How to Raise Red Worms in Tubs

Raising your own worms is an inexpensive way to breed your own fishing bait or produce compost to add to your potted plants or garden. Worm composting is referred to as vermicomposting. Plastic worm bins provide a home for your red worms as well as keeping their bedding material and food supply neatly contained. Store-bought bins are available but an unnecessary expense, as making your own bin to raise the worms in only requires a little time and a few supplies easily available at most home or hardware stores.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Plastic bins
• Drill
• Bricks
• Newspaper
• Soil
• Food scraps

1. Purchase or use two existing plastic containers with lids as a worm bins, such as large storage bins. Choose an opaque bin, because red worms prefer darkness. Use bins that can be stacked inside each other.

2. Drill ¼-inch holes in the lid of the bin that will be on top. Space the holes 2 inches apart in rows that are 2 inches apart. Drill a row of holes 2 inches apart around the side of the bin near the bottom. Worms require fresh air via ventilation to survive.

3. Place two bricks in the bottom of the bin that will be on bottom. Place the other bin inside it so it rest on the bricks.

4. Tear newspaper into 1-inch-wide strips. Dampen the newspaper so it is as moist as a slightly damp sponge. Place into the top bin loosely until the bin is 2/3 full of paper strips.

5. Place two handfuls of garden soil on top the newspaper strips, then mix it in. Place 1 to 2 pound of red worms on top the newspaper.

6. Bury food waste inside the newspaper bedding. Use vegetable or starch waste such as apple cores, bread crusts or carrot peels. Feed the red worms twice a week, burying the food scraps in a different section of the bin each time.

7. Keep the bin in a dark place at room temperature with the lid on. Check the box weekly to make sure the newspaper is still damp. Sprinkle water in the box if the paper feels dry. Dump out the bottom bin if it begins to collect water draining from the box.

8. Remove worms as needed for bait purposes. To harvest compost, move the existing bedding to one side once it no longer resembles newspaper. Place new bedding in the cleared section of the bin and bury food in it. Wait one week for the worms to migrate to the new bedding, then remove the compost on the other side.

Tips & Warnings

• Feed worms boiled egg shells to encourage breeding.
• Do not use potting soil in the worm bin, only use garden soil or compost. Do not feed the worms meat or dairy products, as these will smell and attract pests.

References

• Louisiana Department Of Environmental Quality
• Canada's Office of Urban Agriculture