what to feed worms for compost

The "Go" List of items you should feed compost worms includes most raw/uncooked fruits and vegetables as well as the following items:

• Worms have a sweet tooth so most fruits are a great idea (just not citrus). Compost worms love bananas and banana peels,...
• Green leafy vegetables (e.g., romaine)
• Pumpkin and squash
• Pulp from juicers (avoid citrus)
• Crushed egg shells

Full Answer

What are some of the best worms for composting?

Therefore, they can digest food faster if it is:

• Soft
• Cut into small pieces, with a knife or food processor
• Somewhat moist
• Buried in the bin – just below the surface for Red composting worms

What is the best worm for composting?

• They grow to be 3-8 inches long, and are 2 or 3 times bigger than their smaller cousins, the red wigglers (Eisenia Fotida).
• The euros are certainly better for larger foods that aren't as broken down, or for leaves and other tougher material that has not been pre-composted.
• Can be successfully introduced to most garden environments. ...

Why do you need worms in your compost?

Why do I need worms in my garden?

• Add nutrients to the soil. Plant residue such as fallen leaves and dead roots are food for the worms. ...
• Improves drainage. Over time, the soil in a garden can become compact. ...
• Mix the soil. Earthworms also help turn the soil. ...
• Improves plant health. With all the above benefits in place, the positive impact of earthworms on plant health is a no-brainer.

How to get worms into your compost?

Worm Composting: How to Get Started

• Worm Composting Basics. A worm-composting environment breaks organic matter down faster than a traditional compost heap. ...
• The Right Worms for the Job. Red wiggler worms are one of the best species for vermicomposting. ...
• Making Your First Worm Bin. ...
• Setting Up the Worm Bin. ...
• Acclimating the Worms. ...
• Maintaining the Worm Environment. ...
• Harvesting Worm Compost. ...

What is the best food for compost worms?

Top Five Best Foods for Your Worms#1 Leafy Green Vegetables. Worms love lettuce, kale, Swiss chard, to name a few of these vegetables. ... #2 Melons/Squash and Pumpkins. ... #3 Broccoli. ... #4 Apples. ... #5 SURPRISE: Pasta. ... Note: Worms can eat most fruits and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, used tea leaves, etc.

What scraps to feed worms?

Worms will eat anything that was once living,Leftover vegetable scraps, fruit and vegetable peelings.Tea leaves / bags and coffee grounds.Vacuum cleaner dust or hair clippings (also animal)Torn up newspapers, egg cartons or soaked pizza cartons.Crushed egg shells (these will also help with the pH balance)

What should you not feed compost worms?

Items you cannot compost in a worm bin:Lemon, lime, orange or other citrus peels and juice (in excess this will make the soil too acidic)Onions and garlic (a good rule of thumb is if it makes you smell, it makes your worm bin smell)Meat, fats, grease, bones or oils (no butter, lard, stocks, soups, etc)More items...

How much should I feed my compost worms?

Supposedly, the rule of thumb is that compost worms will eat half their weight in food every day. Meaning, if you have a pound of worms, they will eat up to half a pound of food every day, or 3.5 pounds every week.

How do you make homemade worm food?

0:322:43Worm Chow - Make your own! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBut a little bit of sugar is really good for the microorganisms. And the bacteria that's inside yourMoreBut a little bit of sugar is really good for the microorganisms. And the bacteria that's inside your web and it helps break down the food a lot quicker when there's more microorganisms.

Can worms eat banana peels?

Bananas are a great and inexpensive snack for both us and our worms. Those peels are desirable to compost worms no matter what shape they're in. They'll make short work of what otherwise would have taken up space in your trash.

Can I feed worms oats?

Fruits and vegetables (uncooked or peels) – you can feed your worms any variation as long as it's not citrus based (you'll have to stay way from lemons, oranges, pineapples and all that since it has high acidity levels) Starchy food wastes – these can be in the form of bread, oatmeal, and pasta.

Are tea bags good for worms?

Tea Bags: Yes! The tea bags will start to break down in the worm bin, and the worms will finish off the contents.

Do worms like grass clippings?

Grass clippings are a great addition to a traditional compost pile and worms will eat these as well in their natural setting, but in your vermicomposting system, they will heat up the soil and can kill all of your worms.

