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Potato skins

Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2021 6:19 pm
by JodiePebble
I didn't realise that the worms don't like potato skins I had put some in before going away for a week and I've come back they are still there. After some research, I saw that they weren't good for the worms and very quickly taken them out. I'm really worried that having them in the bin and the heat will have hurt them in some way. They haven't been as active or moved up to the second tray as expected, probably due to the potato skins. Will they be okay? What can I do to help them?

Re: Potato skins

Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2021 11:44 pm
by WillyWorm
It’s not that worms don’t like potato skins it’s that potatoes have developed a defence against soil microbes and bacteria, which are the same microbes and bacteria we have we have in our worm bins, which makes them difficult to break down. If root crops did not have this protection we would have very few potatoes left for us to enjoy. Worms eat very little of the food we put into our bins
directly, they eat the microbes and bacteria which eats the food.
Potatoes and potato skins will not harm your worms in any way. If you want to feed root crops it is best to chop them up small (I use the food processor when the wife’s not looking) this provides a bigger surface area to work on.

The weather just lately as been extremely hot. Worms don’t like temps above 25c and part of their defence is to go deeper into the soil. The heat maybe part of the reason your worms are not eating so much. Try to cool your bin put a damp cloth over it or even freeze their food before feeding.

Willy

Re: Potato skins

Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2021 12:38 pm
by JodiePebble
This makes me feel tonnes better about the potatoes. Thank you.

For the frozen food, do you defreeze it before giving it to the worms?

Re: Potato skins

Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2021 5:34 pm
by WillyWorm
No you can put the frozen food in a corner and leave it. If the worms are too hot they will move close to the frozen food to cool down when it melts they will consume it as per normal

Your worms seem to be
Doing well. Well done. Please keep us updated.
Willy

Re: Potato skins

Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2021 5:17 pm
by JodiePebble
Hi,

Just wanted to say thank you again. The mulch idea with the potato skins worked amazingly, I have a small food processor that was never getting used so now I mulch anything I can (that wont just turn to sludge) and they are eating so well!

I am loving learning about how the worms work and their eating behaviours. I think most of my family still think I'm odd for taking this on. But I put some small slices of cucumber in the other day and they have eaten away and the inside has gone but the skin remained. I guess it's due to the inside taking a shorter time to break down than the outside and I'm finding that so interesting to learn and watch when I feed them! Just wanted to share my (self confessed) interesting fact with people that might also find interesting!

Re: Potato skins

Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2021 6:36 pm
by WillyWorm
Hi thanks for the update. It’s good to hear of the success you are having with your herd.
Cucumber is a favourite food of worms. The inside of a cucumber is made up of about 95% water. The outer part of the cucumber is the main cellular structure of this fruit/salad veg, it will get eaten but later than the inner part.

Even I think I’m odd regarding my interest in vermicomposting and composting in general, so you are not alone 🙃

Hope to get more updates soon.

Willy

Re: Potato skins

Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2021 3:28 pm
by ZiporaTilda
It's funny they don't like the potato skin yet it's the most healthy part of the potato.