How to Grow Earthworms

1. Department of Agriculture
AGRICULTURAL TRAINING INSTITUTE
Regional Training Center XII
San Felipe, Tantangan, South Cotabato
Tel. No. (083)229-1024 Fax: (083)229-1024
Email: ati_tantangan@yahoo.com.ph
Printed by:
Watering. Water only when the top is dried out.
Harvesting. Given the right environment, the
worms will go to work to di-
gest the kitchen scraps and
bedding faster than any
other compost method. The
material will pass through
the worms' bodies and be-
come "castings."
In about 3-4
months, the worms
will have digested
nearly all the gar-
bage and bedding
and the bin will be
filled with a rich,
black natural fertil-
izer and soil amend-
m e n t . C o m p a r e d t o
ordinary soil, the worm castings contain five
times more nitrogen, seven times more
p h os ph or us an d 11 t im es m ore
potassium. They are rich in humic acids and
improve the structure of the soil. Harvest or make
a new bin with the half.
Re-stocking.
• Rake out the other half to the same width as
before, and feed up.
Critical Factors to consider in
Vermiculture:
• The terrain (aliment used)
• Temperature (14-27; Ideal -21)
• Humidity (80%)
• Ph (acidity &alkalinity – (6.2-7.8;
Ideal ph– 7)
• Lighting
New Bin
Old Bin
References:
Edwards, Clive A & Arancon, Norman Q. The Sci-
ence of Vermiculture: The use of Earthworms
in Organic Waste Management. Columbus,
OH, USA
Dickerson, George W..Vermicomposting. CES-
CAHE, Mexico State University, Mexico
Guerrero, Rafael D. III 2004. Hanbook of Vermicom-
post & Vermimeal Production and Utilization.
Aquatic Biosystems,. Bay, Laguna, Philippines.
Sugar Regulatory Administration-LGAREC.2008. Ver-
micomposting Sugarcane Trashes. La Granja,
La Carlota City,
Pgilippines
EntrePinoys Atbp.2006. Backyard Production of
Earthworms (Vermiculture)

2. Vermiculture is the management of
worms. It defines the thrilling potential for
w a s t e r e d u c t i o n , f e r t i l i z e r
production, as well
as an assortment of
possible uses for the
future.
The “vermi”
or earthworms are
i m p o r t a n t i n
enriching the soil with organic matter which
comes from biodegradable materials such
as dead plants and animals which
earthworms ingest.
The castings of earthworms known
as vermicompost is an excellent soil
enhancer and bioactive high quality fertilizer
for organic farming.
Construct your own Worm Bin. Bins can
made of wood, galvanized sheet, plastic, poly-
styrene or Styrofoam containers, old concreted
bathtubs, barrels, or trunks. Bins should be no
more than 8-12 inches deep. The length and
width of the bin will depend on
whether it is stationary or portable
and the amount of food waste your
family can produce each week. Drill air/
drainage holes (1/4 to 1/2 inch diame-
ter in the bottom and sides of the bin to
ensure good air circulation and water
drainage. Place a tray on the bottom of
the bin to catch excess water that
drains from the bin.
This compost tea can
be used as a liquid fer-
tilizer .
Bedding Substrate. Prepare the substrate
for bedding one month before stocking. At a
ratio of 70% carbon materials (i.e. shredded
cardboard & paper, chopped straw, chopped
banana leaves/stalks, wood chips or dust, rice
hulls and bran, peat moss) plus 30% animal
manure.
Prepare the Bedding. Fill your box half
way up with bedding material approximately
40% composted manure and 60% carbon ma-
terials . This bedding mixture should be a light
& fluffy consistency so that the worms have
plenty of air for the entire 60 day period before
splitting.
Moisten. Moisten your bedding until it
reaches 70% moisture
content. The material
should hold a ball shape
when you pick it up. Do not
over water. Your water
should be free of chlorine.
How to Grow Earthworms
Stocking. Put your worms in at 600 grams
per square foot of substrate.
Worm: The worms used in vermicomposting are
called bradlingworms (Eisenia foetida), also
redworms or wigglers (lumbricus rubellus) ,
African Nightcrawlers (Eudrilus eugeniae)
Feeding. The easiest method is to spread the
scraps in a thin layer on top of the bedding or
dig trenches. If the bin is kept in a dark place or
covered, the worms will come to the surface to
eat. Once the feed has been eaten down feed
them again.
Splitting. You can split the bin in 60 days &
put ½ into another bin that has fresh bedding
and add fresh bedding to the 1st bin.
1 Foot
1 Foot
= 600 grams
40% composted
manure + 60%
carbon materials
a. Gather materials b. chop the banana leaves and stalks
c. Place in a large basin b. add the manure, rice hulls, wood chips/dust/coir
d. mix e. add water f. mix well and place inside the
compost bin; leave for I month
Temperate species
- Eisenia fetida
- E. Andrei
- Dendrobaena veneta
- Lumbricus rubellus
Tropical species
- Eudrilus eugeniae
- P. excavatus
First, and foremost, START
SLOWLY. It will take time for bacteria to
form and your bin can quickly become very
smelly if you add too much food, too fast.
Don't worry about the worms starving be-
cause they will be eating bedding as well.