Kitchen Garden Forum

Hi all
This is my first post here. We live in West Wales and have had a 10x20 ft polytunnel for about 3 weeks. As the ground is clay and stony we have made raised beds and filled them with bought-in loam and council compost. My question is: what about worms? Is it absolutely essential to have worms in the soil and, if so, can I just dig some up from the surrounding garden and pop them in to the poly beds? I wonder if the soil there might be too hot for them!
All advice welcome.
Columbine

Dear Columbine, welcome to the forum.

I'm sure the worms will find there own way up into your raised beds if the situation is right for them.

Oh, sorry, I completely forgot to mention that we had put down a thick weed suppressant fabric before adding the soil and compost, so no chance of worms getting in that way.

Dear Columbine, it's not essential to have worms in the beds, but you could introduce some, and if they like it there they will reproduce.

Hello Columbine
With worms its a sort of spontaneous generation - they simply appear from nowhere. If they like it in your tunnel then they will stay. Its usually lack of moisture that drives them away (or deeper) rather than high temperatures.
As others have said your soil will be perfectly OK without them but when they are there its a good sign that your soil/compost is in excellent condition.

John

Thanks to all who replied. I have added a couple of worms from the garden and will see what happens.
Columbine