You can see some discussion here: http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/verm/msg0522584323986.html

The short answer is that out in the yard, the first frost will kill them. Red w(r)igglers are tropical leaf-litter worms that don't burrow deep, which also means they won't be much help for soil conditioning.

You'll do better for yourself and the worms to contain them in the perfect environment of a worm bin. Control the conditions and mass produce worm poop producers.

Harvesting all that by-product is a lot easier than we once thought. Just divide bins after enticing most of them to move to the one side of the bin where you're putting the food. (Lateral harvesting)

My 2 cents: I see the original poster lives in zone 9, so they may not have to worry too much about frosts. I say go ahead and add some. They will help break down your existing compost and add wormcastings to the nutrients that will feed your gardens. They may not burrow down deep, but other worms will. If some die off during winter, at $20 a pound you can always add some next spring. I wouldn't worry too much about a perfect environment, they seem to handle a wide spread on their own.

If the original seeded worms don't care for the environment, they will mate and die off, leaving lot's of eggs. The new worms will hatch and grow up accustomed to the existing environment.

I live in Idaho and did the same thing last year. The worms thrived in my gardens during the summer and even survived the winter deep in my compost piles. I also have bins in my garage and a trashcan flowthrough that stays outside.

Thanks Coach. I will do just that.

If you already see some worms then you already have the perfect amount. They can breed to meet the available food supply. Adding more will not get you more.

"1000 red wriglers"? It is like buying 1000 Bridges and getting cracker jack size bridges. Ask the seller how many pounds that is. Better yet purchase from a seller that respects the customers enough to say up front how many pounds of worms and how many pounds of bedding.

The type of worms that live in a garden are not red wigglers. Depending upon what type of fertilizer is being added it could be like pouring salt on the worms.