Do worms eat eggshells?

eggshells - worms simply can't eat them. They will still be there when you remove the worm castings, and you'll have eggshells in the garden. Eggshells are good for the garden, so if you crush them up, and put them in the worm farm, they'll end up adding calcium to your soil.

How often should you change worm bedding?

After worms are added, bedding should be kept moist but not soggy and the top 6 to 8 inches turned every 7 to 10 days to keep it loose. About every 6 to 9 months the old bedding should be replaced with properly prepared new bedding. To change bedding, remove the top 5 or 6 inches (where most of the worms are).

Can compost worms eat cooked rice?

What can I compost in a worm farm? Grains, cooked or uncooked (rice, oats, barley, wheat, etc.) The smaller the pieces, the quicker they'll break down in the compost pile. Be sure to cut cores in half and break down the pumpkin you forgot to eat.

Do earthworms eat scraps?

Worms will eat most of your kitchen scraps. Exceptions are no meat or dairy, no oils, no citrus, no leaves or yard clippings, no soil, and no strong aromatics like garlic and heavy spices and peppers. Their digestive tract is like that of a chicken – a crop and a gizzard. They have no teeth.

Do worms eat vegetable scraps?

Compost worms benefit from a balanced diet. They will eat most normal kitchen fruit and vegetable scraps. Avoid feeding the worms large quantities of meat, citrus, onions and dairy foods. Some processed food also contains preservatives, which discourage the worms from eating it.

Do worms like grass clippings?

Grass clippings are a great addition to a traditional compost pile and worms will eat these as well in their natural setting, but in your vermicomposting system, they will heat up the soil and can kill all of your worms.

What kinds of materials should not be fed to the worms Why not?

What To Not Feed WormsMeats, bones, fat and anything oily or greasy.Dairy products including butter, sour cream, milk, whole eggs (egg shells are ok) and cheese.Canned sauces, peanut butter and other processed food.Citrus foods like lemons, limes and oranges.Onions and garlic.Spicy foods such as hot peppers.More items...•

What is worm compost?

Worm composting, also called vermicomposting, is a great way to use kitchen scraps to create a nutrient-rich compost to feed your garden and keep it producing year-round. In a large container, simply shred some newspaper and leaves from your yard to create a nice loose base, then add in red wiggler worms, officially known as Eisenia fetida, ...

What do worms eat?

Do feed your worms organic fruit and vegetable waste, including the rinds, cores, and peelings of your favorite fruits and vegetables. Feed them crushed eggshells, coffee grounds, and coffee filters (as long as the filters are unbleached), teabags, and aged manure from vegetable-eating animals, such as rabbits, horses, and cows.

What is vermicomposting bin?

Vermicomposting is an easy, affordable way to reap major rewards for your garden. The bounty of your vermicomposting bin doesn’t stop at compost and the compost tea. The waste the worms leave behind, which is called worm castings, are excellent to feed your potted plants. Used as a soil amendment, worm castings can bring soil that is lacking in nutrients back to life and get it prepped for a season of incredible growth. Worm castings are full of nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and humic acids that help improve soil structure.

What are worm castings?

Worm castings are full of nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and humic acids that help improve soil structure. After you gather your supplies: a bin, shredded newspaper or leaves, and red wiggler worms, all you need to do is start saving food scraps to feed them.

How often do red worms multiply?

In fact, red worms are known to double their population size every 90 days. If you started with far too few, it’s okay to purchase more and add them to the mix.

Can you put old kitchen scraps in the compost bin?

A word of caution, however— don’t just throw any old kitchen scraps into the compost bin and hope for the best. Keep reading, and let’s dive into what you don’t want to feed them. Do not feed your worms fatty or processed foods, such as meat or dairy products. These types of kitchen scraps will cause strong odors when they decompose ...

Where do worms get their nutrition?

In fact, your worms’ main source of nutrition comes from the microorganisms that grow in abundance on organic fruit and vegetable waste. That’s why instead of devouring the scraps that you throw in to the soil immediately, your worms will wait around until microbes begin to flourish on the surface of the food scraps.

What to feed worms?

