The starter combines the collected local soil biology with some nutrients in a growing medium to multiply the biology. This results in a high-fungal starter, which is then used as inoculum to grow the biology in water with selected nutrition into the BioBooster. The example is for 100 litre BioBooster, enough to treat up to 4,000 square metres – about an acre.
For gardens, the amounts below can be halved, and the starter can be applied directly with a watering can, see “Applying Directly to your Garden” below.
For larger areas such as in farming, grazing, orchards and revegetation, see our guide on making starter for large areas.
Mixing
For a 4 litre starter to grow 100 litre BioBooster uniformly mix:
- 50 ml molasses or 25 grams of sugar.
- 300 ml of the local soil, collected as shown in the Introduction to BioBooster
- 3 litres dry worm-casts from your own or a local worm farm or garden supply shops.
- 200 grams of Mill Run – bran and pollard – as biology food, available at produce stores, or 100 grams of bran from the kitchen.
Once mixed, add water till just able to squeeze a drop of water, NO wetter.
The Growth Phase (1–3 Days)
Place the mix 8–10 cm deep in a cardboard box and compress it gently, like compressing soil around seedlings, as excess compaction will exclude air and stop desirable biology growing. Put a wet cloth or towel on top of the mix to maintain humidity and temperature. Twice a day rewet the cloth in a bucket of water, wring it out and put back over the starter. Wrap the box in towels to keep any warmth in. Keep it in a shed or indoors where the nights stay warmer.
A slight warming will occur after 12 – 24 hours, which indicates strong biological activity. It is essential to check by hand for warming and make sure it is going well.
We like to use Australia Post BXP2 (310mm long by 225mm wide by 102mm high) and temporarily tape up the back. After two days, the mix has become a block and the tapes can be removed for easy inspection.
Checking If It’s Ready
This may be after 24 – 72 hours in summer or longer in winter. Once the fungi cover the surface, check the spread of fungi throughout the starter by breaking the starter top to bottom. If you can see white or grey threads throughout, it is ready. If not, put it back and give it another day.
The starter will keep for a few days if kept moist and cool. For larger areas or for use as foliar spray, the starter is then used to grow the BioBooster in water for easy and even application. On small areas it can be applied immediately.
Applying Directly to Your Garden
Soak the completed Starter for only 10 minutes in 10 litres of water. Break any lumps in the mix with your hands. Additional water and a few spoonfuls of seaweed, fish emulsion or sea minerals can be added as fertilisers and biology food. This stimulates fungal growth and fungi build soil structure.
Use a watering can without the rose to minimise blockages while applying and maximise it going into the soil and away from sunlight which kills it. This is best done in the afternoon. We also recommend subsequent watering in by hose, as it will wash the biology even further into the soil, which is beneficial.
The biology will grow and spread fast in your soil, as is known to grow two metres in 100 days.
Key Points
- Keep the collected soil moist and cool before use.
- Keep the covering cloth damp twice a day.
- Check by hand that there is warming about 12 – 24.
- Prevent the mix from getting too wet by protecting it from rain, keep it inside.
- When the fungi cover the starter, check that it has also spread through the starter.
- If not, wait another 24 hours and allow growing further.
- When using the starter directly, soak it in water for no longer than 10 minutes.
- After applying this with a watering can, water it in with a hose to wash the soil biology further into the soil.
Next Steps
Once the starter is ready, use it as inoculum to grow BioBooster as shown in our article on making BioBooster for gardeners and acreage.
