When it comes to building soil, the value of having high-quality organic gardening products is essential as it will contribute to the soil by giving it all the essential nutrients. The best worm castings are highly beneficial for plant growth because of the various bacteria and microbes contained within, which will start from the ground up, improving the quality of the soil and, therefore, the health of the plants. But, what does it take to make the best worm castings? In part, it's about knowing the difference between the good stuff and the stuff to avoid, so let’s show you what we do to make our worm castings extra special and what you should stay away from, if you really want your soil to thrive.

Why Worm Castings Work

If you're struggling with soil that doesn't seem to be nourishing your plants well, worm castings may be the missing ingredient. But what are they exactly? Worm castings are a combination of pure worm excrement and other decomposed organic matter processed by earthworms. They contain essential nutrients as diverse as potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and so many more components that are highly beneficial for plant growth.

In fact, scientific studies (like this study from Cornell and this study from Mississippi State) have shown that using worm castings can significantly enhance plant growth, reduce pests and diseases, and increase yields by a massive 25%, as well as stimulating high-quality vegetables, fruit, and flowers to create an amazing, colorful, and nutrient-dense garden. 

We don't function at our best when we put the wrong type of fuel in us, and it goes the same for soil and plant growth. But when you give your soil the things it truly needs, it's like nature's multivitamin for your plants. A diverse selection of nutrients is exactly what the (garden) doctor ordered! Read on to see what we feed our worms!

The Diet Makes the Difference in Worm Castings

Think of it like this: Garbage in, garbage out. Your soil is only as good as the nutrients you give it. The humble earthworm can increase the volume of nutrients and minerals in the soil by a significant amount, resulting in some of the greatest food for your plants. But if you feed your worms the worst types of nutrients, you won't be giving your soil the best possible foundations, which is why we feed them the following high-quality ingredients (all of these amendments can be directly added to castings as well, to increase their effectiveness):

• Alfalfa meal, which is an organic plant fertilizer that enriches and helps rebuild the soil.
• Neem cake, the residue left after crushing and pressing neem seeds to extract its oil, is fantastic for the soil and can stimulate earthworm activity, making it an invaluable addition to vermicompost (a mixture of worm castings and other soil amendments).
• Basalt rock dust, which contains essential minerals and trace elements that are crucial for soil remineralization. The diversity in mineral content that comes from various rocks can improve the compost nutrient profile, and when added to worm castings, this creates a far more diverse selection of nutrients to achieve optimal plant health and growth.
• Kelp meal, which is derived from giant seaweed rich in trace elements, minerals, potash, and nitrogen. Adding this to worm castings adds a double benefit because it enriches the compost with the trace minerals from the kelp, enhancing its nutrient profile, and is particularly effective in soils that may be lacking certain minerals.
• Malted barley grains contain enzymes such as protease, amylase, and cellulase, which play a crucial role in breaking down nutrients into forms that plants can readily absorb, enhancing the bioavailability of these essential elements. By incorporating malted barley grains into worm castings, you are building soil that creates a more fertile environment for plant growth.

We Pay Close Attention to Our Worms

We may not treat our worms like royalty, but we come close! Many companies use Red Wigglers to produce castings, which can be fine in certain instances. But we've found that using Red European Nightcrawlers and Tropical Blue worms produce superior worm castings. This is for a few reasons. First off, our worms can handle the heat and humidity in Florida better than Red Wigglers. They also have the tendency to burrow deeper, have a broader diet range and have increased defenses against pests and disease. Beyond selecting the best variety of worms, we do our absolute best to give them the stuff they really need to thrive:

The Right Bedding

Our bedding is comprised mainly of leaf mold, or Florida peat. Some people use composted horse manure, but there are a couple of things to be aware of with that method. You need to take into account how well the animals were cared for. This extends not only to their diet but also to how they have been housed. These will both directly affect the quality of the manure. Second, you need to make sure the manure is fully composted to remove any pathogens. In either case, you want to make sure that your bedding provides a nutrient-rich environment for the worms. This will offer the essential elements to support plant growth and soil fertility.

The Perfect Temperature

We’re always keeping a close eye on the thermometer to make sure our worms can thrive in an ideal environment. Worms are most productive within a specific temperature range, typically between 60 and 80°F, and extreme temperatures can have a negative effect on worms. If the temperature exceeds 95°F, worms are more likely to suffer, reproduce less, or even perish. 

On the other hand, if it's too low, worms can be less active, and eat less, and this will directly impact the quality of the castings, and therefore, your soil. Proper temperature management will ensure the survival and well-being of worms. Remember, choosing the best worm castings is more than just the nutrients–it's the environment as well. Worms can be just as precious as Goldilocks!

What to Avoid in Worm Castings

It's important to have an understanding of what you should avoid buying as well. These days it's easier than ever to click around a big box store's website and order all of your gardening products in bulk. But much of the time, you don't know what you're getting. It can be hard to tell what the worms were fed to produce the castings. If they weren't fed a diverse enough range of organic materials, they may not have the same high quality nutrient profile. This can impact the effectiveness of the castings as a soil amendment. It can also be difficult to get information on the environment that the worms were kept in. Was the bedding ideal? Were the worm bins kept clean or were there traces of chemicals or contaminants from other uses? Was the temperature always well regulated? With mass-produced worm castings, was there a greater environmental impact because of the requirements necessary for running larger farms or operations?

Essentially, you don't want to be in a situation where you don't really know the quality of the products you're getting because you can't find out what's happening behind the scenes.

What Makes Us Different?

We started as a father-and-son business right out of our garage, and we've battled all the difficulties a Florida-based gardener can face. Disease, pests, lack of minerals, terrible soil, you name it. We've had the same frustrations you're dealing with right now. We love to connect with our customers at plant shows, while we're delivering products, via email or phone–whatever it takes. So, if you have question, reach out to us. We're here to help gardeners of any skill level, beginners to masters. We'd love to chat!

Conclusion

If you're ready to start building your soil, remember–it's always about transparency–knowing what goes into your castings and how they were produced. Quality ingredients. Quality bedding. Quality environment. And remember it's a long game as well. Don't skimp to save a bit of money in the short term. Invest in your soil with the best worm castings and it will pay you back dividends with healthier plants, better quality produce and higher yields.