Subpod set-up/installation
Can Subpod go underground near fruit trees? Or is it best for it to be in a raised bed?
There is no problem setting up your Subpod in the ground near fruit trees. The tree roots will make really good use of the worm castings produced by your Subpod. However, please take note that if you stop feeding your Subpod, the tree roots will ...
Does Subpod work in Southwest Florida? We live on a barrier island & have warm weather and a high water table. We live in a place where there is a lot of flooding.
If you live in a place where there is a lot of flooding and a high water table, then it is best to put your Subpod in a raised garden bed that uses a wicking bed. This will keep the groundwater out, while also allowing the garden bed to drain. If ...
Will soil acidity or worms cause damage to cement or bricks over time?
Soil acidity or worms vermicast will not cause any harm to bricks or cement. The good news is that the vermicast generated by your compost worms will not be overly acidic and is likely to be in the range of just slightly acidic ( pH6.0 ) to neutral ( ...
Will subpod work in a mountain environment? We live at 8000 ft elevation, CO, with garden zone 4-5. We have frost depths of 1-2 ft in winter, low temps of -10 to -15, and black bears in the summer. Have you heard of subpod working in places like this?
Yes, your subpod will work in a mountain environment. At 8000 feet your compost worms may have some challenges breathing. An aerator will ensure that air is incorporated into the bedding and food mixture. Additionally, it's important to ensure the ...
Does the Subpod come assembled? I don’t think I can do it by myself.
Subpod comes flat packed and is easy to assemble. It should take about 2 minutes to assemble. You may like to ask a friend, family member or neighbour for help if you find it difficult :) You can view the video here on how to assemble your Subpod: ...
What depth is required in a raised bed to bury the Subpod?
You’ll be digging a hole which is: 85cm L x 55cm W x 32cm D (33in. L x 21in. W x 15in. D). That’s around 8-10cm (3in.) longer and wider than Subpod. It’s important that the top Airflow panels are above ground. The walls of the raised bed should be a ...
Can I move a Subpod and Grow Bed if I move house?
There are a few options to consider when thinking about moving a Subpod later. When you move you can bring you Subpod with you and all the worms inside. There may be a few worms left behind in the surrounding soil. Some composting worms will move ...
What do you need to add to the subpod to get started? What do I need to put in my Subpod once it arrives?
Video instructions here: https://youtu.be/gRO2z9IHArs?list=PL3v534o03txrI-MApt14-lMGLPTKk_95u After you have assembled your Subpod and installed it in your garden, you will need to add: You will need approximately 1000 worms, but 2000 is better. 8 ...
Can I put Subpod in a raised bed which has wooden sides? Will it cause the untreated wood sides to decompose more quickly?
Subpod will be fine in a raised garden bed made from wood. Make sure you leave at least 2 cm/1 inch distance between the front of the Subpod and the garden bed wall. To make the wood last longer, we have 2 recommendations: Block the worm tea ...
What material do you recommend for the worm bedding in the Subpod?
The ideal material for worm bedding is coconut coir as it holds water very well to keep the worms moist and provides both bedding and food supply (carbon source) at the same time. Coconut coir (shredded coconut husk) is best because it allows both ...
What are your recommendations for extreme heat and sun? Temperatures above 40 °C/104 °F, etc? Is the lid/seat insulated? We have hot summers (40 °C/104 °F + days/25deg+ nights) and I wondered if the worms would survive in a subpod in this heat.
The Subpod lid is insulated which helps to keep out the direct heat from the sun. Additionally, to keep your worms the happiest, we recommend installing your Subpod in a shady/partly shady location which will help to keep your Subpod from ...
Do I need to place the Subpod in sunlight or can it be placed in a shaded area?
The Subpod will be fine in a shaded area, you will just need to choose plants that are suitable for shady conditions. If the Subpod is in a sunny position you will need to choose plants that like the sun :) If your area has hot summers, placing your ...
What soil/compost/other materials do you recommend to go into the garden bed where the Subpod is going to be used. We will be growing vegetables.
If you are growing vegetables in your raised garden bed, it is worth using a premium grade of soil, not potting mix. Potting mix is designed to hold a lot of water, but for a raised garden bed, it is better to have well-draining soil. For example, ...
Can a small greenhouse be built above the Subpod?
A greenhouse can be built over a Subpod as long as airflow to the Subpod aeration panels is unrestricted, and the greenhouse air temperature stays below 35C, this should work fine.
The land becomes very wet where I live. Will this affect the Subpod?
When you live in an area that becomes very wet, it is best to use the Subpod in a raised garden bed as this will allow the soil to properly drain in times of prolonged or heavy rain. If the bed walls are at least 14 inches or about 35 cm high, this ...
Do Subpods work as efficiently in raised garden beds as buried in the soil?
Subpods work just as efficiently in raised garden beds as they do buried into the ground, as long as your area is not overly hot in the summertime (prolonged days of temperatures over 95F or 35C). Raised garden beds will be a couple of degrees ...
