Welcome to the Bananas.org forums. You're currently viewing our message boards as a guest which gives you limited access to participate in discussions and access our other features such as our wiki and photo gallery. By joining our community, you'll have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload photos, and access many other special features. Registration is fast and simple, so please join our community today! If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us. |
|
Register | Photo Gallery | Classifieds | Wiki | Chat | Map | Search | Today's Posts | Mark Forums Read |
Banana Plant Soil, Additives, and Fertilizer This forum is an area where you may discuss the soil to grow banana plants in, as well as soil additives such as teas, composts, manures, fertilizers and related topics. |
Members currently in the chatroom: 0 | |
The most chatters online in one day was 17, 09-06-2009. No one is currently using the chat. |
Email this Page |
|
LinkBack | Thread Tools |
01-03-2010, 06:17 PM | #61 (permalink) |
Location: Pensacola, FL
Zone: 8/9
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,013
BananaBucks
: 65,471
Feedback: 0 / 0%
Said "Thanks" 177 Times
Was
Thanked 731 Times in 395 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 154 Times
|
Re: Vermicompost and vermicomposting
You are right about summer tomatoes--even here in North FL we are usually done by July. I tried brandywine, but I like a more acidic tomato. My favorite for flavor is better boy, but I tried an old variety called arkansas traveler and like it. I am always looking for tomatoes that will produce longer into our summer. I do need to get some seeds started.
|
Said thanks: |
Sponsors |
01-03-2010, 06:23 PM | #62 (permalink) |
Location: SW Fla. Englewood
Zone: 10
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 13
BananaBucks
: 8,144
Feedback: 0 / 0%
Said "Thanks" 4 Times
Was
Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times
|
Re: Vermicompost and vermicomposting
I've got two new ones this year, a "church" and a "Belgian giant". If they don't get nailed by a frost this week I'll let you know how they turn out when I get fruit. Good Luck. Eric
|
01-15-2010, 01:26 PM | #63 (permalink) |
Location: SW Fla. Englewood
Zone: 10
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 13
BananaBucks
: 8,144
Feedback: 0 / 0%
Said "Thanks" 4 Times
Was
Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times
|
Re: Vermicompost and vermicomposting
everything not picked got nailed in the "big freeze". I'm going to try again for the spring season. We'll see what happens... Eric
|
01-16-2010, 12:59 PM | #64 (permalink) |
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,111
BananaBucks
: 245,174
Feedback: 22 / 100%
Said "Thanks" 1,378 Times
Was
Thanked 1,402 Times in 558 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 535 Times
|
Re: Vermicompost and vermicomposting
I've stacked a lot of cardboard on my pile, and put corn, coffee grinds, and winter wheat in between the layers. Much of the grain has trichoderma, penicillin, yellow slime mold, yeast, and cobweb mold. I inoculated it with oyster mushroom mycelium, and it's taking off. The worms have move into all of the new substrate, and may very well take care of the contams, but not the slime mold.
