Generally speaking, you should apply 20 pounds (or 320 ounces) of worm castings per 1000 feet of root growth if you're using VermaPlex®; or 40 pounds (or 640 ounces) of worm castings per 1000 square feet of root growth  if you are not using VermaPlex®.

For calculating smaller garden plots, it's probably simpler to find the amount of castings per square foot.  So, you would use .32 ounces worm castings per square foot with VermaPlex® and .64 ounces worm castings per square foot without VermaPlex®.

When you build your bed and at the beginning of the growing season, a good mix for your square foot or raised bed garden  is 30% worm castings added to your growing medium.  Then apply side dressings of castings a few times through out the growing season.

If you're raising vegetables in a raised bed, particular an "intensive" planting where the entire bed is used by the plants, you can measure the length and width of the bed, then multiply by the number of beds to get the square feet of your planting area.  Multiply the total square feet of planting area by .32 (or .64) to get the amount of castings required.

For instance, to add a side dressing of worm castings fertilize to an 8 x 4 foot raised bed, you would need about 10 ounces of worm castings per application. (8 feet times 4 feet = 32 square feet times .32 ounces worm castings = 10.24 ounces of worm castings.)

This is a small amount, but if you're using pure castings like Pure Black Castings™, which are concentrated and 99.9% all castings, it doesn't take a lot.  Fertilizing with vermicompost, which is worm castings mixed with organic material, requires much larger amounts. Here is an article on this site which describes the difference between vermicompost and worm castings.

Worm castings are an excelling container fertilizer.  The slow release of nutrients provide the plants with everything they need, all without the danger of burn.  By adding micro-dosing of VermaPlex® to the watering system, even heavy users like corn can thrive.  Here's our potting soil mix formula:

• 1/3 peat moss
• 1/3 perilite
• 1/3 certified organic Pure Black Castings™

Continuous watering and micro-dosing with VermaPlex®:

• Add 1-2 ounces of VermaPlex® to the  reservoir  (or to your watering can) every time you add water.

Extra Nitrogen:

• For extra nitrogen users like corn, mix VermaMax® granules with the worm castings at a 50/50 ratio.  
  
  
• Alternate the VermaPlex® micro-dosing with a shot of VermaMax LE® (1 ounce or so)

Then, quick - step back before the corn hits you in the nose!

If your plants are being attacked by pests, one option is to spray your garden with pepper spray.  You can buy it already made but it can be expensive.  Here's how to make your own pepper spray using habaneros peppers.  Remember, spray on the part of the plants your don't intend to eat as it is difficult to remove the "hot" (unless you like hot!)

Here is the list of items you'll need to make your spray:

• Gloves (an absolute must, it's very hard to get off your hands and can burn your skin)
• Mask (again, if it gets in your eyes it will burn them)
• Five gallon bucket
• Cheese cloth
• Garden sprayer

And here is the list of ingredients:

• 2 cups hot peppers, chopped (habaneros is a good variety)
• 1 tbsp cayenne peper
• 1 head garlic
• 3 tbsp dish liquid soap
• 4 gallons water

Instructions:

• Chop 2 cups of peppers
• Combine peppers, cayenne and garlic in the food processor. Add enough water to puree
• Pour puree into 5 gallon bucket, add 5 gallons of water
• Let sit for 24 hours
• Strain the pureed material from the water through a cheese cloth or fine strainer
• Add the dish liquid soap (will make the liquid stick to the plants better)
• Pour into garden sprayer.

Spraying plants:

• It's best to spray on a windless day, after honey bees have gone back to the hive.
• Don't spray in the heat of the day, wait until evening to avoid burning plants.
• Put on your goggles and cover exposed skin with protective clothing.
• Coat plants well.  Avoid the parts you eat.
• Reapply  every few days.

Hot pepper spray is approved by the EPA as a natural pest deterrent and is an effective alternative to poison. It's available commercially, but it's not that hard to do. Consider making your own to save money.

A tried and true method of natural pest control is pepper spray.  You can mix up your own economically using  peppers from the capsicum variety.  The EPA has approved capsicum, the compound in peppers that make them "hot", as a biochemical method of pest repellent and killer.  There are a few caveats, though, to consider when you use it on your plants:

• Capsicum also kills bees:
  Spray only after they've returned to the hive late in the day.
• Pepper spray can irritate:
  Wear glove and goggles to protect your skin and eyes. Also, avoid spraying on windy days.
• Use caution near bodies of water
  The effect of hot pepper of  hot pepper on fish and other aquatic life is not well known, so it's wise to avoid spraying near ponds just in case.

Otherwise, pepper spray is safe to use:  It doesn't  repel or harm birds; it repels but doesn't harm mammals; it kills and repels insects.  

Insects  avoid plants treated with pepper spray.  So, next time reach for the "hot sauce" instead of harmful pesticides to keep your plants pest free, naturally.

Next...How to make pepper spray.

There are different ways to measure fertilizer. Whether you're figuring out how much you need or how it fits on a truck, more information is in order.  For those of you who think in terms of cubic yards, here's a tip:

• Bulk Black Castings™ are shipped in one ton "super sacks".  This super sack fits on a pallet for transporting.  The ton of castings is equal to 2.16 cubic yards.
  
  
• General application rates are 20 pounds per 1000 square feet of root growth with VermaPlex®; 
  
  40 pounds per 1000 square feet of root growth without VermaPlex®.

Installing plugs is a convenient, quick way to fill in those bare patches in you lawn.  Most turf grasses can be started this way . But some grass varieties, like Bahia, don't respond well to plugging and are best planted as sod or seed. For those that do, there are several advantages to using grass plugs:

• You're able to pickup smaller amounts for the time you have.
• Plugs left over can be watered and kept for several weeks if you don't get them all planted.
• Plugs are easy to carry and move from place to place.  Especially handy when you have widely dispersed bare spots.

Grass Plug Planting Tips:
 For sure-fire plug transplanting success, use the following regime:

• For best results, prepare the bare spots by removing weeds before planting time.
  
• Plant plugs at the proper depth:
  St Augustine - 6-12 inches
  Centipede - 6 inches
  Bermuda - 12 inches
• Dig a hole the proper depth with a plugger or trowel
  Line the hole with worm castings or some other slow release fertilizer as you plant
• The secret to  transplanting success is watering your plugs roots with a mixture of 20 parts water to 1 part VermaPlex® before planting.
  
  
• Place your plug into the prepared hole and firm the soil around the root.
  
  
• Side dress the plug with more worm castings
  
  
• Water in with the VermaPlex mixture
  
  
• Keep the plugs moist 
  
  
• Repeat the VermaPlex application in 7-10 days

Spring is  also be a good time to apply the worm castings to your entire lawn and water in with VermaPlex®.  See the application instructions page for details on lawn fertilizing using organic worm castings and liquid fertilizer.

Which brings something else to mind:  Is your lawn mower in good working order?

Be prepared to fertilizer your lawn and re-plug bare spots. Order these slow release, certified organic fertilizers based on worm castings now.