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Vegetable Gardening Texas Gardening Garden Clinic

(How) Have jumping worms impacted your vegetable yields?

EK Houston Zone 9A BK

5 years ago

I'm moving to a new home, and I was considering bringing some of the soil I've cultivated for the past five years to start my new garden beds. I recently found, though, that I have jumping worms. I'm pretty sure they've been here since I started gardening, so I don't have a point of comparison for impact.

For those who have gardened with and without (or before and after) jumping worms, have you noticed an appreciable impact on the quality or quantity of your vegetable yields? What about soil quality; do you find you have to amend it differently or more frequently? Ultimately, would you recommend that I cultivate soil on my new property from scratch, or are jumping worms not so big of a deal in your experience?

Featured Answer

CA Kate z9

5 years ago

Just in general, I wouldn't think it wise to take alien soil, compost, etc. to another site without REALLY good reason.... and precautions. There are very strict laws about doing so in California. Add to the fact that you already know that these worms are in your present soil, is just more evidence that this would be a bad move.

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Comments (8)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
5 years ago
never heard of taking your soil with you .. when you move ...

i would start fresh.. and avoid the issue ...

and i wouldnt take any potted plants with me unless bare rooted ...

there was a post on these worms a year back or so .... maybe someone can find it .. maybe i did ... lol

ken

https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffnt&q=jumping+worms+houzz&ia=web
daninthedirt (USDA 9a, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)
5 years ago
You don't say where you are, but you cross-posted to Texas gardening. Are you in Texas? Where? I vaguely remember that last year they maybe were first reported in NE Texas. I dread seeing them down here.
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EK Houston Zone 9A BK
Original Author
5 years ago
I'm in Houston. I'm pretty sure they came in a load of compost.
EK Houston Zone 9A BK
Original Author
5 years ago
Ken, I was considering bringing some of the soil as a microbial inoculant for compost and a seed starting layer in hay bales. Not trucking all of it to the new property! I may just opt for the bagged stuff depending on what others have to say.
wantonamara Z8 CenTex
5 years ago
These guys say DO NOT USE in compost. Do not bring soil to uninfected area.

Cornell's 2 cents on Jumping Worms
prairiemoon2 z6b MA
5 years ago
Never heard of jumping worms. *sigh* Another pest to think about.
memetexas
5 years ago
Do they actually jump?

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