Is there a way to use a Subpod if our available garden bed space is only about as wide as the pod itself? We would have available extra garden bed space on the left and right (shorter) sides of the pod, but not at the back and front (longer) sides.
You could fit the Subpod into your narrow garden bed if the interior garden bed space is just 1-2 mm over 45 cm wide at it's narrowest point. The worms would still be able to move in and out from either side of the Subpod. It's not ideal though, ...
What are your recommendations for the raised bed? (height, soil etc - we’re not interested in the Grow Bed on the website, ours is part of a larger space).
The walls of the raised bed should be a minimum of 33 cm high (1 foot plus 1 inch). There is no upper limit to the height, this depends on your preferred working height and if you need a taller bed to limit access by animals. A good smaller size ...
Can the Subpod be used in a wicking garden bed? How much depth of soil do you need under the pod? I'm intending to get a wicking bed (Timber framed) built next month but they recommend only about 350mm of soil depth over the water cells so the wicking is able to reach the roots of shallow rooting
We have not tried Subpod in a wicking garden bed, but we will be trialing some in the future. We believe, Subpods are a natural fit with wicking beds. The portion of the Subpod that is buried below the surface is only 320 mm and the rest is above ...
Can I build a garden bed on clay soil?
As long as you are using good draining soil to fill the garden bed rather than a clay soil that hasn’t been amended to drain well, it will be fine to put the bed directly on the clay soil base. You can also use gravel at the bottom of the Subpod ...
How is the Subpod plumbed to collect worm tea/juice? How do we get the worm tea from the Subpod?
Subpod can collect worm tea by funnelling it to the outlet located on the front of Subpod. It is best to fit a tap at the end of your pipe so you can control the flow of worm tea/juice coming out. 1. Align the Subpod worm tea outlet with where you ...
Can I put Subpod in the ground in my location? I have sandy soil on my property. I have a beach-side property.
If you have sandy soil on your property, yes you can use the Subpod! It will be easy to dig a hole for the Subpod into the sandy soil and as the worms move out of the holes in the Subpod into that soil, they will be gradually conditioning, and ...
Can I put this in the ground in my location? I have clay/sandy/rocky soil on my property
If you have high clay soil on your property we recommend putting Subpod into a raised garden bed rather than digging it into the ground. The reason is to protect the worms during periods of high rainfall which could stress the worms. The minimum ...
What stops tree and plant roots invading Subpod and blocking it up?
If you are concerned about large roots invading your Subpod, then you can use a geotextile fabric or landscape cloth underneath your garden bed. This will allow water to flow out, but prevent roots from coming up. Smaller roots from food and herb ...
I am based in a cold climate where the ground freezes in the winter time. Can I still use Subpod?
The material used to make Subpod can withstand temperatures up to -20 degrees celsius. We have tested the Subpod in temperate, subtropical and tropical environments. We have consulted with people who use in-ground worm farms in climates where the ...
I would like a garden ship, can you help me?
I'm sorry, but we are not selling "Garden Ships" at the moment due to launching our new Subpod products commercially on our webshop. We have our Subpod Grow Beds available if you don't already have a raised garden bed: ...
Can Subpods keep bears and other animals out?
The Subpod has been designed to keep out unwanted pests, rodents and large animals. Subpod is an in-ground composting system that composts below the ground and has a built-in Airflow Panel that allows air to circulate throughout the Subpod. The ...
What is the maximum garden area serviced by a single Subpod?
There is no hard and fast rule for the size of the garden beds. For a single Subpod, if you would like the optimal level of nutrient-rich soil for your garden without the need for other external fertilizers, then the maximum garden bed size we ...
How can I incorporate Subpod into an urban environment?
With Subpod you don’t need a lot of room to compost and grow fresh produce in your own backyard or balcony! The minimum garden area we would recommend placing your Subpod is 110cm/45 inches long by 80 cm/30 inches wide. If you have a little more ...
How much soil do I need per Subpod? For a pre-made garden? What is the minimum amount of soil? What is the minimum size garden bed?
You have a few of choices to choose from. 1) You can dig the Subpod directly into the ground up to the bottom of the ventilation panel, making sure to loosen the soil around the outside of the Subpod (up to about 30 cm or 1 foot perimeter around the ...
How much soil is improved by one Subpod? What should the dimensions be for a raised garden bed containing one Subpod?
If the Subpod is in a raised garden bed, the immediate area (half a foot or 15 cm) around the Subpod will be enriched quickly (within several months). Once the Subpod is full (after about 6 months depending on local conditions) you can harvest and ...
Are your Subpods suitable for apartments, balconies, verandas, patios or concrete?
You can install a Subpod in a location that does not have soil or grass underneath . You will need to find a garden bed that is suitable to use on your balcony (a sealed bottom or wicking garden bed). At the moment we don’t have a garden bed that ...