No worms

[glenisita]

Hi there

I'm starting up a new vege garden and have been preparing the soil and working compost (some from our compost bin and some multi-purpose stuff from the garden centre) in for a few weeks. I haven't seen a single earthworm - is that normal? Are they likely to be deeper than I'm forking at this time of year, or do you think there could be a problem with the soil? We moved here last year and there were box plants in the patch that I'm now using for the vege garden. Before that (I'd guess 10 years ago) there was a shed there.

Any help appreciated.

G

[Flummery]

I started a garden from scratch at my old church. The soil was quite heavy clay and there was not an earthworm in sight. I added loads of compost and well rotted horse manure and by the middle of the season I found there were lots of worms. They just didn't have much to work on in the previous soil. You are doing the right thing adding stuff to the coil. Don't worry - there will be loads in a few month's time I'm sure.

[Two_Sheds]

If the soil is dry the worms will be deeper.

I've just dug over a bit of scrappy old lawn, and was surprised at how many big fat worms are in it. Can't be as bad as I thought it would be.

[Demeter]

Organic matter - add it and they will come

[Fluorescent green]

I havnt seen any slugs yet !!!!

FG

[Demeter]

I havnt seen any slugs yet !!!!

FG

Lettuce - add it and they will come!

[Snadger]

Organic matter and dampness is what brings the worms. Don't want to mention the New Zealand Flatworm......I SAID I DID'NT WANT TO MENTION IT!!

[glenisita]

Organic matter and dampness is what brings the worms. Don't want to mention the New Zealand Flatworm......I SAID I DID'NT WANT TO MENTION IT!!

Oh dear - I was just starting to feel more optimistic... NZFs like dampness. I live in Scotland. Bugger.

[Jenegade]

Whilst digging over my plot the last autumn/winter I only saw 1 earthworm in my plot, so I'm glad that it's not just me who had that problem. If everyone here says they'll come once you start cultivating it then I'm sure you'll have loads of worms in there soon enough!

[glenisita]

Jenegade, the pics of lovely healthy plants on your blog have given me hope!

[Topcat36]

I have very heavy clay soil, moved into my house 2 years ago the house itself is only 5 years old. Not a thing had been done to the garden so digging it was a nightmare but to my surprise it was full of earth worms and builders rubbish. Glad to say rubbish is gone have added tons of nice manure, compost and some topsoil, soil is getting better but digging is still a pain as i dont want to hurt the wee little worms so takes ages digging cos i'm always watchin out in case i get one, crazy eh.

[Snadger]

...................... i dont want to hurt the wee little worms so takes ages digging cos i'm always watchin out in case i get one, crazy eh.

When I was a bairn I was always told "If you cut a worm in half it will rain!"

If perchance I DO cut a worm in half by mistake (no big deal as the chooks luv em!) I always look up at the clouds wistfully!

[coreopsis]

Every year I'm stuck with 2 big daleks full of kitchen scraps.I put it into the ground in the spring,cover up with soil and give it a good soak.In the autumn when I turn the soil over,there's hardly anything left from the kitchen stuff as the big fat spaghetti does their job.They will come,you just have to give them something to eat to encourage them

[realfood]

I am afraid that the flat worms are quite common in Scotland. Our allotments are badly infected. I keep hoping that they will die out but they are still going strong after the 12 years that I have had my plot.

[Jenegade]

Jenegade, the pics of lovely healthy plants on your blog have given me hope!

Thanks Glenisita! Fingers crossed your worms return soon!

I'm now worried about the grubs that I've been finding, not sure what they are, looking at pics I think they could be wireworms or chafer grubs. Quite a few in the plot, but not sure how to get rid of them, I really hope they don't ruin all my lovely potatoes and newly germinated root veg!