Red Worms overwinter fine in zone 6, central IN.

[Homefire]

I'm confirming that Red Worms overwintered just fine in bathtub grow beds, left to dry out from Nov. 20, 2011 to Feb. 20, 2012.  Around March 5 i spotted live worms.  This is an unheated greenhouse.  The beds are not insulated.  Lava rock in one bed, trap gravel (some kind of igneous, nonpourous rock) in the other.

Homefire

[Homefire]

Converse wrote:

"Congratulations on your thriving redworm population. SOunds like you'll have a great worm casting content in your beds to grow good crops on this season.!"

Thanks Converse,

I'm continually amazed at the micorhyzal fungi root hairs stimulated by worm poop.

Hf

[Converse]

 Often times beginngers in vermicomposting will make a crucial mistake...They may let their beds or bins fereeze clear through, and then throw the whole mess out when they do not see live worms at some point...Most people do not know that the cocoons are very hardy, and will survive conditions that live redworms will not.  I always advise people who feel they might have killed their redworms due to  cold, to wait until 3 weeks after it warms up considerably.  Most often the cocoons will hatch and things will get off to a great start again, without having to resupply redworms. 

    And yes, I have many clients who overwinter redworms outdoors in your region.  There are some precautions that need to be observed, and it can be done.  Congratulations on your thriving redworm population. SOunds like you'll have a great worm casting content in your beds to grow good crops on this season.!