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Wicking bed growers

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This group is dedicated to those who are interested and growing in wicking beds. Wicking beds in conjunction with aquaponics can enable us to grow just about every crop that cannot be grown in standard aquaponics. Lets discuss deign, operation and whatever aspect of wicking bed growing you can think of.

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Worms in wicking beds

Sep 12, 2013

Looking for feedback on how well worms are sustained in wicking beds. Thanks.

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Blue Hiller

Robert,

Do you add additional organic matter for the worms?

What is the surface area of your bed?

Thanks

Robert J said:

Mine are doing fine... My bed is an experiment I have a 3" layer in the bottom where the water lives, and use a mix of peat, worm castings, and perlite for the top. I put in about 50 wigglers and probably have a hundred or so now.

Its designed as a self watering system so the water level is maintained pretty constant.

Oct 26, 2013
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Robert J

about 30 square feet. No need. The bed seems to generates enough dead root matter to keep them happy. In a few weeks i'll be covering the whole thing with straw to over-winter and leave some straw behind in the spring. According to the worm guy, they or at least their eggs should survive the winter. Will see in spring.

Blue Hiller said:

Robert,

Do you add additional organic matter for the worms?

What is the surface area of your bed?

Thanks

Robert J said:

Mine are doing fine... My bed is an experiment I have a 3" layer in the bottom where the water lives, and use a mix of peat, worm castings, and perlite for the top. I put in about 50 wigglers and probably have a hundred or so now.

Its designed as a self watering system so the water level is maintained pretty constant.

Oct 26, 2013
up

Blue Hiller

Good thought. I have several smaller wicking beds (40-50 gallon containers, 3" rock, coir, soil) and I have thrown in a clump of worms & their compost to give them something to snack on in the transition to the plant root (seedlings now). All of this is in a passive solar GH which is staying at 58-60F through 30F nights here in Maine. I'll try to report back on outcome.

Robert J said:
about 30 square feet. No need. The bed seems to generates enough dead root matter to keep them happy. In a few weeks i'll be covering the whole thing with straw to over-winter and leave some straw behind in the spring. According to the worm guy, they or at least their eggs should survive the winter. Will see in spring.

Blue Hiller said:

Robert,

Do you add additional organic matter for the worms?

What is the surface area of your bed?

Thanks

Robert J said:

Mine are doing fine... My bed is an experiment I have a 3" layer in the bottom where the water lives, and use a mix of peat, worm castings, and perlite for the top. I put in about 50 wigglers and probably have a hundred or so now.

Its designed as a self watering system so the water level is maintained pretty constant.

Oct 26, 2013