Growing Edible Mushrooms - from kits, spawns, and plugs

[applestar]

I know, I KNOW! But I did say SIGNIFICANT and this is pretty significant:

!!! SHIITAKE MUSHROOMS !!!
[img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/Image5871.jpg[/img]

I swear these weren't there last night. And the first ones to pop out were totally not the ones I've been looking at. More blackheads like the one to the bottom right are scattered around the block too. Now I'm going to have to photo every likely bump EVERY DAY! I soaked the colonized spawn block from last Thursday evening to Friday evening, so it's been 6-1/2 days since setting up the patch. Pretty darn amazing and gratifying.

Also, OYSTERS -- In addition to the rice straw, 2 out of the 3 coffee ground pots are getting a wash of white like frost on the surface. I still don't see anything on the 3rd coffee ground pot and the paper pot. (I raised the thermostat by 1ºF yesterday, I wonder if that had any bearing or if it's just coincidental timing) BTW, I can *see* (pun intended) the advantage in growing in clear bags: bursts of white mycelium growing inside are visible in the corncob/stick/brown rice substrate in canning jars.

I decided that if I get enough spawn incubated/colonized, I'm going to try an experiment with cotton rags (old T-shirts, jeans, towels) substrate.

ETA: Came across instructions for growing Oyster Mushrooms on a roll of toilet paper. [url=https://www.fieldforest.net/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1_17_28]Field and Forest sells kits[/url] with everything you need. It looks like F&F kits come with grain spawn. But I've found several instructions on-line. (I'll post links if anyone's interested.) I believe removal of the center core is not strictly necessary and there are ways around that. The core would probably provide more nutrients than the paper, but the mycelium might colonize more quickly without it. It sounds like a funky Christmas present, doesn't it? Time line is about 2 wks to colonize the TP, 3 days (or more) in the fridge to stimulate fruiting, and about 2 wks to grow and harvest. I guess the easiest thing to do would be to inoculate the TP around 2 weeks before presenting them and provide instructions to refrigerate and grow. Some of my friends and family may end up with TP mushrooms this year....

[gixxerific]

Sounds like you have been busy. Glad to hear thing are turning out good for you. I can hear the excitement in your post. Keep 'em coming I always love your post, especially when you are going out on the edge as you usually do, nothing better than a guerrilla gardener, taking things a step further and not relying on the same old same old.


Just putting this out there for everyone. I love Christmas. I also love mushrooms. No reason to tell you this just thought I'd tell you all (hint hint).

[applestar]

I'm going to link Stella's post about Paul Stamet's video here
[url=https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=20264&highlight=]6 Ways Mushrooms Can Save the World[/url]

[applestar]

This is OT but we went on a Nature Walk today. The past 3 days of rain and relatively warm 60's/40's weather provided ideal conditions for a Mushroom Walk I'm going to have to learn to ID these:
[img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/WCR%20MML/Image5897.jpg[/img] [img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/WCR%20MML/Image5911.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/WCR%20MML/Image5899.jpg[/img] [img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/WCR%20MML/Image5907.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/WCR%20MML/Image5914.jpg[/img] [img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/WCR%20MML/Image5915.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/WCR%20MML/Image5913.jpg[/img] [img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/WCR%20MML/Image5910.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/WCR%20MML/Image5926.jpg[/img] [img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/WCR%20MML/Image5917.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/WCR%20MML/Image5928.jpg[/img]

[gixxerific]

Cool pics I think the 2nd and 3rd ones are the Mario Mushroom. Just kidding they look like the ones from Super Mario Brothers video game.


Have you ever had Morels? They are simply awesome and found in the wild. I'm not sure if they have ever been commercially grown. But we are avid Morel hunters around here.

[url=https://jv-foodie.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/05/11/morel1_2.jpg]Morel[/url]

[applestar]

Mario Mushrooms -- I know what they are! My kids have the Princess something or other for their Nintendo DS.

