texas Worm Ranch
<:od>
<:od>Busy morning here at the Texas Worm Ranch, preparing for some much needed rain on the way. I wanted to plant some Snow Peas and Cilantro before the rain came, so I braved the 5 MILLION % humidity and went to work.
I am always trying to improve soil, using organic and affordable methods. That is why we compost AND vermicompost. Vermicompost is extremely beneficial for your soil and plants. According to Wikipedia, Vermicompost does the following:
Soil
-
Improves its physical structure
-
Microbial activity in worm castings is 10 to 20 times higher than in the soil and organic matter that the worm ingests
-
Attracts deep-burrowing earthworms already present in the soil
-
Improves water holding capacity
-
Enhances germination, plant growth, and crop yield
-
Improves root growth and structure
-
I first used a spade to loosen the soil in the area I wanted to plant the seeds
-
I then mixed the garden soil to a 50-50 mix of original garden soil and my organic compost
-
I lightly sprinkled vermicompost along the seed bed
-
I planted the seeds according to depth and space requirements on the seed packet
Normally, I would water, but since the radar shows rain on the way, I'll let nature do that for me. From this point, I will keep the seedbed moist until the sprouts are about 2-3 inches tall. Then they will get a weekly foliar feeding of Worm Wine. If we don't get an early frost and Rowdy doesn't decide to yank the Pea Vines off the garden fence, we should have some nice snow peas later this fall. As a legume, the peas will add nitrogen back to the garden soil, improving it for next spring's crops.
While digging in the soil under our leafy mulch layer, I found hundreds of big, fat and happy burrowing earthworms (attracted to the beneficial microbe colonies that are supported by the weekly plant and soil drench of Texas Worm Ranch Worm Wine (TM)). A small gray Rough Earth Snake was surprised to have his leafy home disturbed. I'll let him eat a few earthworms, if he will also keep the population of snails, slugs, insects, and insect larva down in the garden!
Our drought tolerant Butterfly, Bee and Hummingbird Habitat had some dried seed pods on several varieties of flowers, so I picked those and spread them throughout the habitat. Hopefully, the seeds will establish new plants in other areas of the habitat--we really enjoy watching the circle of life in this area of the "Ranch".
With the rain on the way, it seems fitting to pay a special tribute to Elmer Kelton, a Texas Treasure, who went to the Green Pastures in the Sky this week. A prolific author, Elmer Kelton wrote more than 50 books about Texas History and the Texas Experience. Every Texan should be encouraged to read Elmer's poignant book, The Time it Never Rained, about a crusty, independent rancher during the 7 year drought that Texas experienced in the 1950s. I was reminded of the book this morning as I was filling water jugs from my Rainbarrel. Elmer Kelton knew the value of our precious water resource...I hope all Texans will learn before it becomes a (bigger)problem. Hat's off to you, Elmer Kelton.
Welcome to the Texas Worm Ranch
When I moved to Texas from the farm and ranchlands of Oklahoma (years ago), I always believed I would surely become a rancher. Visions of the storied King Ranch, home of Kentucky Derby winners, famous Quarter Horses and their own breed of cattle, came to mind. The epic novel and movie, Giant, played around in those visions too. It pays to dream big, here I am today, owner of a ranch with thousands of head of....WORMS! Oh yes, I do get to deal with my share of horses, but usually only their "output" which the worms think is great stuff.
I live with my family here within the "loop" of Big D. Along with my ranch foreman, I have two little worm wranglers and a BIG Labrador Retriever named Rowdy. In case you were not a big '60s Western TV fan (or were born in the last 35 years), Rowdy is the name of the Clint Eastwood cowboy character on the perpetual trail ride of Rawhide. Our family stays busy maintaining the ranch's vast worm herds, working the land (our large vegetable gardens), and keeping the wranglers out of trouble. Along the trail, we try to have a lot of fun and teach our kids to appreciate and nurture nature as much as possible in the middle of this concrete jungle.
We aim to help anybody interested in vermicomposting, organic gardening, or any other subject dealing with sustainable living, our beautiful planet, or their own backyard. Thanks for visiting the Texas Worm Ranch, ya'll come back!
Roll 'em, Roll 'em, Roll 'em,
Heather Rinaldi
