Check wormeries as temperatures dip

[bazzaboy]

I don't think it did actually freeze round here last night (Midlands) but at 11 p.m. it was pretty chilly and cloudless so first frosts can't be far off.... Decomposing waste/compost produces some heat which gets resident worms in a wormery through the odd chilly spell but won't necessarily protect them throughout Winter... I've only lost a wormery once in 15 years (both distressing and messy, believe me best avoided!) - what seems to happen is the threat of frost sends them down (deeper, makes sense...) but if your system has a sump they might then drown... If you put them under some form of cover where they could effectively be "out of sight out of mind" over the Winter months make a note in the diary to check them occasionally. The good news is if you can keep them relatively comfortable and frost free throughout Winter they continue their extraordinary magic! b.

[Hans Mum]

baz, would they be ok against the house (residual warmth from the house) or would they be better in the shed,garage or greenhouse?

[bazzaboy]

hi Hans Mum, Thanks for response, reassuring as I didn't know best place to post this message.... Difficult to advise precisely from distance, the all-important thing is they mustn't freeze. I now put mine in the garage each Winter (no room for cars!) with a few old curtains as added protection (where I tend to forget them, thus the suggestion of making a note in the diary). They don't ask for a lot really, something to chew, a reasonable level of dampness and an empty sump.... I previously put them in a boiler house but sensed they didn't like the odd fumes in such places (very fussy these worms!). What they seem to appreciate best is No Change, i.e. an even temperature with as little variation as pos, so I wouldn't use the greenhouse as the temperature variation midday-to-midnight can be quite extreme. Corner of shed or garage sounds most likely. Hope that helps... b.

[Hans Mum]

thanks baz, shed it is then, at least its next to the chicken run so I'll remember to check on them from time to time

[bazzaboy]

Yes, best to keep those two apart I think....

[Alison]

I used to either wrap mine or put it in the greenhouse but don't bother anymore. It is absolutley fine outside although they don't need much food. I keep the tap at the bottom of my Can of Worms open over a watering can so no worm wee accumlates and there's no worries. It's just by the back door in a relatively sheltered spot but no need to move which is perhaps as well as it weighs a ton!