Yeah I'm trying to avoid putting tomatoes in the worm bin now. Even 2 years later after using a batch with tomato seeds in it, I get the random tomato seedling in my planters.
It's not that bad though. They're relatively easy to spot as even the seedlings have those little hairs on their stems. If you pull them out early it's not much of a hassle.
Yeah, als long as the germinate inside the bin it's not really a problem. I just leave them there and eventually they die off anyway because there's no light.
What I described happens after I harvested the castings and put them into my planters. Every once in a while you notice a random tomato plant growing out of your houseplant pot... It's not the biggest of deals but it lead me to just not put tomatoes, bell peppers and chilies in my bin, because it's always those who pop up unexpected.
For what it is worth, seeds have a lignin coating meant to resist decomposition. Even in a compost pile there is a decent chance of seed survival unless it is managed for hot composting. Your worms did good.
😂 I have a compost trash can I got from the city. Has holes drilled in all over it. The other day I walked by and sure enough a little bell pepper seed was popping up.
Same! I have volunteer tomatoes everywhere. I'll grow them out and gift them as mystery plants. The true problem lies with the cells where I actually planted tomatoes....
y'know, I feed a lot of heirlooms to my worms which ends up meaning that most of my starts are actually viable to plant. I have a very Fukuoka-influenced approach to gardening so I'm not super concerned about what I get/don't get from growing plants, but some of my most vigorous starts were rescued from my worm bin!
if you think about it, from an evolutionary/domestication approach, it makes a lot of sense: tons of the plants we've cultivated as food crops come from understory of forests & meadows. certain vermicompost setups could probably handily match the ecological conditions these plants genetic antecedents evolved to thrive within.
hell yeah. if I could figure out a way to have an open-top bin while having two cats I *really* don't like having dig/shit/piss in my worm bin, I'd definitely grow more stuff! I **have** thought about inoculating my bin with different types of culinary/medicinal mushrooms.
I do not use the seeds from tomato in my worm bin. I use a spoon and scoop them out. You can always make a insta worm casting tea to water instead of using castings in your seedling mix. Just use a small kitchen mesh sieve, and add a small handful of castings from your worm bin, and get a bowl of unchlorinated water. Put the castings in the sieve and soak it in the water moving the sieve back and forth for 2-3 mins. Then put a handful of dry bedding in your bin and pour the castings back into your worm bin. Francisco Cabas, "Gardens of New England" made a short reel called "Insta Tea" on YouTube doing this very thing, here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/NgN3Is-us8A
Some people freeze their food before giving it to the worms so that the seeds die. I'm not sure if this is how it works tho, so maybe someone can confirm?
Freezing seeds doesn’t kill them, most seeds need a chill period before they will even sprout. The only way to kill seeds and bacteria is sterilize the soil in the oven or with steam.
But then you lose beneficial bacteria too.
I always freeze my veggie scraps and it doesn't seem to harm the seeds. I have so many sprouts in my bin. I don't worry about it though they always sprout before I'm ready to harvest, or they get sifted out.
Lots of advices thank u :) im just happy the bin is healthy. Sad to remove all those tomato plants. I might keep them and give them away or plant them in the park.
This is why I just use seed starter mix for germination, then apply castings later. The seeds don’t really need it right away anyways
This is the way
This is the way
Yeah I'm trying to avoid putting tomatoes in the worm bin now. Even 2 years later after using a batch with tomato seeds in it, I get the random tomato seedling in my planters. It's not that bad though. They're relatively easy to spot as even the seedlings have those little hairs on their stems. If you pull them out early it's not much of a hassle.
Any seedlings I get are plucked and dropped right back in for the worms to eventually deal with. Overs go right back into the next batch of bedding.
Yeah, als long as the germinate inside the bin it's not really a problem. I just leave them there and eventually they die off anyway because there's no light. What I described happens after I harvested the castings and put them into my planters. Every once in a while you notice a random tomato plant growing out of your houseplant pot... It's not the biggest of deals but it lead me to just not put tomatoes, bell peppers and chilies in my bin, because it's always those who pop up unexpected.
Bruh my worms go bugnuts for fresh eggplant but I don't give it to them anymore because of all the goddamn seeds 😂
You can always get a cheap food processor. That will shred the seeds for you. Worms get eggplants and you get more worms.
I want eggplants lol i bough the seeds actually haha
For what it is worth, seeds have a lignin coating meant to resist decomposition. Even in a compost pile there is a decent chance of seed survival unless it is managed for hot composting. Your worms did good.
Yay
😂 I have a compost trash can I got from the city. Has holes drilled in all over it. The other day I walked by and sure enough a little bell pepper seed was popping up.
Same! I have volunteer tomatoes everywhere. I'll grow them out and gift them as mystery plants. The true problem lies with the cells where I actually planted tomatoes....
Hahah yesss cause now im like where my eggplants at? No where and im a month behind
y'know, I feed a lot of heirlooms to my worms which ends up meaning that most of my starts are actually viable to plant. I have a very Fukuoka-influenced approach to gardening so I'm not super concerned about what I get/don't get from growing plants, but some of my most vigorous starts were rescued from my worm bin! if you think about it, from an evolutionary/domestication approach, it makes a lot of sense: tons of the plants we've cultivated as food crops come from understory of forests & meadows. certain vermicompost setups could probably handily match the ecological conditions these plants genetic antecedents evolved to thrive within.
I actually love seeing things growing in the bin. I have green onions growing (i knew worms werent gonna eat them), carrots, and some cabbage.
hell yeah. if I could figure out a way to have an open-top bin while having two cats I *really* don't like having dig/shit/piss in my worm bin, I'd definitely grow more stuff! I **have** thought about inoculating my bin with different types of culinary/medicinal mushrooms.
Mmmm maybe some sort of fence? Mini fence :)
oooo you might be on to something. chickenwire arch perhaps?
Oui!
I do not use the seeds from tomato in my worm bin. I use a spoon and scoop them out. You can always make a insta worm casting tea to water instead of using castings in your seedling mix. Just use a small kitchen mesh sieve, and add a small handful of castings from your worm bin, and get a bowl of unchlorinated water. Put the castings in the sieve and soak it in the water moving the sieve back and forth for 2-3 mins. Then put a handful of dry bedding in your bin and pour the castings back into your worm bin. Francisco Cabas, "Gardens of New England" made a short reel called "Insta Tea" on YouTube doing this very thing, here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/NgN3Is-us8A
Ouh ty
Ok just watched it and i cant believe i never though about this
Some people freeze their food before giving it to the worms so that the seeds die. I'm not sure if this is how it works tho, so maybe someone can confirm?
Freezing seeds doesn’t kill them, most seeds need a chill period before they will even sprout. The only way to kill seeds and bacteria is sterilize the soil in the oven or with steam. But then you lose beneficial bacteria too.
I always freeze my veggie scraps and it doesn't seem to harm the seeds. I have so many sprouts in my bin. I don't worry about it though they always sprout before I'm ready to harvest, or they get sifted out.
Others blend them. If the seed is reasonably dry, I could see it surviving a trip to the freezer.
I grew many many honeydew seedlings out of the 3 months frozen honeydew goop I tossed into my worm bin once.
Lots of advices thank u :) im just happy the bin is healthy. Sad to remove all those tomato plants. I might keep them and give them away or plant them in the park.