Vermiculture: What to do with worm castings

How do you know how much worm castings to give to something? What do you do with the tea?

How much casting would you put under a corn seed?

travis laduke wrote:
How do you know how much worm castings to give to something? What do you do with the tea?

You can add several teaspoons to half a gallon or a gallon and use it as a fast-acting fertilizer. It has a huge range of beneficial microorganisms in it. If using as a soil amendment, I've had good success with about 10-20% casts by volume mixed in with a rake or hoe or in potting soil. It makes plants grow fast, bloom like crazy, very lush, and dark green.

For corn seed, maybe a few teaspoons mixed into the soil around it. Water for a while with vermicompost tea for early and high success rates in germination. I don't recommend applying vermicompost straight, it might burn or kill the seeds. Still a bit too rich in nutrients, though I have noticed that melon and squash seeds germinate in worm bins and vermicompost with great vigor.

I just started my worm bin today, but my plan is to try a little first.  If they like it, try more.  In a scientific study I saw, 10% had huge results, but 20% only moderately more.  So if you're trying to get the most bang for the buck, 10% seems like a good start.

GPtech wrote:
I just started my worm bin today, but my plan is to try a little first.  If they like it, try more.  In a scientific study I saw, 10% had huge results, but 20% only moderately more.  So if you're trying to get the most bang for the buck, 10% seems like a good start.

Even a light watering with vermicompost tea will have noticeable and invigorating effects on plants. This and other beneficial effects from using vermicompost and "ze verms" made me into a convert. When you think about it, healthy soil usually has a lot of earthworms...and a lot of earthworm poo.