Is 'Growing Your Own' possible with a creepy crawly phobia?

oopsadaisydoddle

As the title says, I have a big fear of worms...i know some of you may think I'm silly but I can't help it. I feel sick just looking at them!!

So my question is, is it possible to grow anything without encountering them in the process? I do have a garden and a great spot where we inherited some rhubarb but I don't have to do anything with that - it just appears every year! I know people who don't have much/any outside space can do things with pots/bags but I'm not sure how to go about anything and whether these methods would work. I think I would like to try potatoes (if doable) and maybe some salad things. I would be very grateful if anyone has any tips!

Thanks in advance!

Kantankrus_Mare

If you grow things in containers and use bagged compost I would have thought your encounters with worms would be minimal. (I sling mine in the compost heap)

I have the same phobia with slugs...........I think they are the most horrible disgusting creatures ever but I have an allotment and cope.:eek:

officeguru

I had a large vegetable garden for years and had a serious phobia with caterpillars... but I managed... I would just get the kids to pick them off for me for a small fee.. such as a lollipop or something.. or a penny for every one.. I now have a large flower and landscape garden so I don't get so many.. I used to dread the cabbage-white butterfly...

You'll manage fine....

elsien

I grow all my veggies in pots.
The bad news is that at some point in the proceedings worms are likely to make a small appearance. Generally when emptying the compost ready for the next lot of leaves/digging up the tatties.
However keep a trowel to hand, and if you do spot a worm quickly scoop it up with said implement and sling it towards a corner of the garden you don't go near. Completely hands free and they're gone in seconds.
Or get a relative to do the potato furtling for you.

cootambear

learn relaxation through breathing, and immerse your hands in the soil for two minutes and realise nothing bad will happen

Kartoshka

I've been a long-time lurker on these boards but just had to register to join in on this thread!

oopsadaisydoddle, I also have a worm phobia, have done for as long as I can remember (never trust anything that doesn't die when you chop it in half!). I've been known to run back in the house and lock the door when one makes an appearance, so I feel your pain.

I started growing veg last year, though I only have a back yard, so it's all done in containers. I've had to accept there are some things I'll never be able to grow because of size constraints and you're never going to be able to grow enough to live on, but last year got potatoes, peas, strawberries, courgettes, radishes, cucumbers, chard and kale (sure I've forgotten some others).

Even containers aren't completely safe, so I always garden with gloves and am ready to flee at the first glance of something wriggly. Having said that, I do think I've got slightly more tolerent and while I'd never look directly at a worm (yes, I know how weird that sounds ), I have been able to use my trowel to cover them back over or even throw them out of my yard.

Given the purpose of this forum, it's worth pointing out that it's not exactly money saving to buy containers and compost if you've got a perfectly good garden, but some things can be got free or cheaply and I'm reusing all my pots and baskets this year.

I got a lot of satisfaction out of my new hobby last year, so don't let the little blighters put you off and who knows, you might eventually beat your phobia.

Good luck!

Leif

Can't you overcome your worm phobia? Learning about worms may help, finding out that they are benign, or perhaps if it is the slime, then get used to slime. Worms are good, and should be encouraged.

oopsadaisydoddle

Thanks so much for all your replies! It's good in a way to know I'm not alone with my phobia! It all stems from an Incident in childhood where I had one thrown at me. Even seeing them makes me heave.

I'd love to be able to get over my fear so may try the pots option first (think we inherited some of those too). I think there are some cheapy places that do grow bags as well so might have a go. My little girl has just done some cress which of course, was easy and safe but she loved it so thought we could try and expand! Does anybody have any tips as to what's best (if anything) to plant at this time of year and whether it'll be any good in pots?

I'll definitely get some gloves and if I do any digging I'll make sure it's a good few hours before meal time because just the sight can knock me sick for hours!

Thanks again for responding.

abitofhelp

I have a similar fear of slugs, it took me years to start a veg patch. A pair of tongs (long ones) and a deep breath (in case i find one) & i can cope quite well.

Leif

oopsadaisydoddle wrote: »

Does anybody have any tips as to what's best (if anything) to plant at this time of year and whether it'll be any good in pots?

The garden centres are full of tomatoes, courgettes, and peppers which are all suitable for bags and tubs, though there is a huge variation in quality and price. Longacres, near the M3, has the best plants I have seen, and only 80p or so each, and yet my local place has chilli plants for £3, and they are not as nice. So search around. Next year you could start from seed using a propagator or the airing cupboard.

rhosynbach

hi i have a terrible phobia of practically everything that lives in the soil but love gardening, not wanting to be beaten i wear plastic gloves all the time and even though it has not cured me it does help as i know they cannot touch me..
i still scream every so often ( the kids have learnt no to come running anymore ) but at least i can do yhe gardneing and grow tasty veg:T