Yumm! I've had morels, and they're supposed to grow around here too (or at least in Princeton, NJ). They do sell spawn kits to grow a morel patch in your garden. (Someone has a Youtube-type video up of him using Rabbit Fence to protect his morels from raccoons. Considering that he only fenced it on 4 sides and not the top, I doubt the protection level, especially in light of the various raccoon stories I've heard here. ) Apparently though, they're not easy to cultivate on mixed substrate (think mushroom soil mix) indoors. Memory's a bit vague, but I believe someone has a patented a special technique.

Too late this season, but next spring, I'm going to check with local mycological societies, state parks, etc. and look for guided mushroom walks.

[applestar]

On Sat. 11/21 (so basically 2 wks after starting), I harvested the Shiitake. It was the only one to grow -- the other buttons that started seem to have been re-absorbed. But look a the size of this thing!
[img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/Image5979.jpg[/img] [img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/Image5976.jpg[/img]
It looked like this when it started to grow back on 11/16
[img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/Image5954.jpg[/img]

You can see how much the surface of the block has darkened. I've stopped watering it, and will let it rest for 1 wk, then soak it and hopefully get it to grow another flush, which is supposed to be more numerous, smaller mushrooms as compared to the larger but less numbers in the first flush .

I left the big Shiitake cap in a covered glass bowl for a couple of days until it released spores, and I'm trying to grow them on corrugated cardboard (Starbucks coffee cup holder). I'll let you know how that goes.

TODAY (3 wks), I noticed an itty bitty Oyster mushroom growing in the straw substrate:
[img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/Image5999.jpg[/img]
... as well as a nice cluster that are hopefully going to grow out from one of the side holes:
[img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/Image5991.jpg[/img]

I didn't take a photo, but I checked on the oysters in used coffee grounds in the inner pasta pot (hadn't looked at it in a couple of days as this one is in another room), and it's COVERED in white mycelium (2 wks)! I do have photos from 11/18 of the Oyster mushroom "cakes" I'm trying to grow (inoculated on 11/10):
[img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/Image5966.jpg[/img] [img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/Image5970.jpg[/img]

One last photo of the big shiitake with an equally big carrot harvested from a forgotten corner of the garden
[img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/Image5981.jpg[/img]

[gixxerific]

Very awesome. Really it is interesting to see it go from nothing to all that. Seem like things are going well, even trying to save spores. Very interesting, I would like to know how that comes.

Now how many harvest can you get. I seem to remember that some will produce for years.

Keep 'em coming.

[applestar]

I'm having a blast. So far, it hasn't been any more difficult than learning to cultivate a new kind of plant. It's mostly just a matter of researching the growing requirements, then experimenting and adapting different methods to see what works.

The instructions say that you can usually get 3 flushes before contamination (mold) sets in. That's why it's important/more economical to learn to "extend the mycelial mileage" as P. Stamets puts it, and propagate from spores (thinik seeds), stem butts or gill sections (cuttings) or spawn/mycelia (root cuttings) rather than thinking you're done after the growing kit doesn't "fruit" any more. At the very least, I would use the spent block to try inoculating additional substrate or logs. I can't wait to move on to trying to establish them outside -- because of the amount of growth medium/nutrients available, "producing for years" doesn't happen unless you grow them on logs or in well-prepared beds (for Oyster mushrooms -- I believe Shiitake *must* be grown on logs and up away from contact with soil outdoors). I think this is akin to growing in containers vs. in the ground and establishing a self-seeding annual cycle or a perennial. If you're growing in "containers" you have to renew or repot by replacing the substrate (I.e. soil) and getting the mycelia to colonize to "fruiting size" again.

I like that so far, the Oyster mushrooms have been performing as expected -- it seems to be a good variety for a beginner to start with. You want to set yourself up to succeed and gain confidence and experience. Sawdust Shiitake kit, too, seems pretty straightforward. I've read that indoor log culture is actually a bit more difficult -- mostly the need for near 100% humidity WITH good air circulation vs. mold contamination issues.

