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  • No worms on my veg patch!

    Hi.

    I decided to dig over the patch where my chickens overwintered to plant potatoes. So far I have found no worms.

    I have also dug over my raised beds - no worms there either!

    About 2 years ago I found Newzealand flat worms in the garden. Would they have eaten all the native worms?

    Can/should I replace them?

    Any ideas?

  • #2
    I have a worm in every patch I dig. I put it down to mulching. They like to snuggle under a mulch: mine is wet newspapers held down with soil.

    Lots of added home-made compost etc is good too.

    OR:

    Perhaps your chickens have changed the pH of the soil in that area, to one that worms dislike?
    All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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    • #3
      Thanks. Will check the PH. The raised beds had compost and green manure added over the winter. Hopefully the lack of worms won't cause a problem.

      Comment


      • #4
        Hi I put the dirty straw from my hens on my beds and when I scraped it back today there were loads of worms so I dont think it was the hen muck, perhaps the hens ate the worms? they will also have eaten the slugs with any luck. I think flatworms do eat earth worms, look in your compost heap see if any worms are in there.

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        • #5
          If your Chooks are anything like mine they'll have eaten the lot!
          All the best - Glutton 4 Punishment
          Freelance shrub butcher and weed removal operative.

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          • #6
            Originally posted by Two_Sheds View Post
            I have a worm in every patch I dig. I put it down to mulching. They like to snuggle under a mulch: mine is wet newspapers held down with soil.

            Lots of added home-made compost etc is good too.

            OR:

            Perhaps your chickens have changed the pH of the soil in that area, to one that worms dislike?
            You have often said that chicken poo is alkaline and worms DO thrive in alkaline conditions so I very much doubt its a Ph problem? I dig my run over regularily and it is full of worms........the only problem for me is not spearing a chook with the fork as they all pile in for a free feed!
            My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
            to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

            Diversify & prosper


            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by DMac View Post
              Hi.

              I decided to dig over the patch where my chickens overwintered to plant potatoes. So far I have found no worms.

              I have also dug over my raised beds - no worms there either!

              About 2 years ago I found Newzealand flat worms in the garden. Would they have eaten all the native worms?

              Can/should I replace them?

              Any ideas?
              A friend of mine has flatworms ....and no worms on his plot The flatworms usually lurk in damp places under stones etc

              PS He HAS offered me plants before but I'm having none of it!
              Last edited by Snadger; 10-04-2010, 08:36 PM.
              My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
              to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

              Diversify & prosper


              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by Snadger View Post
                A friend of mine has flatworms ....and no worms on his plot The flatworms usually lurk in damp places under stones etc

                PS He HAS offered me plants before but I'm having none of it!
                Is that the same as slow worms ?
                You have to loose sight of the shore sometimes to cross new oceans

                I would be a perfectionist, but I dont have the time

                Comment


                • #9
                  Thought I'd put these photo's of New Zealand flat worms on here, so you could see what you could be dealing with.

                  "The New Zealand flat worm is an alien species that preys on our earth worms. They lay eggs that are like shiny blackcurrant berries that have a brittle shell. If you break them as they near maturity you will see that each egg does not contain just one flat worm but several. The best way to control these is to lay black plastic bags, with a bit of sand in them to weigh them down, on the earth and the cool moist conditions will attract flat worms during the day. Watch that you do not handle them with bare hands as it is said that some people can have an unpleasant reaction to the slime on their bodies".
                  Last edited by ginger ninger; 11-04-2010, 08:08 AM.

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                  • #10
                    Yuk, haven't seen those before thankfully, cheers GN for the pics
                    You have to loose sight of the shore sometimes to cross new oceans

                    I would be a perfectionist, but I dont have the time

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                    • #11
                      They are like a thing from a horror movie. They cover the worm with slime, lay alongside it and absorb the juices! Yuk!!!!
                      My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
                      to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

                      Diversify & prosper


                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Snadger View Post
                        You have often said that chicken poo is alkaline and worms DO thrive in alkaline conditions so I very much doubt its a Ph problem?
                        I was wondering more if the OP had added extra lime or something too
                        All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Originally posted by Snadger View Post
                          They are like a thing from a horror movie. They cover the worm with slime, lay alongside it and absorb the juices! Yuk!!!!
                          damn.....why did i read this thread while eating breakfast?!!!
                          Finding Home

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                          • #14
                            Originally posted by Liza View Post
                            Is that the same as slow worms ?
                            Liza slow worms aren't worms at all - they are legless lizards. They are beautiful and they are the gardeners friend because they eat slugs and snails! I have them living in my compost heaps.
                            Whooops - now what are the dogs getting up to?

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by kiwirach View Post
                              damn.....why did i read this thread while eating breakfast?!!!
                              Sorry kiwi!
                              My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
                              to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

                              Diversify & prosper


                              Comment

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