I know that the oyster mushroom is omnivorous, and ensnares nematodes and small soil insects. I wonder if it's capable of trapping newly hatched earthworms? |
Said thanks: |
02-02-2010, 10:37 AM | #65 (permalink) | |
I think with my banana ;)
Location: BA, SK, CEU
Zone: Dfa (Köppen-geiger) <-> 7b/8a? (USDA)
Name: Jack
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,525
BananaBucks
: 208,665
Feedback: 2 / 100%
Said "Thanks" 2,771 Times
Was
Thanked 2,461 Times in 1,355 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 383 Times
|
Re: Vermicompost and vermicomposting
Answer to the quote below: I think that oyster mushroom (provided that it's large enough), can trap freshly hatched earthworms, they are really tiny. The smallest I've seen so far measured only 2mm (0.08in)
Quote:
Okay, time to revive this thread. I've been composting for almost half a year now and (sadly) still haven't build the home for my worms yet. But I'm about to soon, so here's some pics how those worms have been living since July last year. Many books and websites say that it's beneficial to use bedding from cardboard or cut paper, I used layers of thin, yet large pieces of cabbage, salad... and no problems so far. They are hidden in the basement (one of the outter rooms of the basement) in complete darkness and temps ranging -1°C - 10°C (30°F - 50°F). Darkness is essential since intensive light, even that of camera frightens them and causes their exoskin, exo... whatever to break down, leaving them defensless to painful and slow death. I prepare some new food for them cirka every 4 days - when the bin I keep inside is full enough or starts to smell funny (meaning that it starts to rot. Surprisingly, rotting food, once it is close to the worms, doesn't give off any odor and smells deliciously, like freshly mowed grass, I think it has something to do with enzymes those worms use to prepare, digest and process the food with.). The plant material is chopped into small cubes or rather rectangular shapes before I toss t on the pile. This helps the worms to process it faster. If I cut it into even smaller pieces, they would get rid of this pile even faster (but why spend so much time slicing the rotting food, ay?). Watering is also very important. When I go down to feed the worms, I usually take 3 bottles x 2L with me to water the pile. It has to be moist, but not wet. You're doing it wrong, if earthworms try to get out of the pile (it's either too dry or too wet). Some pictures of the pile with the flash on... Just below the top layer you can find thriving society that however escapes deeper into the pile before I take my camera out, but as you can see, there are many generations feasting at once. You see the oldest earthworms (with red coat and slightly purple neck), young worms (red exoskeleton or whatever it is) and the youngest babies (white). You can see that the amount of young worms compared to the adults is astonishing. If this new generation procreates within 2 months, I might just as well build 2 big processing bins, 'cause one will not be enough. Dark matter below the worms is pure vermicompost (temperature inside the compost is 5°C or 10°F warmer than on the outisde). I intend to use it for seed germination and to improve the initial growth of young seedlings (tomatoes, naners, palms...) and to kick start their growth very early in the season. Black Gold (the way I use this term) is used for watering. Several of my bananas get dormant, when they are outside. Not with this liquid they don't. 1L of Black Gold and every naner starts growing at much faster rate than before. Dormant plants wake up almost instantly. It's like putting a man on steroids, he just keeps doing something and using the extra energy. So do the plants. * So much from me for now, any questions...? Oh, I forgot to mention: this is the reason, why my cousins are no longer afraid of bugs and worms. 3 days of taking care for these babies did the trick. ** I intend to sketch a new home (improved in many ways and reaching for perfection) for my babies soon. I'll also post sketches and construction pics, when I kick myself to doing it. *** Pics were taken with HDMI Camcorder, so sorry if the quality is worse than usual. **** Btw. girls love looking at creepy little crawling earthworms and if you only do so much as mention that you take care of one big earthworm colony, they will throw your panties at you and burn with desire. Or isn't it because of the colony?
__________________
Thnx to Marcel, Ante, Dr. Chiranjit Parmar and Francesco for the plants I've received. Zeitgeist - Corporatocracy 101 (~2hrs) Zeitgeist - Moving Forward (~2.5hrs) Last edited by Jack Daw : 02-02-2010 at 10:52 AM. |
|
Said thanks: |
Sponsors |
02-02-2010, 11:08 AM | #66 (permalink) |
Banned
Location: San Diego
Zone: 9-11
Name: Tony
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 18,429
BananaBucks
: 938,401
Feedback: 8 / 100%
Said "Thanks" 3,210 Times
Was
Thanked 20,591 Times in 7,760 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,716 Times
|
Re: Vermicompost and vermicomposting
How are you controlling fungus gnats
|
02-02-2010, 12:24 PM | #67 (permalink) |
I think with my banana ;)
Location: BA, SK, CEU
Zone: Dfa (Köppen-geiger) <-> 7b/8a? (USDA)
Name: Jack
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,525
BananaBucks
: 208,665
Feedback: 2 / 100%
Said "Thanks" 2,771 Times
Was
Thanked 2,461 Times in 1,355 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 383 Times
|
Re: Vermicompost and vermicomposting
I'm not controlling anything. If there's some fungus outbreak, those worms will take care of it. They eat first what is rotten and then start eating fresh food scraps. Only once saw I fungus outbreak there, it was on the inside of one banana skin and the next time I went down (3 or 4 days) it was gone.