BTW, I resisted weighing that first Shiitake, but at the last minute (before slicing it up and sautéeing it in butter, EVOO, a bit of salt and a touch of soy sauce -- Yumm! ) I gave in: Including the stem, it weighed 5.04 oz: about $3.50 worth at organic price of $11 per pound. DDalmost11 wants me to guarantee that we'll have plenty of Shiitake for our traditional New Year's Eve noodle soup I don't know, but I guess I'll have to try.

[gixxerific]

Good luck for New Years. Don't want to upset the yougen's.

I really wanted to try the log method maybe it's because they were a little cheaper, who knows. But I seem to remember hearing some of them would live up to 6 years. I'll have to look into it. No big deal though.

I know I have talked about a big stump on the way out of my street. that it is always loaded with mushrooms. It's pretty big though, 3 feet tall and about a 1 1/2 feet wide at the smallest point. Right now it has a Ton of white "shelf like mushrooms, it also has some really bright orange mushrooms growing out of it. pretty cool looking. I think about you and how I should get a pic of it. It really is a cool stump, as far as stumps go that is.

[applestar]

Do you remember

If you want fast maturing crops for kids you can't leave out radishes.

in https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=101198#101198 ?

Well, I've discovered something better than radishes -- you guessed it! Mushrooms!! Shiitake harvested in just over 2 weeks! First Oyster is growing well and will be ready to harvest in a few more days, so let's say 4 weeks! And look at ALL these clusters getting ready to grow! (pictures coming soon! ... having some technical difficulties )

And guess what? Mushrooms taste WAY better than radishes

--
Gixx, I really think the growing kits are worth it. They grow so fast you're eating mushrooms within a month! Also, it hasn't been difficult at all so far to basically triple or quadruple the original amount of spawn. And I fully intend to mix the substrate into pasteurized straw (for more mushrooms) and sterilized sawdust (for inoculating logs and outdoor patches) to keep the mycelium going. (I'm planning to do this after first flush with some, before fruiting with others, and also with spent -- I.e. finished growing mushrooms -- substrate). I'll also experiment with stem butts and spores. So it's not just a matter of breaking even.

[applestar]

READY TO PICK!!!
[img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/Image6049-1.jpg[/img] [img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/Image6058.jpg[/img]

... and more -- LOTS MORE -- to grow
[img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/Image6057.jpg[/img] [img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/Image6059-1.jpg[/img] [img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/Image6062-1.jpg[/img]

[gixxerific]

Very cool Apple!

Maybe I'll get some cash for Christmas, if so I will have to get some mushrooms to grow. But I also planned on getting other things for the garden so we shall see.

[applestar]

Know what you mean. What to do with the Christmas money -- it's always hard to pick!

READY FOR THE UPDATE ON THE PASTA POT OYSTERS?

[img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/Image6069.jpg[/img]

The plastic is stuck to the bottom of the pasta pot insert and I didn't have a helper to get it off, but believe me it's basically the same view 360º -- with mushroom clusters growing out of practically every available hole. I'd say using the stainless steel pasta pot insert is a 100% success and I HIGHLY recommend it. I'm sure this would work as well with a perforated colander.

If you remember, this is from Tues. 11/10:

With the 2nd Oyster patch/spawn, I've pasteurized coffee grounds mixed with some corn cob bedding, oak twig clippings, and a bit of oyster shells for one patch, and appropriated the perforated inside pot of the pasta pot to grow in. Lined it with pasteurized cardboard so the coffee ground don't fall out.

I might also add that I "pasteurized" the insert by leaving the insert in the pot and steam pasteurizing the substrate mixture at +/- 150ºF. After draining, cooling, mixing with spawn and replacing the inoculated substrate, this pot in it's perforated plastic humidity tent was kept on the floor in an upstairs bedroom (no direct sunlight) until the clusters started to grow into mushrooms a few days ago, then I elevated it to a desk to one side of a SE window, so overall, its environment has been warmer by a couple of degrees (say around 69~70ºF vs. 67~68ºF) and brighter with a brief touch of angled sunshine. The spawn mixture rate might have been a bit more concentrated -- I used half for this pot insert (approx 6 quarts, since the outer pot is an 8 qt.) The pasteurized coffee grounds + additions may have provided a non-competitive substrate with some extra nutrients.

