How do you setup and release Alabama Jumpers in your yard?
Mark D. – Texas
First off Alabama Jumpers are different from other worms we sell. One, they do not eat food scraps but rather organic material from leaves (limit oak leaves) hay (not straw), shredded newspaper and cardboard… Basically carbon based products.
Setup an area with clay or sandy soil in your yard or garden area. Place some bedding material and be sure it is wet down so as it is damp.
I recommend you release your worms outdoors once the sun sets behind the tree or landscape background so as not to burn them up.
Place your worms on top of the pile and mist a little water on top of them to get the worms moving.
Do NOT spread your worms out throughout your yard or garden. Rather place at least 500 in each pile. The worms will eventually begin to breed and spread out as they multiply. If you spread them out to thin, they will have difficulty finding each other to breed.
Bruce
Bruce
I live near Chicago and have a few apple trees. I am trying to produce castings to fertilize my trees. I have a supply of used horse bedding which is composed of some horse manure, but mostly wood shavings. I’ve been trying to find a way to efficiently compost this used horse bedding, but the wood shavings are very hard to compost. Would adding worms right to the bedding pile help? If so what type of worm would you suggest. I have Red Wigglers and just purchased some of your African nightcrawlers. Would Alabama jumpers live through the winter up here if the core temp of the pile stays above 80?
Appleman
Wood shavings will take longer than smaller particles of wood sawdust however can be composted with the assistance of worms. The trick is to keep the pile aerated which without worms would mean continuous turning of the pile(s).
Also the pile needs to be maintained with constant moisture.
As for the Alabama Jumpers, we have found them living natural state as far north as New England, northern New York and Massachusetts. Being familiar with the area and seeing you have a relatively similar winter to the northeast, they should be able to adapt well. I am still unsure whether the worms burrow deep enough and hibernate up there or if the previous seasons cocoons hatch. Based on finding this summer, my theory would be a combination of both. Since you have an internal winter temperature of 80 degrees within the pile, there is a good chance this would keep the Alabama Jumpers active withing the pile since my past findings found them to become sluggish when temperatures fell to the mid fifties.
Bruce
I purchased 2,000 alabama jumpers and released them in my yard. two days later we had a short cold snap and I have been worried it killed off all the worms. Temperature got down to the low 30s at night. How do I know if they are still alive?
Josh
Most likely the worms have already burrowed down into the ground. Being it was a cold snap, under the surface should be much warmer.
If the worms are not dead on the surface you are fine
Bruce
Thanks Bruce! That makes a lot of sense. I appreciate the quick reply and help in getting me started.