The "No Go" list for feeding live worms includes: 1 Dairy, cheese, and milk products 2 Meat or other animal products 3 Cooked foods (due to oil and salt content) 4 Citrus fruits 5 "Spicy" foods like peppers, onions, garlic, and ginger 6 Tomatoes or tomato sauce (it's too acidic for worms) 7 Foods cooked with oils 8 Foods high in salt content

What do compost worms like?

Worms have a sweet tooth so most fruits are a great idea (just not citrus). Compost worms love bananas and banana peels, grapes, melon, pears, berries, peaches, apples, and avocado (but not the pit or rinds)

How to know if compost worms are processed?

You'll know the compost worms have fully processed the prior feeding when 1) the food is no longer visible on the surface of the worm bin and 2) the worms are not grouped together in a ball where you fed them. Rule #4: Don't bury the food!

How to kill worms in a bottle?

Remember in the last section when we talked about everything in moderation with worm farming? This is especially true with feeding your worms. Over-feeding, along with temperature, is one of the easiest ways to quickly kill your worm population. Think of feeding your worms like drinking a bottle of wine - you don't usually drink the entire bottle in 1 glass or gulp. You enjoy it in moderation over several glasses or days. Feed worms slowly and modestly and they will stay happy and healthy.

What foods are good for worms?

Meat or other animal products. Cooked foods (due to oil and salt content) Citrus fruits. "Spicy" foods like peppers, onions, garlic, and ginger. Tomatoes or tomato sauce (it's too acidic for worms) Foods cooked with oils. Foods high in salt content.

Do worms eat food?

Worms actually eat microorganisms that are feeding on the food waste, so they like soft food or food that has been cut into small pieces (this helps accelerate the decomposition process and increases the number of microorganisms for worms to eat).

Can you sprinkle worms over food?

It is ok to sprinkle a little of their original bedding (which should already be in the bin) over the food, but the food should never be buried and should be visible to your eye. Rule #5: See rule #1! Rule #6: After the first feeding, feed the worms 1/3 to 1/2 of their weight. So if you purchased 2 pounds of worms, ...

What is worm farming?

Worm farming is a great project for anyone who likes to get their hands a little dirty. The end result is nutrient rich worm castings that your garden will absolutely love. The key to a successful worm bin is to just take things slow, feed your worms sparingly with a proper diet, and be patient.

Why don't you put meat in worm bins?

(You don’t want to put these in your normal compost pile either for the same reason.) Don’t put meat or dairy in your worm bin because these will go rancid.

Can you put citrus in a worm bin?

You should avoid putting citrus fruits in the worm bin, as well as garlic, onions, and peppers. Composting worms will avoid these at all costs due to the high acidity. It’s best to reserve these items for your regular compost pile.

Can you compost non-plant materials?

There are other methods of composting non-plant materials like Bokashi composting, but that is slightly more advanced and not something I’m qualified to speak on. For now, my meats, dairy, and fats go in the trash.

Can compost worms eat their entire body weight?

You may have heard that compost worms can eat their entire body weight in a single day! Well maybe this is true , but the reality is , these worms weigh almost nothing so they eat very little.

Do worms like fruit?

They especially love the fruit. It seems when I put a combination of different materials in the worm bin, they preferentially eat the sweet stuff first. If you have an old banana laying on the counter, cut it in half and bury it in the worm bin. Your worms will love it!

Do composting worms eat leaves?

Composting worms, or Red Wigglers, are not picky eaters. They will happily digest a wide variety of organic plant material into nutrient rich worm castings. I put old lettuce in there, rotten vegetables, potato peels, fruit, grass clipping, and leaves, just to name a few.

What do worms eat?

Don’t feed them anything other than that! But they will thrive on some things over others. All manner of vegetable and fruit peelings, eggshell, tea (bag and all) and coffee grounds provide a kings feast for worms.

What to do if you overfed worms?

1. Remove any rotting food from the farm (don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty, it’s all in the name of the healthy worm); 2. Gently aerate the bedding with a fork to give the farm a healthy oxygen hit; 3.

Why do worm farms fail?

Too much of one food item (fruit for example) threatens to upset the pH of your farm and degrade conditions. Try to feed your worms a good mix of different food items to balance out conditions. Your worms will be happier for it. In my opinion, overfeeding your worms is the number one reason why worm farms fail.

