No worms on my veg patch!

[DMac]

Hi.

I decided to dig over the patch where my chickens overwintered to plant potatoes. So far I have found no worms.

I have also dug over my raised beds - no worms there either!

About 2 years ago I found Newzealand flat worms in the garden. Would they have eaten all the native worms?

Can/should I replace them?

Any ideas?

[Two_Sheds]

I have a worm in every patch I dig. I put it down to mulching. They like to snuggle under a mulch: mine is wet newspapers held down with soil.

Lots of added home-made compost etc is good too.

OR:

Perhaps your chickens have changed the pH of the soil in that area, to one that worms dislike?

[DMac]

Thanks. Will check the PH. The raised beds had compost and green manure added over the winter. Hopefully the lack of worms won't cause a problem.

[penny]

Hi I put the dirty straw from my hens on my beds and when I scraped it back today there were loads of worms so I dont think it was the hen muck, perhaps the hens ate the worms? they will also have eaten the slugs with any luck. I think flatworms do eat earth worms, look in your compost heap see if any worms are in there.

[Glutton4...]

If your Chooks are anything like mine they'll have eaten the lot!

[Snadger]

I have a worm in every patch I dig. I put it down to mulching. They like to snuggle under a mulch: mine is wet newspapers held down with soil.

Lots of added home-made compost etc is good too.

OR:

Perhaps your chickens have changed the pH of the soil in that area, to one that worms dislike?

You have often said that chicken poo is alkaline and worms DO thrive in alkaline conditions so I very much doubt its a Ph problem? I dig my run over regularily and it is full of worms........the only problem for me is not spearing a chook with the fork as they all pile in for a free feed!

[Snadger]

Hi.

I decided to dig over the patch where my chickens overwintered to plant potatoes. So far I have found no worms.

I have also dug over my raised beds - no worms there either!

About 2 years ago I found Newzealand flat worms in the garden. Would they have eaten all the native worms?

Can/should I replace them?

Any ideas?

A friend of mine has flatworms ....and no worms on his plot The flatworms usually lurk in damp places under stones etc

PS He HAS offered me plants before but I'm having none of it!

[Liza]

A friend of mine has flatworms ....and no worms on his plot The flatworms usually lurk in damp places under stones etc

PS He HAS offered me plants before but I'm having none of it!

Is that the same as slow worms ?

[ginger ninger]

Thought I'd put these photo's of New Zealand flat worms on here, so you could see what you could be dealing with.

"The New Zealand flat worm is an alien species that preys on our earth worms. They lay eggs that are like shiny blackcurrant berries that have a brittle shell. If you break them as they near maturity you will see that each egg does not contain just one flat worm but several. The best way to control these is to lay black plastic bags, with a bit of sand in them to weigh them down, on the earth and the cool moist conditions will attract flat worms during the day. Watch that you do not handle them with bare hands as it is said that some people can have an unpleasant reaction to the slime on their bodies".

[Liza]

Yuk, haven't seen those before thankfully, cheers GN for the pics

[Snadger]

They are like a thing from a horror movie. They cover the worm with slime, lay alongside it and absorb the juices! Yuk!!!!

[Two_Sheds]

You have often said that chicken poo is alkaline and worms DO thrive in alkaline conditions so I very much doubt its a Ph problem?

I was wondering more if the OP had added extra lime or something too

[kiwirach]

They are like a thing from a horror movie. They cover the worm with slime, lay alongside it and absorb the juices! Yuk!!!!

damn.....why did i read this thread while eating breakfast?!!!

[Jeanied]

Is that the same as slow worms ?

Liza slow worms aren't worms at all - they are legless lizards. They are beautiful and they are the gardeners friend because they eat slugs and snails! I have them living in my compost heaps.

[Snadger]

damn.....why did i read this thread while eating breakfast?!!!

Sorry kiwi!