Premature Vermicompost

[MikeP09]

I recently planted my garden and have had a worm bin since last fall producing for me. I used the compost but noticed that it still had bits of paper in it. Is that going to steal some nitrogen from my plants? Is there an easy solution?

[rainbowgardener]

Could be... depends on quantity. A few tiny bits of paper probably not an issue, but if it's lots. We have had a couple people write in lately about nitrogen deficiency problems in their plants, that appear to be related to unfinished compost.

Easy (relatively) solution is to screen your compost (in this case earthworm castings) before you use it.

Here's a couple threads about screening compost; the second one is specifically about vermicompost/ EWC

https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=123756&highlight=screening+compost#123756

https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=93283&highlight=screening+compost#93283

[MikeP09]

I would screen it better if it wasn't already in the ground. Plants seem to be doing fine and look vibrant and healthy so I'm hoping it was just small amount of paper and not enough to make probs.