Product Profile - Organic Vermicast (Soil Microbes)

What is in our soil microbe solution?

Organic Microbe Enhanced Vermicast
What is it and why is it important?

Worms have long been credited with the ability to compost organic matter quickly, but in reality it is a myriad of bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, archaea, protozoa and nematodes that do a lot of the work, with worms providing a very favourable environment for this biota to flourish. There are 1000’s of different species of microorganisms in quantities that are staggeringly large that together perform a range of functions from breaking down large amino acid and cellulose chains to fixing nitrogen, whilst others fight against pathogens which can cause disease.

By adding some liquid to your growing medium, you are adding a huge amount of life that can continue the processes mentioned above. Beneficial microbes often form symbiotic relationships with plants, in that plants can exude substances that microbes use as a food source and the microbes in turn help feed the plant by converting nutrients into forms that plants uptake or providing protection from pathogens.

The soil food web is a complex structure and if one of the players is absent then the whole system can suffer. 

The liquid microbe product developed for The Garden Shed Nursery is called an organic microbe enhanced vermicast and is based on worm castings, with the addition of a few secret ingredients which are organic by nature, and which we know have created a great diversity of beneficial microbes. The product has undergone rigorous lab testing which has demonstrated a rich mixture of beneficial microbes with no E. coli or Salmonella present.

The vermicast (and you can just ask us for soil microbes!) is a cost effective solution that can add large quantities of these microbes to your plants' rhizosphere (space around the root tips) and if conditions are favourable they will continue to grow and provide a natural mechanism - unlocking soil nutrients and enhancing the fertility of your soil. Plus you get the nutrients that worms converted from breaking down their food.

To apply either drench soil in root zone or foliar spray (but best not on greens that will be consumed without a thorough rinse - just in case). You can dilute (at a ratio of 1L to a standard 9L watering can) or use straight as the product won’t burn plants.

As you can see when you visit the nursery, we go to considerable lengths to keep this product alive (including constant oxygenation). Once at home we recommend use as soon as practical (fairly soon after purchase ie 24-36 hours) and application during the late afternoon is best.