[applestar]

Yesterday's Oyster mushroom harvest --
A really nice cluster:
[img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/Image6078.jpg[/img]
Assorted separate pieces (not from the first cluster):
[img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/Image6079.jpg[/img]
(The whiter ones in the middle are from the upstairs pasta pot insert patch. Don't know if it's because that patch is from a different bag of spawn or because it's a bit warmer upstairs.)
A big'un:
[img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/Image6080.jpg[/img]

All except the last big one went into a pot of Barszcz (Polish Creamed Beet Soup), and the other one was butter sautéed for DD. DH said "It's so good I can't stop eating it," and had 3 bowlsful.
[img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/Image6081.jpg[/img]

[gixxerific]

Well there you go. Congrats on the success. That cluster looks awesome. One question though How do you know when they are ready to pick?

[applestar]

Well, the instructions for the Oysters said to let them grow while the cap edges are still bent down but pick before the edges turn up into trumpets. It also said to cut away as much of the stem as possible. As you can see, in a well formed, co-joined cluster like that, the advice is contradictory and you end up picking the little ones as well as the most "ripe" ones.

Also, Oyster mushrooms come with the warning that it produces LOTS of spores and some people become allergic to them (workers in Oyster mushroom farms have to wear masks). So I'm mostly going to pick them younger rather than older.

[applestar]

Here are today's photos of the 2nd SHIITAKE Flush
[img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/Image6148.jpg[/img] [img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/Image6147.jpg[/img] [img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/Image6157.jpg[/img]

As for the Oyster Mushrooms, I've run into a problem. Most of the tiny primordia (baby mushrooms) that I photographed and posted have shriveled up and died. Only 3 or 4 good clusters grew out in each container. I'll post photos later.

One possible cause is that for a while I was spraying with filtered tap water. I've gone back to straight rain water and they do seem much better even when the rain water is being stored in a 5 gal jug indoors (I.e. not "fresh").

Now, I do have a fair history and experience with growing a variety of your average indoor and outdoor plants. Nothing extremely unusual or out of ordinary, mind you, but I've done my share of experimentation and have a decent grasp on what to do to keep'em alive. So having these mushrooms behave in these unexpected ways has been somewhat frustrating.
(STILL GOT LOTS TO LEARN OBVIOUSLY )

Assuming humidity to be a major factor, I can see why people devise grow/fruiting boxes and rooms out of large clear storage containers or a spare room or a portion of a room draped in plastic. I've seen the little zipped vinyl greenhouse with wire shelves adapted for mushroom fruiting chamber. I might seriously consider something like that. For now though, I'm sticking with perforated plastic bags -- it IS easy to individualize misting schedule, etc.

I have to say, with the Oyster Mushrooms growing in five 7~8" pots, the 10" past pot insert, plus the pint jar that has been allowed to grow out, there are a good variety of growing conditions so that clusters are forming at different times at different rates and sizes (a prime example: The shipping paper/coffee grounds substrate that was part of the original spawn growing medium experiments has FINALLY started to fruit THIS week) , and I'm harvesting mushrooms every week.

Later on, I'll post latest photos of the two 1/3 paper towel rolls (I couldn't bring myself to use TP) that were inoculated with home-grown spawn in the canning jars on 12/13. They'r growing nicely and are emitting the distinct anise-like aroma of Oyster Mushroom mycelium. I'm giving one or both to my brother for Christmas Here are photos from 12/13:
[img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/Image6096.jpg[/img] [img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/Image6097.jpg[/img] [img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/Image6098.jpg[/img] [img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/Image6104.jpg[/img]

[soil]

I don't want to butt in, has anyone used these spored oils

https://www.fungi.com/plugs/plugs.html

I read a few articles that say load it into your chainsaw and cut host trees in rounds. then let the logs sit and the fungi takes over from the spores in the cut ends.

