Instructions for Raising Earthworms

Although earthworms are considered a creepy crawly by some people, they are also considered a worthwhile venture by others. Earthworms can be raised for a number of reasons, including selling the earthworms for bait, using them for personal use or for collecting their castings, or feces, for fertilizer. Regardless of whether you want to raise earthworms for personal use or for a profit, you will need to follow a few easy steps to ensure your earthworms remain healthy.

Things You'll Need

  • Soil
  • Water
  • Earthworms
  • Food
  • pH test kit
  • Limestone
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Instructions

    • 1

      Build an earthworm bed. In general, a bed should be anywhere from 16 to 24 inches deep, although the exact measurements are up to you and depend on the number of worms you intend to raise. You can use any material, including woods, metal or plastics; however, you should avoid pressure-treated woods, which contain toxic chemicals that are dangerous to the worms. The bed can be made in ground or above ground, depending on your preferences. If you plan on harvesting the earthworm castings, make sure you use a mesh screen on the bottom of your bed. This will allow you to raise the bed up and shake out the castings.

    • 2

      Place soil into your bed. Do not over pack it; earthworms prefer loose soil to crawl through. You can use soil from your property or purchase top toil from a garden supply store. The important thing is that there are no added fertilizers in the soil and it is not made of clay or sand.

    • 3

      Test the moisture level of the soil by squeezing a handful in your fist. If you see less than two drops of water fall from the soil, it is too dry and you need to add water. If it is excessively moist, leave the soil unwatered for several days. Check the soil every two to three days and add additional water as needed. You want the soil moist, but not drenched.

    • 4

      Add your earthworms to your bed. On average, you can add 100 to 500 worms for every square foot of soil in your bed.

    • 5

      Feed your earthworms. Place a layer of food on top of the soil, and then cover it with another inch of soil. This will help microorganisms to begin decomposing the food and encourage your earthworms to eat. Do not provide additional food until the first serving is gone. You can feed your earthworms fruits, vegetables and color-free paper. The rate of consumption will depend on the number of earthworms you have.

    • 6

      Maintain a temperature of 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit in your bed for best results. Adjust the heating or cooling around your bed as necessary.

    • 7

      Test the pH level of your soil every two to three days using a pH test kit. Your soil should have a pH of 6 to 7. If the pH drops too low, add limestone to adjust it. If you find your pH is too high, leave it alone for a few days and it will naturally adjust.

    • 8

      Apply additional soil to the top of your bed every three months, or more often if you find the soil level is depleting quickly. Every year, do a complete change of soil.