Any other fungus pests, worms (pretty much anything that could be there)... are quickly eliminated, the only vermin I can't seem to get rid of are wine flies in summer. They don't live directly in the pile, but fly around and know that something rots there. It can be annoying during feeding, but I found also another effective method of controlling that - birds. U just have to protect the earthworms inside with a cage of some sort and the birds will take care of anything that wants to get inside/outside and doesn't belong there.
__________________
Thnx to Marcel, Ante, Dr. Chiranjit Parmar and Francesco for the plants I've received. Zeitgeist - Corporatocracy 101 (~2hrs) Zeitgeist - Moving Forward (~2.5hrs) |
Said thanks: |
02-02-2010, 07:12 PM | #68 (permalink) |
Banned
Location: San Diego
Zone: 9-11
Name: Tony
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 18,429
BananaBucks
: 938,401
Feedback: 8 / 100%
Said "Thanks" 3,210 Times
Was
Thanked 20,591 Times in 7,760 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,716 Times
|
Re: Vermicompost and vermicomposting
The epidermis is the name for the skin of a worm. It is the outer layer of worm and it secretes a mucous.
|
Said thanks: |
02-02-2010, 07:19 PM | #69 (permalink) |
Location: Longwood. Florida
Zone: 9b
Name: Martin
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 631
BananaBucks
: 229,522
Feedback: 1 / 100%
Said "Thanks" 334 Times
Was
Thanked 642 Times in 243 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 130 Times
|
Re: Vermicompost and vermicomposting
My worms are multiplying like crazy too...
I have them on my back porch. Haven't transferred any to the Can-O-worms yet.
__________________
*PEOPLE WILL FORGET WHAT YOU SAID. *PEOPLE WILL FORGET WHAT YOU DID. *BUT PEOPLE WILL NEVER FORGET HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL! |
Said thanks: |
02-02-2010, 07:45 PM | #70 (permalink) |
Location: Pensacola, FL
Zone: 8/9
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,013
BananaBucks
: 65,471
Feedback: 0 / 0%
Said "Thanks" 177 Times
Was
Thanked 731 Times in 395 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 154 Times
|
Re: Vermicompost and vermicomposting
I don't really do vermicomposting, but the way I manage my compost pile I have lots of worms. I am interested in learning if there are other things I can do to enhance their population.
What I do now is keep the pile more or less divided into at least 2 and sometimes 3 separate sections. The worms definitely do not inhabit the new dry material or the hot areas that I get in summer when I start adding fresh grass clippings, but they are numerous in the older sections that are ready for use. |
Said thanks: |
02-03-2010, 04:59 AM | #71 (permalink) | |||||
I think with my banana ;)
Location: BA, SK, CEU
Zone: Dfa (Köppen-geiger) <-> 7b/8a? (USDA)
Name: Jack
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,525
BananaBucks
: 208,665
Feedback: 2 / 100%
Said "Thanks" 2,771 Times
Was
Thanked 2,461 Times in 1,355 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 383 Times
|
Re: Vermicompost and vermicomposting
Quote:
From what I wrote above it is clear, that if there's enough microbial food in one part of the bed, they won't go into a worse part voluntarily. Why worse part? A) Dry material inhibits and slows down microbial growth, thus meaning that big population of wigglers could actually inhibit the rotting process by eating the entire microflora, or they would have to starve. Add to that the highest tolerated temperature of red worms around 88°F and you get a no go for them (wouldn't you prefer cooler and more acceptable temperatures over extreme highs? ). Also this might be the reason: Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Hope this helps. If you want to make the pile more attractive for them, it must be properly moist, placed in the shade, with temps best around 80°F, filled with rotting watermelons (they love it), tomatoes and other juicy things you can find in the kitchen. ALSO MAKE SURE THAT THE WORMS INHABITING YOUR COMPOST PILE ARE RED WIGGLERS, OTHERWISE THIS ENTIRE POST IS IRRELEVANT.
