This depends on how many worms you have and the conditions inside and outside the wormery. Worms can eat up to half their own body weight every day and can double their population every few months. If you start your worery with 500g worms, they will consume up to 250g of food waste per day In good conditions.  As your wormery develops you can add more waste as more worms will have bred.

How can I help the worms eat more?

Worms feed at a faster rate once they have adapted to any new food source. They will also eat more if the food is chopped fairly small. Controlling the temperature to around 20 degrees inside the wormery will improve the performance. Worms will leave very acidic food like oranges and onions until they have eaten their preferred food. A hand full of lime mix every week will help to balance the effect of acidic foods.

Do worms need fibre?

Yes, worms love fibre. 25-30% of what you add should be dry fibre eg. torn-up cardboard egg boxes, toilet roll centres, pet hair etc.

What shouldn’t I feed my worms?

Avoid meat and bones and any large quantity of highly acidic foods such as citrus and onions. Manure from recently wormed animals will kill your composting worms.

Can I feed my worms garden refuse?

Worms have no problem with garden waste, but your wormery is designed for kitchen waste and the size of the unit makes it impractical to add any more than a few deadheads. Avoid grass clippings.

What if my worms aren’t eating enough waste

Initially the worms eat the bedding block so will take some time to get into full operation. However after this period you don’t need to wait until they have consumed all the previous amount of waste. As long as they are working just below the surface more waste can be added.

Should I add water to my wormery?

Kitchen waste is made up of 80% water so unless you need to cool the kit down in extremely hot weather then there will never be a need to add water.

Will I get too many worms?

No, you can never have too many worms. They will regulate their population to the confines of available space and to the amount of food.  

Can I put compost worms into the garden?

Compost worms require rich organic waste and all year round moisture, so unless you are introducing them into thick areas of mulch they will not thrive in the soil.

What about severe temperatures?

Worms work at their best between 10 - 30 degrees Celsius, however they can withstand hotter and much colder conditions. Make sure you site your wormery in a sheltered position. If it gets extremely hot take the lid off and damp the whole unit down (keep the tap on). If it gets extremely cold move your kit to a warmer position or insulate with bubble wrap or an old blanket to keep some warmth in. which will in itself create.

It’s raining and the worms are gathering in the lid. What do I do?

They will often go up into the lid even before it rains. In nature this takes them out of the soil to stop them flooding and drowning. Move the wormery out of the rain. Take the worms out of the lid and replace them in the bedding. An old plastic bin lid over the top will keep out heavy rain, but make sure that air can circulate around it.

What are the little white worms in my wormery

The ’white worm’ you are noticing is a type of worm called Entrachyadids. They will not hurt the worms, but they do indicate acidic conditions which can be overcome by a weekly addition of lime mix. By placing a piece of moist white bread in your wormery you can lure them for easy removal. This will make a great treat for your garden birds. Please note that many organisms will appear in your wormery (such as red mites and soldier fly larvae). These are beneficial to the break down of organic material, so there is no need to remove them.

How do I keep ants out?

If you have lots of ants in your garden they may enter wormery. To stop them entering, smear Vaseline around the bottom or place each leg in a tray of water. Ants may be a sign that the contents are too dry or acidic. Add water to raise the moisture and add a liberal quantity of lime mix where the ants are gathering.

Will my wormery attract flies?

Sometimes the small Vinegar or Fruit Flies get in, they do no harm. However they may indicate that the kit is too wet or that you are overfeeding. To avoid, make sure you have a moisture mat on top of the waste and that you add extra lime mix and plenty of dry matter such as cardboard.

What about maggots?

Should you experience any influx of maggots, it will most likely be Soldier or Vinegar Fly Larvae. Larvae love bread and should infest it for easy removal. They make great fishing bait. Add lime mix and cardboard.

Will my wormery smell?

The only smell associated with a well maintained wormery is a pleasant earthy smell. If your kit has an offensive smell, it is an indication that anaerobic bacteria have built up in the system in uneaten food waste. Stop feeding the worms and stir the waste in adding lime mix (not garden lime as it is too strong and will burn the worms). This aerates the material and allows worms to move through it more easily. Repeat this aeration procedure regularly to prevent recurrence. Start feeding again when all the smells have gone.

What about holidays?

Leaving an established wormery for 3 - 4 weeks without adding food is not a problem. Just feed the worms a good quantity of food waste before you leave. Make sure that you leave the unit in a cool place under cover and leave the tap open with a container under it.

What if I need advice or further supplies?

E-mail: info@westcountryworms.co.uk or phone Westcountry Worms  01803 712738.