Discussion forum for environmentally-friendly alternatives to replace synthetic chemicals and fertilizers.
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May 18, 2011 | #1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Western WI
Posts: 359
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Worm Castings Application Rate?
I am thinking of putting a layer of worm castings on my growing space. I found a local source that sells by the ton.
Anyone have any good experience with application rates? Thanks |
May 20, 2011 | #2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: PNW
Posts: 4,743
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In seed-starting mix, 1/4 to 1/3 produces nice seedlings. In the
soil, I do not know. The N-P-K is not very high. I remember advice for container plants of 1/2 worm castings. I would think you would treat it like a weak manure. Where I might use a cup of Tomato-tone worked into the soil around a plant, I would probably use a couple of gallons of horse, rabbit, llama, or alpaca manure. I would put the worm castings in the same class with the manures. Like rabbit, llama, and alpaca manures, worm castings need no composting first, but one should mix it up with the soil to get some air spaces into it (so it does not become a solid clod like cow manure when it dries).
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May 20, 2011 | #3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Western WI
Posts: 359
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Thanks for the thoughts!
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August 4, 2011 | #4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: SWMO
Posts: 20
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Forget the tomato tone, the castings is all you will ever need. Use all you want they'll make more
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February 22, 2012 | #5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 625
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I usually put a 2-3 cups of worm castings into a 2 gallon watering can and top off my tomato plants after I have given each of them a good watering. I don't know if it is exactly a proven method but my garden seems happy and my worms keep kicking out the castings!
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August 1, 2012 | #6 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: upstate ny
Posts: 11
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I have a garden plot at a college. Several students have an experiment on the percentage of worm castings on the rate of tomato growth. I think the highest percent is 35. The plants are huge and have tons of tomato....but in that row every single tomato has blossom end rot. I can try to get all the percents, a few pictures of the plants and the variety name.
Last edited by mrs_dlight; August 1, 2012 at 10:28 AM. |
August 1, 2012 | #7 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Illinois, zone 6
Posts: 8,407
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Out of curiosity, what price were you quoted for the ton? The stuff is so expensive by the bag.
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August 1, 2012 | #8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Western WI
Posts: 359
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$500/ton on sale for $250
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August 1, 2012 | #9 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Illinois, zone 6
Posts: 8,407
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That is a great deal!
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