How many worms?

[Bigmallly]

Hi, sorry, not sure where to post this. I've just made a small wormery out of 2 x 10 litre plastic paint tubs (1 tub for the worms & 1 tub for the juice) The bedding is in & ready for it's occupants. From what I have read I need quite a lot of worms (maybe a couple of hundred). What do you advise. I'm not worried if it goes belly up as I can use them for fishing.
Thanks in advance

[Nik]

Would love to see a pic!

[Bigmallly]

I'll post some when I go to lottie.

[hamesy]

The other half's dad tried to start a wormery and if I remember correctly he put a couple of hundred worms in there, although I think it was bigger than yours.

[sowitgrowit]

I made one with poundland washing up basins - 5 stacked; holes in the bottom and air holes in the sides, fine mesh below the bottom one which was sat in an un-cut basin to collect the liquid but keep out the worms.

When one is full, start the next. The worms move up through the layers - leaving compost with worm eggs in the bottom. when all the worms have migrated, use the compost and replace the empty layer on the top.

When I got my allotment I binned it and put the wormies on the compost heap, but it cost about £5 and 30 minutes work and was effective for the short while I had it.

[Bigmallly]

I made one with poundland washing up basins - 5 stacked; holes in the bottom and air holes in the sides, fine mesh below the bottom one which was sat in an un-cut basin to collect the liquid but keep out the worms.

When one is full, start the next. The worms move up through the layers - leaving compost with worm eggs in the bottom. when all the worms have migrated, use the compost and replace the empty layer on the top.

When I got my allotment I binned it and put the wormies on the compost heap, but it cost about £5 and 30 minutes work and was effective for the short while I had it.

Cheers, SIGI. I'm aware of the principles & am just toying around at the moment..........it's the number of worms I need that's confusing me. If it works then I may expand. If not, they are gonna feel a sharp hook up the jax.

[zazen999]

I've just made one with some of my students

It's on show today at the RHS day at Ryton Gardens.

I've literally just got back from taking a photo of it!

Cost:
4 trays from large homewares store = £4
1 large tray to act as stand = £1
1 lid = 90p
1 tap = £2 from wormery place
Worms = 500 from ebay £5

Total cost = £12.90

[sowitgrowit]

Cheers, SIGI. I'm aware of the principles & am just toying around at the moment..........it's the number of worms I need that's confusing me. If it works then I may expand. If not, they are gonna feel a sharp hook up the jax.

Don't worry about it - order some online (I paid about a fiver) or from a tackle shop. If they're happy, they breed to suit their conditions.

Start small and keep them in good conditions, in a few months they will have doubled and doubled again in numbers, if your space warrants it.

[zazen999]

Cheers, SIGI. I'm aware of the principles & am just toying around at the moment..........it's the number of worms I need that's confusing me. If it works then I may expand. If not, they are gonna feel a sharp hook up the jax.

All you need is 2 to start with! The more you have the quicker it will compost and they do increase as they have babies so just buy a bagful, and get 'em in.

[veggiechicken]

My wormery was supplied with a little envelope of worms (posted) - hardly any were big enough to be called worms IMO.
Buy some from your fishing shop and breed your own bait.

[Peas'n'Kews]

I've just made one with some of my students

Total cost = £12.90

Oooh, a wormerie made from students! Is it effective?

Seriiously though, it looks fab

[mrswadders]

can I just ask what do you use for bedding? OH has been toying with the idea of making a wormery .....

[sowitgrowit]

I used a bit of shredded newspaper, a bit of compost, a bit of vermiculite, the first bits of kitchen waste.

Then let them settle in for a day or two before adding food. Start with a little, getting more over time - then you can gauge how much they go through and how fast.

[Bigmallly]

I've just made one with some of my students

It's on show today at the RHS day at Ryton Gardens.

I've literally just got back from taking a photo of it!

Cost:
4 trays from large homewares store = £4
1 large tray to act as stand = £1
1 lid = 90p
1 tap = £2 from wormery place
Worms = 500 from ebay £5

Total cost = £12.90

Now that, I like..........you're gonna have to whisper the shop you got the tubs.....

[Bigmallly]

Thank you very much to all that posted, will call in tackle shop tomorrow night.