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Jumping Worms at a community garden #889772

Asked November 13, 2024, 11:10 AM EST

Hello! I'm on the leadership team of a large community garden in Saint Paul. We recently discovered a couple of worms that we suspect are jumping worm. We're waiting on the DNR for a positive ID but the worms were too small for them to make a positive ID. Whether the worms are jumping worms or not, we want to create some guidelines for our gardeners along with jumping worm information. Do you have any advice or resources particular to a community garden setting? We were wondering if a Master Gardener with knowledge about jumping worms would be open to volunteering at our winter meeting in February to field questions about jumping worms, weigh in on some guidelines for gardeners, and chat about vegetable gardening in general. Or exact date hasn't been set yet but it will be sometime in February. Thanks! Elissa Mallory

Ramsey County Minnesota

Expert Response

Thank you for writing.
For the educational programming you are requesting, please contact the Ramsey County Master Gardener Program.  I field calls from the entire state, it is your county resource. 
https://www.ramseymastergardeners.org/

Jumping worms are endemic to the metro areas. Here are links to a great variety of educational materials.  There is no known way to eradicate worms.
https://extension.umn.edu/identify-invasive-species/jumping-worms
I have had them in my gardens for five years. Despite a heavy infestation, they are having little effect on garden productivity. They do make the soil looser and cause it to lose volume.  Some additional composting may be required.

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