Comments on: European Nightcrawlers – Eisenia hortensis

By: Bentley

Bentley — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 16:13:06 +0000

I’ve found E fetida/andrei to be very cold tolerant. And I’ve also found E hortensis to be similar in terms of thriving mainly in really rich habitats. None of these composting species have ever really become established in my regular gardens (even though I’ve had big outdoor worm beds/bins for years). I think there can be a fair bit of variability from location to location, though.

By: S?awomir Goli?ski

S?awomir Goli?ski — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 21:08:03 +0000

European earthworm Eisenida hortensis, as the name suggests, hortensis = “garden” will be perfect for your home gardens and farms. It is a surface worm with a very high resistance to frost, much greater than the Californian earthworm Eisenia Fetida and Eisenia Andrei due to the cold climate prevailing in Europe. Although it is less fertile than the above-mentioned species, in spring almost all specimens will overwinter and are capable of creating a new biohumus in your gardens no worse than Esenia Fetida or Andrea

By: Bentley

Bentley — Sat, 25 Apr 2020 12:35:05 +0000

Hey Mick – if they are Eisenia worms they can definitely be used for worm composting/farming. Euros do tend to be a lot more sensitive than Red Worms (be careful with vibrations) but they are great worms.

By: Mick

Mick — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 05:33:39 +0000

Just became over stocked with eisenia hortensis being disposed of by local fishing store.
I would like to keep these worms and was wondering if they can be used in a worm farm?

By: Dude looks like a loli

Dude looks like a loli — Sun, 12 May 2019 07:49:49 +0000

I just recently got some from Walmart. Wanted to find “Red Wiggler’s” but didn’t know what aisle they were held. Luckily some dame who looks like that chick from that 70s show Helped me out. They were in a container labeled American BigRedWorm and DMF. Thanks for clearing things up because I wasn’t confident if they were as good as Wiggler’s.

By: Bentley

Bentley — Thu, 29 Nov 2018 15:06:09 +0000

In reply to Ed.

Sorry for the delay, Ed! A massive hatch of anything is (unfortunately) a decent indicator of some sort of infestation. Not necessarily a “bad” thing, but usually indicates you are making conditions favorable for other organisms to really get established. If I had to just guess I would say maybe pot worms. There are times when lots of little (composting) worms CAN hatch at once – example when cold material that has lots of cocoons in it is moved to a warm location (or outdoor beds in spring as they warm up) – but for a typical home bin this is not what’s going on.

By: Ed

Ed — Sat, 27 Oct 2018 01:58:28 +0000

Not sure my first attempt posted. I am looking for a photo of hatchlings of eisenia hortensis. I am wanting to confirm that I have a massive hatch and not an infestation of some sort.

By: Paul D

Paul D — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 02:57:24 +0000

In searching new info I found your site and the next hour was spent reading. Great info that I was exactly looking for! I am just starting up but am very interested in the Hortensia (ENC). If you could pass along any suppliers / farms selling them please inform me as I WANT some. I put you in my favorites so I can be visiting your site to read all that I can absorb..

By: Abe

Abe — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 03:05:38 +0000

Hi;
I love this website. I have been growing red worms for a month now and I only started with 24 of them…They are doing great. I am excited.
Thank you for all who contribute educating me about composting.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Fri, 29 May 2015 02:11:41 +0000

I am getting into the worm growing with European night crawlers and red wigglar. I have 8 fiber glass tray that are about 1 foot in depth and maybe 6×8 I am using horse manure for bedding started out with about 2lbs of worm no they seam to be multiplying it but the ENC don’t seam to be getting very fat they are about the same size as reds and the color is darker and the acidity is 6.5 moisture is good . Ideal growing conditions they just want get fat . I have feed them everything from chops to crushed corn and oats they love the oats but they are not getting fat .
Does anyone have any suggestion on what I need to do . Thanks in advance