Composting endive with worms
Endive is a common leafy green in the kitchen, and the good news is: you can compost the leftovers perfectly well with your worms! The leaves are soft and are easily processed, contributing to healthy and nutritious compost. Adding endive to your Bonter is a simple step towards reducing waste.
Can endive go in your worm bin?
Yes, absolutely! Endive is an excellent addition to your worm bin. The soft leaves and stems are rich in water and nitrogen (‘green material’), which worms and microorganisms love to eat. It decomposes relatively quickly. However, make sure you combine it with sufficient ‘brown material’, such as shredded cardboard or paper, to maintain the moisture balance.
How much endive can you add?
You can add endive scraps regularly, but as with all leafy greens, it is important to moderate the amount and vary it. Large quantities at once can introduce too much moisture, which can make the bin too wet. Always combine endive with drier material, such as cardboard, paper, or egg cartons. Only add new endive when the previous portion has largely been processed.
What to do instead? Alternatives & waste management
If you have a Bonter worm bin, composting endive is the ideal way to process this kitchen waste! Should you have an excess for some reason, you can also add endive to a traditional compost heap. Endive is also edible, so consider wasting less by, for example, making soup from the less appealing leaves. Endive composts well together with most other fruit and vegetable scraps.
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Tips for safe endive composting
Rinse endive scraps briefly if necessary, but excessive water is not needed. If needed, cut large pieces or the thicker stem a bit smaller (2-5 cm) to speed up the decomposition process. Mix the endive scraps with some dry cardboard or paper before placing them in the bin. Always place the waste under the top layer of your bedding material (like paper or cardboard) to discourage any fruit flies. Although endive gives off less odor than, for example, fruit, closing the bin and Bonter’s air filter system ensures your kitchen always smells fresh, even if something unexpected releases an odor. You don’t need to dig in your Bonter; simply placing the waste under the top bedding layer is sufficient.
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Frequently asked questions about composting endive
Should I wash the endive before composting?
A quick rinse is sufficient if the endive is very dirty. Excessive water is not necessary, as endive itself contains a lot of moisture.
Can I also include the endive stem?
What if the endive is a bit wilted?
Does endive cause odors in the worm bin?
Can I add cooked endive?
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