[applestar]

You know you're obsessed -- when your DD requests some boiled potatoes to eat and you realize with joy that you can decant the potato boiling water for the Potato Dextrose Agar ....

[applestar]

Sorry soil, I didn't mean to ignore your query. I haven't used it, but am planning to use shiitake spore oil when I cut my oak logs. PS actually recommends triple whammy -- spored oil to cut with, plug spawns, AND (I think) hemp rope spawn -- in one of his books... Mycelium Running, probably.

I've gone ahead and made some P(RS)YA. RS because I discovered that I was out of Malt but had Brown Rice Syrup. It was actually supposed to be Dextrose according to the Potato Dextrose Yeast Agar recipe, but I had RS, so what the hey -- I used the same portion of RS as Barley Malt is called for in Malt Extract Yeast Agar. Am still cobbling together equipment, so I went with small canning jars (4 oz jelly jars and the squat 8 oz wide-mouth jars) and tried 2 8-oz jars (one supplemented with sawdust and wood shavings) of shiitake spores and 2 4-oz jars of oyster spores as well as one 8-oz jar of bits of oyster cap to clone.

I did my best to follow sterile procedures, but I don't know... I just don't have super clean rooms. It's very well to recommend using the unused spare bathroom cleaned spotless -- obviously, those are written by either wealthy college students or recent graduates, making the bucks and living in one of those unfurnished apartments/condos with a master bedroom suit with a den and an extra 1/2 bath. I looked everywhere but there IS no spotlessly clean unused spare bathroom to be found in my house

Will report back on how those turn out.

I have to say I'm having a problem with that pot insert of oysters. I'm not sure if it's the size, the metal container or some general sloppiness on my part, but fungus gnats found it and I've been trying to come up with a way to save it. Right now it's been put in a chill cycle/rest. I have to keep it clean but try to dry it out somewhat -- not easy to do because of the large mass -- I wish I could put it in a spotlessly *clean* fridge, but my fridge is neither clean, nor does it have the spare space to hold a pot that size. Ha! I just though of something, DH has his "bait" fridge in the garage that as far as I know isn't being used right now....

Like I mentioned elsewhere, earlier this week, I've made up a new batch of substrate -- Pet bedding being the main component -- aspen shavings and Woody Pet sawdust pellets. Aspen is technically hardwood but considered softwood for some reason, and Woody Pet is supposedly made up of softwoods with all resinous materials removed to be healthy for pets. Also a small portion of corncob bedding, and a handful of crushed eggshells, oystershells, and garden sulfur. Pressure cooked in oven bags (still not buying "proper" supplies you see ) in small batches.

2 bags (one "sawdust substrate above and one 1/3-paper towel) inoculated with oyster spawn from my Pint canning jar pressure cooked corncob spawn back in November, whose twin had pinned and fruited last month. These bags are amazingly vigorous and myceliating already.

2 bags were inoculated with the Shiitake spawn kit after it had fruited twice. Unfortunately a patch of green mold had started. Although I tried to cut out the affected area and washed and peroxided the spawn surface before inoculating these bags, I have very little confidence that these will make it. I do see some white filaments, but whether they're shiitake mycelium or that green mold remains to be seen.

At least I'll know in time to buy a new spawn kit for my oak logs if I have to, and I already had good harvest from the Shiitake kit. The 2nd flush was tremendous -- and well-supplied our New Years Eve noodle soup along with a goodly harvest of Oysters.

[top_dollar_bread]

wow AS, I need to grow me some mushrooms now
looks like you got this down

[applestar]

Heh. Just because I'm TRYIN' is in no way an indication of competence.

Those jars of agar, only one or two are showing any sign of growth. Whether that growth is mushroom hyphae remains to be seen.

