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All successful gardeners know that soil health is responsible for plant growth. We're all after successful yields come harvest time for gardening and farming. With organic fertilizers, not all organic material is the same.

Earthworms are responsible for ensuring that soil remains healthy worldwide. These tiny worms in armies of thousands are replenishing and enriching gardens and fields worldwide, from small apartment worm farms to massive organic farms.

Organic fertilizer made from the black gold of tiny worms is one of the best on the market. Our experts have examined these soil fertilizing agents to help you understand the debate between worm castings vs. vermicompost.

Worm Castings vs. Vermicompost

Often conflated because these two organic composts are very similar. The difference is that both have trace elements of one another. Vermicompost is the fuel for worm castings. Over time, vermicompost will end up having some worm castings mixed with it. Castings are technically worm feces or worm poop. In other words, vermicompost is organic matter that feeds the worms mixed with worm castings. Worm compost is both, rather than pure worm castings alone.

Worms do not prefer consuming their castings which, like us, offer them insubstantial nutrients. An experienced worm farmer will know when to remove pure worm castings and add more organic matter, which will form part of the vermicompost.

Is Vermicompost or Worm Castings Better?

Seasoned gardeners will tell you that to best answer this question, one must consider the existing soil health and specific needs of one's crop. Different plants require more acidic or alkaline soil.  Vermicompost is less nutrient-dense than worm castings, which means it’s better for plants and produce that prefer less alkaline soil. 

How Do Vermicompost and Worm Castings Compare to Other Organic Fertilizers?

Compost has undergone two stages of organic processing. As a result, vermicompost and worm castings are by far the two more superior composts to use. For one, these products ensure excellent soil health conditions. They also reduce the need for plant growth hormones. The reason for this is that they yield more crops, as well as boost their overall quality.

Once set up, a compost bin requires far more maintenance and upkeep than most worm farms. Farming systems are self-cleansing and tend to look after themselves. This high maintenance system is also only able to yield about a third of the nutrients that a worm farm can produce per liter yielded.

Composting takes longer because it relies on microbes in the soil and often takes months to break down nutrients, whereas worms take weeks at most. Some will add traditional organic fertilizers with the more expensive and richer worm castings or vermicompost. This is mainly for flower gardens or in conditions where the soil is already rich in nutrients and experiences ample rainfall.

What About Worm Tea?

When it comes to liquid enrichment for your soil, worm tea or worm pee is full of the necessary nutrients to ensure the best possible soil condition can be attained. The mix of worm pee, decomposed organic matter, and worm castings make 'worm tea.'

Worm farms are easy to build. Worms get established in composting bins by laying down layers of matter. There is typically a tap at the bottom of most worm composting systems to drain the "worm tea." The faucet is easy to use because most worm composting systems are layered. 

Worm tea is sold in a liquid form and enriches other organic fertilizers. Some suppliers will even add this to their worm castings as a form of "super compost," which is extremely rich and needed only in small quantities.

DIY Worm Farming

Creating your vermicompost and worm castings is relatively easy. Maintenance couldn't be easier with little additional work once it's all set up. There are plenty of online tutorials, YouTube videos, and other blogs and books. Alternatively, you can buy ready-made kits if preferred.

To build your own worm farm will require a large bin and lid with a special worm tap built into the bottom. Fill the bin with layers of worm "bedding" alternate with layers of worms. These worms are online or harvested from most gardens. Be sure to use the correct worm. Once established, add additional layers while producing precious nutrient-dense worm castings, vermicompost, and worm tea from the system. 

What Food Items Can I Feed My Worms?

To produce plenty of high-quality worm castings, the worm farmer will add a variety of organic materials. To feed a worm farm, farmers and gardeners add items such as organic waste, organic fertilizers, food waste, peat moss, cattle manure, other animal manures, and other food wastes, to name a few. All compostable organic matter, including bones, can be added to most composting systems.

Add organic matter daily, depending on the time of year and the number of worms per liter. The added weight should not exceed ten percent of the existing mass in the compost bin, or the material produced will lack vital nutrients. Another factor is that the worm bins will start decomposing naturally and disrupt the natural process.

Conclusion

As previously mentioned, there is a difference between vermicompost and worm castings. The question is not to choose between vermicompost vs. worm castings, but rather to acknowledge that both are valuable materials for their purpose.

When produced at home, this product is affordable and an excellent way to dispose of organic waste responsibly. Not only will your crops be more robust and better, but edibles will taste richer and colors brighter. Another benefit is that your produce bursts with optimal health.

All gardeners should add this wholesome edition to their gardens. In closing, consider the words of a great gardening legend: "When the world wearies, and society fails to satisfy, there is always the garden." - Minnie Aumonier

Grow Bigger Plants with Simple Grow

Do you wish your plants would grow bigger? Was your garden less than it should've been last year?

If you're tired of growing puny vegetables and fruits, it's time for an upgrade...Simple Grow Worm Castings!

What are worm castings? Another term for worm manure. Why would you want to use it in your garden, raised beds, and house plants? Because it makes them grow bigger, faster and healthier...with no chemicals!

How do worm castings do this? It's like giving your plants a powerful multivitamin with everything they need to grow. Trace minerals, nutrients, and most importantly...worm castings are chock full of beneficial microbes. Why does that make a difference?

In recent years, we've learned the importance of gut bacteria for humans and know that it impacts so many different parts of our health. The same thing applies with worms. Gut bacteria from the worm's digestive tract gets into the soil from the worm castings and promotes plant health. Plants have a symbiotic relationship with the microbes from the worm's digestive tract. Plants respond to it and grow really big...really fast!

If you've never tried worm castings before, you owe it to yourself to give them a try. Instead of using traditional chemical fertilizers from the big box store, why not try fresh, certified organic worm castings this year? You'll be able to grow bigger, healthier plants that you actually can feel good about eating. 

Take advantage of our special bundle sale on 25lb bags today!

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