__________________
Thnx to Marcel, Ante, Dr. Chiranjit Parmar and Francesco for the plants I've received. Zeitgeist - Corporatocracy 101 (~2hrs) Zeitgeist - Moving Forward (~2.5hrs) Last edited by Jack Daw : 02-03-2010 at 05:22 AM. |
|||||
Said thanks: |
02-03-2010, 10:16 AM | #72 (permalink) |
Location: Pensacola, FL
Zone: 8/9
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,013
BananaBucks
: 65,471
Feedback: 0 / 0%
Said "Thanks" 177 Times
Was
Thanked 731 Times in 395 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 154 Times
|
Re: Vermicompost and vermicomposting
Thanks Jack. I did not realize there was such a difference between earthworms and red wigglers. I do add kitchen scraps to my compost pile--I have a gallon container that I have to empty almost every day (mostly peels, cores and coffee grounds), but maybe I should start a separate bin for red wigglers with just the kitchen scraps. Do you think I could put a red wiggler bin directly on the ground? My pile is in the shade of a big magnolia tree--but outside temps here get into the mid to upper 90s in summer and lows into 20s--of course a bin in contact with ground will maintain a more moderate temp.
I need the other compost pile for all the pine straw (very hard to wet), leaves and grass clippings. |
Said thanks: |
02-03-2010, 10:41 AM | #73 (permalink) | |
Location: Longwood. Florida
Zone: 9b
Name: Martin
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 631
BananaBucks
: 229,522
Feedback: 1 / 100%
Said "Thanks" 334 Times
Was
Thanked 642 Times in 243 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 130 Times
|
Re: Vermicompost and vermicomposting
Let me know when you are ready to get started with the red wigglers, when I start using my Can O worms I will separate out some for you to get ya started...
Quote:
__________________
*PEOPLE WILL FORGET WHAT YOU SAID. *PEOPLE WILL FORGET WHAT YOU DID. *BUT PEOPLE WILL NEVER FORGET HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL! |
|
02-03-2010, 10:49 AM | #74 (permalink) | |
I think with my banana ;)
Location: BA, SK, CEU
Zone: Dfa (Köppen-geiger) <-> 7b/8a? (USDA)
Name: Jack
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,525
BananaBucks
: 208,665
Feedback: 2 / 100%
Said "Thanks" 2,771 Times
Was
Thanked 2,461 Times in 1,355 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 383 Times
|
Re: Vermicompost and vermicomposting
Quote:
You could use a structure like this to start with, final bin would be very similar: What I also saw people doing is to dig a rectangular hole in the ground, cirka 45cm deep and start building the structure from there. Not only that your worms will in winter have some space to hide from frosts, but the entire structure will not be so prone to being damaged by winds and storms. If I were in your climate with enough space in my garden, I wouldn't even try to build an indoor vermiculture bin. Everything you need is outside. I can only advise that. There's however another usage for leaves and grass clippings. Both can be used as mulch and in summer as water insulation, they will hold much of the water below it and stop the water from vaporizing even in the hottest days
__________________
Thnx to Marcel, Ante, Dr. Chiranjit Parmar and Francesco for the plants I've received. Zeitgeist - Corporatocracy 101 (~2hrs) Zeitgeist - Moving Forward (~2.5hrs) |
|
Said thanks: |
02-11-2010, 07:24 PM | #75 (permalink) |
Location: Longwood. Florida
Zone: 9b
Name: Martin
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 631
BananaBucks
: 229,522
Feedback: 1 / 100%
Said "Thanks" 334 Times
Was
Thanked 642 Times in 243 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 130 Times
|
Re: Vermicompost and vermicomposting
Most fruit and vegetable scraps, egg shells, coffee grinds, tea bags, shredded paper, even some yard waste that has been composted a bit can go in there as well.
