Product Description
Why carry water to the sea when you can process your kitchen and garden waste directly in your yard using compost worms and natural soil life?
What is a Compost Tube?
The Compost Tube is a round terracotta container measuring 48.5 cm in length and 14 cm in diameter. You place the Compost Tube in the garden in areas where plants could use a nutrient boost, such as the vegetable garden or around rose bushes. In this compost tube, you can let your vegetable-, garden-, and fruit waste be processed by worms, turning it into valuable plant food: worm castings.
Instructions for Use
Choose a spot in the garden or vegetable patch that does not receive full sun all day.
Dig a hole where the Compost Tube fits and allow it to stick out 3 to 15 cm above ground. The holes must remain below ground level.
Add some kitchen scraps or potting soil to the Compost Tube.
Add water to keep everything nicely moist.
For a head start, you can add compost worms; 250 grams is sufficient.
Place the lid on top, and you’re ready to go.
How Does It Work?
This is one of the simplest ways to produce worm castings (vermicompost). All you need to do is collect your organic waste and place it in the Compost Tube. You can choose to let nature do its work or give the compost tube a quicker start by adding compost worms. Around 250 grams of compost worms is enough to get rapid activity.
How Much Can the Compost Tube Process?
This depends on biodiversity in the soil and how many worms naturally live in your garden. The healthier the soil, the faster the process. Temperature also plays a role. Generally, a household of 2–3 people can keep the Compost Tube filled.
Advantages
Very easy to use.
When you feed the tube regularly, more and more worms will be attracted to it. There is no need to worry about carbon-rich vs. nitrogen-rich balance. The Compost Tube is very forgiving. If worms are not comfortable inside, they can freely leave and return later.
No unpleasant smells or messy harvesting.
Since everything happens inside the tube, you don’t have to harvest worm castings or sift worms. If you want the worm castings in a different spot, simply relocate the tube. If it becomes full, you can harvest and spread the contents around the garden.
No plastic in the garden – better for the environment. A perfect alternative to the plastic tubes commonly offered.
Better moisture retention. Terracotta absorbs excess moisture and releases it during dry periods, helping worms and plants access the right moisture levels.
You make your own plant food. Worm castings feed the soil, helping plants take up nutrients more efficiently, resulting in stronger, more resilient plants.
The bottom is closed, preventing unwanted animals from accessing the waste.
Disadvantages
During severe frost, it’s best to remove the tube from the ground or cover it with a thick layer of mulch. Because of its porous structure, the terracotta tube may crack during extreme freezing.
