Nightcrawler Worms

Note:  Due to the drought and heat, Nightcrawler cocoons are not availabe until mid October at the earliest.

Nightcrawlers vs. Red Wigglers

Soil worms (Nightcrawlers) are different from compost worms (Red Wigglers). Both are successful at breaking down organic matter; however nightcrawlers are nomadic and great at weaving their way through garden beds to help break up soil. You can recognize Nightcrawlers by their longer length and thicker bodies.

Why use worms in your garden?

Worms play an important role in converting organic matter into humus and help improve soil fertility.

Worms can digest soil particles other than organic matter and turn it into castings that make nutrients, such as Nitrogen, Phosporus and Potash available to plants.

By burrowing through the soil, worms keep the soil structure open which allows for greater aeration and water.

Central Texas soils get quite hot during the summer- African nightcrawlers can withstand these conditions better than European nightcrawlers.

Cocoons are much more cost effective than live worms. Baby worms will adapt more quickly to their new environment than mature worms. Mature worms will have a much higher death rate.

The cocoons come in our humus because worms eat microbes from rotting organic matter. Humified compost is rich in microbial diversity and is an excellent food source for starting young worms.

How to use worms in your garden

1. Mix contents of the bag thoroughly in a separate pail.
2. Make a small hole every 3 feet with a garden trowel and insert 1 small handful (1 cup) of cocoons and humified compost.
3. Cover and pat gently. Drench the soil with water (preferably rain water). Repeat watering again at 7 days and at 14 days. Prevent the soil from getting too dry.
4. Cocoons will hatch when soil temperature levels are warm enough to support a variety of microbes