Start by adding a handful of worms and your kitchen waste to the bottom tray. The organisms will begin processing the food. Once one tray is full, add another level and the worms will move upwards to the fresh organic waste leaving the bottom tray full of rich compost. As the waste is broken down, nutrient-rich moisture filters through the system and can later be harvested as organic liquid fertiliser. If too much waste is added for the worms to cope with then the wormery may start to smell. This could also attract flies and possibly vermin. Remove and dispose of excess or undigested food. Wait until the worms start digesting the top layer of food before adding further waste.

Motovario Worm Gearbox NMRV-P063 Ratio 30:1 IEC90 B5 - Transdrive

This model isn’t the cheapest, but still looks and feels more premium than the price would suggest. You’ll have to put it together yourself – and be prepared to set aside a few hours to do so – but you’ll end up with a brilliant bit of kit that will leave you wondering how you ever did without. Each wormery has a detailed list of pros and cons for clarity and has been rated according to set up, value for money, ease of use, and storage. Every wormery in our round up below has scored a minimum of four out of five stars, so you can buy with confidence. The composting worms are actually eating the fungi and bacteria that colonizes the surface area of the decaying plant material. The stuff should be just damp enough to hold its shape when you squeeze it, but not drip or fall apart. Add shredded damp newsprint or cardboard torn in small pieces to make more surface area for the fungi. You will not be able to see them actually "eating". The process works faster when it is warmer (70-80F) and much slower when it is cooler(50-69F). Most composting worms for home use, species Eisenia or Red Wigglers, can't tolerate freezing and barely survive at temps under 50F. Never release composting worms into the environment, especially near woodlands! Forests need the micro fungi and bacteria networks in the soil around the tree roots, the same fungal networks which the compost worms eat. Earth worms do serious damage if they are released into forests!" Key specs – Dimensions (LWH): 75.3 x 74 x 85.5cm; Capacity: 250 litres; Suitable for: Outdoor use; Material: Pressure treated timberGetting the best wormery for you means ensuring it has the correct size, number of trays and volume. We've tested a range of wormeries to help you find the right one for your garden. Steel worm and steel wheel – This application does not have the EP issues of brass gearing, but there is no place for error built into a worm gearbox like this. Repairs on worm gear arrangements with this junction of metal are commonly more time-consuming and more costly than with a steel/brass worm gear set. This is due to the fact that the material moving associated with failure makes both the wheel and the worm unusable in the rebuild. Small Worm Gearbox (Reference: elecon.com) Compost quality and harvesting: the quantity and quality of the compost and liquid produced and whether the worms were thriving. In our roundup of the best composters, we’ve included a wide range of bins. These include simple wooden models for the more casual composter, rotating compost bins that remove the need to manually mix your compost, and even hot compost bins, which produce compost in record time thanks to the high temperatures reached in the mix.

Worm composting / RHS Gardening

Set and forget system: Once you found your flow with this bin it will be a nice system on the side that keeps taking care of your food waste and turns it into leachate, a potent liquid fertilizer for plants. Smallest footprint of all indoor wormeries so great option when there isn’t much floor space available. Composting is the process by which plant material is heaped together to rot (decompose) to produce compost. Garden or kitchen waste can be broken down over time in a compost bin or heap to produce crumbly organic matter that can be used as a mulch, soil conditioner and a constituent of potting compost. composting area where the kitchen waste goes in and the worms actively work. However, single compartment wormeries can be also used. You can certainly supplement kitchen scraps with soft green materials like lawn clippings, no problem." I am hoping to start a wormery soon- when the frost goes, so looking forward to putting all the great advice into practice. Worms like moist, warm conditions, so keep your wormery somewhere shady and as close to room temperature as you can. They don’t like to be frozen, so move the wormery indoors for winter – into a garage, outbuilding or utility room is ideal. Feed scraps and peelings to your worms Looking After Your Composting WormsDrain the liquid off from the bottom tray whenever it collects. This nutritious liquid, often known as worm tea or worm wee, is a super elixir for your plants. Stir one part of the liquid into ten parts water before using. Choose trays or boxes to make your wormery with. We’re using plastic boxes about about 16x20in (40x50cm) and fairly shallow at just 8in (20cm) deep. You’ll also need a simple plastic water barrel tap, a drill and drill bits, and a lid for the top tray. To get yourself up and running with this wormery, simply add the worm starter kit and start putting your kitchen waste into the bottom tray. Once it is full, add another tray until the entire system is in operation. The worms naturally move upwards to the next tray and so the lowest tray will be full of vermicompost and ready to be used in the garden. However, this wormery doesn’t come with composting worms. Pros Whether you’re planning to start composting for the first time or looking to upgrade your current kit, our guide to the best compost bins available will help you get composting like a pro.

WormBox Set of 5 Hemp Moisture Mat/Mattress for Wormery/Worm WormBox Set of 5 Hemp Moisture Mat/Mattress for Wormery/Worm

Wrapping up our list is the Anself Worm Factory 4 Tray Worm Composter. This budget 4-tray composter allows you to turn kitchen scraps, paper waste and even cardboard into nutrient-rich soil for use in your garden, and it does so in a matter of days.

It’s not a case of doing a straight comparison because each scenario is slightly different, however you can see that if you fish very little then it is probably cheaper to buy worms separately. When bringing things into your home you do want it to look the part and this is by far the most stylish wormery currently available in the UK. It does look more like a piece of furniture than a wormery. The legs and handle are real wood and the bin comes in a nice range of comfy home colours of lime green, grey or cream. Worms can be easily over fed and this is one of the main problems people have that can lead to a range of issues. If you start feeding by introducing small amounts, then only adding food when the last lot has been consumed, you wont go far wrong. Designed and manufactured in France from recycled plastic, the 56-litre WormBox Wormery composter comes with three turquoise trays and a planter. It is more than a wormery because it can also serve as a seat or planter which is somewhat unique.

WORMbox | Wormery Worm Farm composter 3 Green Trays + Planter

A wormery is relatively easy to establish though a few points need to be considered. Conditions required Getting started with composting doesn’t have to cost the earth. This affordable composter from B&Q doesn’t sacrifice quality for its small price tag, and with a decent 220-litre capacity, it will happily help a mid-sized household turn kitchen and garden waste into great compost in no time. Two piece close grained cast iron gear case for strength and absorption of vibrations for quiet running. Design: The Wormbox is easy to use right out of the box. Assembly is easy. The recycled plastic has a sturdy, reliable feel to it.

Looking to flex those green fingers? Turn your waste into nutrient-rich soil with these top compost bins

Durability: Using stainless steel means that this will last you forever. The tap has an reassuring industrial feel, too. Remember: Fruit and vegetable scraps that contain seeds can be included but the seeds may germinate in the wormery. What to avoid: You shouldn’t unless the wormery is too dry. Worms don’t like too much water because it can drown them. If worms sense the wormery is too wet, they will try to seek drier conditions. That means there will be a slowdown in composting too. Does worm compost smell?