November 12, 2020

Microbial Inoculant

A little goes a long way

Inoculant Recipe & Use

Very little is required only 1/2 teaspoon per gallon of water

Legume Family Untreated Seeds should be inoculated prior to planting to enable plants to take nitrogen from the air to use as fertilizer.  This generally increases the quality and quantity of the crop. High-quality compost is one of the best ways to introduce these beneficial microbes; if you’re lucky enough to have some around.

A garden inoculant is really just anything we use to bring beneficial microbes into our gardens.

These microbes are often deficient for various reasons, but if we can get more of them back in there, they:

  • Make nutrients available to plants and even feed them nutrients and water directly
  • Protect plants from disease both in the soil and above ground
  • Improve the structure of the soil so it has the right amount of air spaces, water spaces, nutrient availability, pH, etc.

Making Your Own Microbial Inoculant

Step 2 Making Inoculant

Root Development

Purpose

Gather and multiply Lactobacillus bacteria, which are especially beneficial microbes using organic milk and whole organic grain

Ingredients

  • 3 TBSP or 45 ml of Whole Grain (Any whole grain will work, we prefer organic rye)
  • Milk (We prefer organic but any milk will work)
  • 1 TBSP or 15 ml molasses
  • 4-liter glass jar or plastic container

Step 1

Prepare complex carbohydrates

If your water has chlorine, you can get rid of it by letting it sit out for 24 hours in a sunny spot.

Add your 15 ml of molasses and 45 ml grain to 450 ml warm water.

Let soak for 6-26 hours.

Pour water into a container, discarding the grain. Put on a loose lid/paper towel/cheesecloth so that air can still get in.

Keep the container at room temperature out of the sun for 2 at 30C to 7 days at 18C. The warmer the room the less time it will take.

You are looking to see a thin film on the surface and a bit of a sour smell.

Step 2

Strain your liquid and measure it. You should have approximately 400 Ml of liquid but the amount is not important.

Whatever your measurement of grain/water mixture is, add 10 times the amount of milk to the liquid.

Tighten the lid tight. Open the lid to let the mixture “burp” once or twice a day for the next 10 days.

Step 3

Once you notice solids forming on top stain the liquid, keeping the liquid and removing the solids (which can go into your compost or garden).

The liquid is your incoulant. You can put your inoculant in the fridge for one year or more.

Using Inoculent

Mix approximately 7 ml (1/2 teaspoon) of inoculant to 4 litres of water.

You can use this inoculant to spray your soil, spray plants, or soak your seeds before planting.

One Comment

  1. S.Shank October 5, 2023 at 3:59 am - Reply

    This is very interesting. I have never known how to make the inoculant. Thank you for the recipe.

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