Is citrus a worm farm?

Citrus contains limonene, a substance toxic to worms in anything other than small quantities so be careful of disposing of rind in your worm farm; they don’t tend to like onions and foods from the onion family (leeks, shallots, garlic, chives); meat and dairy in all forms are a no-go zone; and pet poo is toxic and should not be fed to your worms.

Can overfeeding worms kill them?

Overfeeding can result in bad smells (because the waste rots before the worms can process it), attract flies and other pests, and ultimately result in death if the conditions become unbearable. Any of these issues might be enough for you to throw in towel and bring your career as a worm farmer to an abrupt halt.

What can you put in a worm bin?

Spoiled food from the refrigerator, such as baked beans, moldy cottage cheese, and leftover casserole also can go into the worm bin. Coffee grounds are very good in a worm bin, enhancing the texture of the final vermicompost. Tea leaves, even tea bags and coffee filters, are suitable.

Who wrote "Worms Eat My Garbage"?

Worms Eat My Garbage (Storey, 2017) by Mary Appelhof and Joanne Olszewski walks readers through every step of starting and maintaining a successful worm composting system for their homes. This 35th Anniversary edition is fully updated to help new generations begin their own worm composting systems. The following excerpt is a guide on what to feed and not feed compost worms.

Why do rabbits put worms in the bin?

Some people who raise rabbits build a bin underneath the rabbit hutch for the worms to eat the manure and wasted rabbit feed. If you do this, be sure and add an absorptive bedding to the bin and watch for concentrations of urine. You many need to dilute the urine so that ammonia does not build up.

Can you put coffee grounds in worm bins?

Coffee grounds are very good in a worm bin, enhancing the texture of the final vermicompost. Tea leaves, even tea bags and coffee filters, are suitable. Eggshells can go in as they are. I have found as many as 50 worms curled up in one eggshell.

What is the best way to speed up decomposition of meat?

Daniel Dindal of the State University of New York at Syracuse suggests adding a good carbon source (such as sawdust or extra bedding) to meat and bones to speed up decomposition time. He finds that if meat is chopped, ground, and thoroughly mixed with the carbon source, rodents won’t even be a problem.

Can you feed compost worms salty food?

The Perfect Diet for Compost Worms. You should not feed your compost worms salty foods; it will cause them to shrivel up and die quickly. “Worms Eat My Garbage” by Mary Appelhof and Joanne Olszewski has helped over 200,000 people start their own worm composting systems. Worms Eat My Garbage (Storey, 2017) by Mary Appelhof ...

Can cats use worm bins?

One example to be guarded against is letting a cat use your worm bin as a litter box. First of all, cat urine would soon make the odor intoler­able. Second, the ammonia in the urine could kill your worms.

What to feed worms?

Some “DON’TS” in the feeding of worms are: 1 Do not add salty or oily foods 2 Do not add tomatoes or potatoes 3 Do not add meat or dairy products

What do worms eat?

Worms will eat any of the following: Pumpkin. Leftover corn cobs. Melon rinds. Banana peels. Fruit and veggie detritus. However, it is best to avoid putting citrus, onions, and garlic in the worm bin. Onions and garlic will eventually be broken down by worms, but the odor in the interim may be more than you can handle!

How much food scraps do worms eat?

One pound of worms (about 1,000 worms) will eat about ½ to 1 pound (0.25-0.5 kg.) of food scraps per day.

Can you feed worms hot manure?

Don’t feed the worms pet waste or any “hot” manure. “Hot” manure is un-composted animal waste and its addition may result in heating the bin too much for the worms.

Can worms eat tomatoes?

Worms will eat tomatoes but make sure to break down the seed or you will likely have some tomato sprouts in the bin. No big deal, however, as you can just pull them out. The same may occur with potatoes and their eyes spouting before the potato is consumed.

Can citrus kill worms?

Citrus pulp or any highly acidic fruit added to the worm bin in large quantities can kill off your worms, so be aware and only add small amounts or just add the citrus peels without the pulp. When vermiculture feeding, basically go “green.”.

Foods Thatcomposting Worms Love

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Exceptions to The Organic Materials

Otherthings to Keep Out of The Worm Bin

Conclusion