What to feed your worms - WormWiki Vermicompost - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The worms you get from a bait shop may not be the same used for composting.
__________________
*PEOPLE WILL FORGET WHAT YOU SAID. *PEOPLE WILL FORGET WHAT YOU DID. *BUT PEOPLE WILL NEVER FORGET HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL! |
Said thanks: |
02-11-2010, 07:25 PM | #76 (permalink) |
Location: Longwood. Florida
Zone: 9b
Name: Martin
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 631
BananaBucks
: 229,522
Feedback: 1 / 100%
Said "Thanks" 334 Times
Was
Thanked 642 Times in 243 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 130 Times
|
Re: Vermicompost and vermicomposting
thats odd... how did my post get below yours.... lol
__________________
*PEOPLE WILL FORGET WHAT YOU SAID. *PEOPLE WILL FORGET WHAT YOU DID. *BUT PEOPLE WILL NEVER FORGET HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL! |
Sponsors |
02-11-2010, 07:58 PM | #77 (permalink) |
Location: Pensacola, FL
Zone: 8/9
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,013
BananaBucks
: 65,471
Feedback: 0 / 0%
Said "Thanks" 177 Times
Was
Thanked 731 Times in 395 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 154 Times
|
Re: Vermicompost and vermicomposting
OK Jack, I bought a plastic bin like yours and I put it on a screen to prevent moles and I will put a top on it later. I should be able to buy some red wigglers at the local bait shop.
So, my question is, as far as kitchen scraps, are there any things that should not go in there--besides meat trimmings? I may eventually build a system to collect water that passes thru it when it rains. |
02-11-2010, 08:25 PM | #78 (permalink) |
Location: Pensacola, FL
Zone: 8/9
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,013
BananaBucks
: 65,471
Feedback: 0 / 0%
Said "Thanks" 177 Times
Was
Thanked 731 Times in 395 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 154 Times
|
Re: Vermicompost and vermicomposting
|
02-11-2010, 08:45 PM | #79 (permalink) | |
I think with my banana ;)
Location: BA, SK, CEU
Zone: Dfa (Köppen-geiger) <-> 7b/8a? (USDA)
Name: Jack
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,525
BananaBucks
: 208,665
Feedback: 2 / 100%
Said "Thanks" 2,771 Times
Was
Thanked 2,461 Times in 1,355 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 383 Times
|
Re: Vermicompost and vermicomposting
Quote:
The list is slightly longer, but in general you can apply the rule: What came from plant production, can be used in vermicomposting. It's just a matter of how well it will rot and how tasty will worms find it to be. From my experience the tastiest food for them are watermelons. Sometimes I put several watermelon scraps into the bin before I went to sleep and they disappeared until the next morning.
__________________
Thnx to Marcel, Ante, Dr. Chiranjit Parmar and Francesco for the plants I've received. Zeitgeist - Corporatocracy 101 (~2hrs) Zeitgeist - Moving Forward (~2.5hrs) |
|
Said thanks: |
02-11-2010, 09:05 PM | #80 (permalink) |
Location: Knoxville, TN
Zone: 7
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 39
BananaBucks
: 5,360
Feedback: 0 / 0%
Said "Thanks" 2 Times
Was
Thanked 50 Times in 25 Posts
Said "Welcome to Bananas" 89 Times
|
Re: Vermicompost and vermicomposting
I just have a couple outdoor bins, no vermi bins. Every summer I do get the soldier fly larvae in mine and they seem to decomp much faster when they are there. I am going to try a bin just for them this year and see if I can keep it going over the winter in the garage.
|
Sponsors |
Email this Page |
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | |
Thread Tools | |
|