Worm Composting Part 3: Temperature & Harvesting Castings

Let the worms do the work! And the best way to get the worm castings is to have your own bin for worms. On previous posts, I have discussed how to set up your bins, what type of bedding to use, where to get your redworms, and what to feed them. Today we will talk about best temperature for your redworms and how to harvest the castings.

Best Temperature For Vermi-Composting (worm composting)

Redworms will survive in temperatures from 5 degrees Celsius to 32 degrees Celsius. (40 degrees Fahrenheit to 90 degrees Fahrenheit). However, they prefer it at or above room temperature.

If you keep the worm bin outside in good weather, be ready to bring it in promptly when the temperature drops.

Harvesting the Worm Castings

Removing the worm castings couldn’t be easier. You will notice that redworms hate the light. They’ll wriggle down into their bedding whenever you take the lid off the bin.

Every few months– when the castings outweigh the bedding that remains — place the opened bin under a very bright light and give the worms ten minutes to get well away from the surface. Then the coast is clear for scraping away the worm castings from the top layer.

When you begin to see the worms again, keep the light on them and give them another ten minutes to go deeper still.

Remove the next layer of compost, and just keep going in this way until the harvest is done. Then fill up the bin with fresh bedding and start again.

Although vermi-composting is not difficult, it does require some attention as to bedding, food, and temperature. In return, the worms will reward you with their castings which you can harvest at will to help your plants look better, taste better, grow better — in other words be healthier!

You can also take advantage of the outdoors to build your bin. I will explain how on the next post.

Till then, happy vermi-composting!

Marcie