Two mistakes --
(1) I filled the shallow canning jars too full of agar. With the alumnum foil lid, it's TOO DARK and the gap too narrow to see the top of the agar clearly. I keep having to take the darn lids off -- very bad for keeping out baddies.
(2) My spore collecting technique (HOW can you miss collecting Oyster mushroom spore I've no idea) might have been inadequate because all I see are the swoosh marks on the agar where the spores should be growing, though one of the shiitake spore agar and the one of the three pieces of oyster clones *appears* to be growing.
... oh OK THREE mistakes
(3) My house might be just a tad too cool at 69º. I think I should push them up to mid-70's for better spore germination. Too bad I can't keep them in the Seed Starting Area which I'll be setting up soon.... (too much mold, etc. other microbes which I'll be ENCOURAGING for the soil to be safe for agar cultures, I think.) I'll have to work something out..

In the mean time, I received the [url=https://www.fieldforest.net/store/index.php?main_page=page&id=3&chapter=0]Field and Forest[/url] catalog. I'm thinking their Wisconsin outdoor strains should be hardier than Fungi Perfecti's Washington State strains and, therefore, perhaps more suited to my garden. I also like that they have so many Shiitake strains with clearly described characteristics. Well, their oyster strains are interesting too, and they have Eryngii! At any rate, I'll be poring over the catalog.

I'm going to try another batch of agar using my good Weck jars with glass lids (minus the rubber gasket). If these prove to be still problematical in terms of viewing/observing the growth therein, there's company in PA (mycosupply.com) that carries all kinds of mushroom growing supplies (not spawn). I may break down and see about getting some stuff. I need a scalpel for one, DH was NOT happy that I used our good sharp Global fruit knife -- knife point is blackened from sterilizing it in flame....

Oh, the bags of Oysters are starting to waft the wonderful anise scent so THOSE are doing well, and the Shiitakes are both showing good growth and giving off nice woodsy scent (but then again, still too early to tell -- crossing my fingers).

[joshbuchan]

I am sorry... I cheated yes, I have bought mushroom grow kit with allready swawned manure and straw in the bottem and a caseing layer, it was only ...£3.49, I was wounder they be allright growing in a propergater? it ses dnt put in direct heat but its very cold out so I dnt know what to do. I have a a very good fermomiter so if u could maby tell me what heat they grow at I could find it out for myself, well anysways thanks.

[!potatoes!]

^ depends on what variety of mushroom the kit's to grow. more info, please

[applestar]

Oh good. josh's mushroom don't sound like the ones I've tried growing... yet Hope you've the answer potatoes.

[joshbuchan]

oh sorry forgot about this post

um how anouying it dose not acturly tell u what mushrooms just ses taylors bulbs mushroom growkit, the pic looks like button mushrooms if u ask me, on the side its got a complete grow giuld and to do and not to do.

inside theres a polistyreen tub lets say its 10 x 5 inc I cant find a ruler.
then inside the tube theres allready spawned compost, then on top theres a black lid, then inside the lide is your caseing layer in a packet, all u got to do is emptey the caseing layer on top of the spawned compost and keep moist with a spray bottle, then put the lid back on upside down.

I have not started it yet, but I will be sreralising my propergater then will be giving them a try inthere in my room, its way to cold to grow them in my garadge yet, but at ...£3.49 I am not complating.

Josh,

[applestar]

Post some photos josh. I'd love to see the mushrooms you're growing.

Here's a photo of that Oyster mushroom spawn in pint jar:
[img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/Image6238.jpg[/img]

It seemed like they had possibilities in the beginning:
[img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/Image6241.jpg[/img]
But the experts were right and shiitake bags have green mold "blooms" all over now, so they're going out into the compost pile. (Best not to bother trying to "save" contaminated substrates) It's just as well: Now that I've been perusing about different Shiitake strains, it appears that the ones sold as indoor kits are not necessarily suited for outdoor cultivation, so I'll get fresh spawns of a couple of strains that fruit at different times of the year. The Oysters are still doing well, however.

Here's another one that's still managing to grow. I've redefined the term "Hanging Pot"
[img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/Image6265.jpg[/img]

Fungus gnats are a problem. They do seem to enjoy floral shampoo water to drown in [img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/Image6267.jpg[/img]

I've collected more Oyster mushroom spores and will be making another attempt at agar culture soon.

[gixxerific]

Glad to see you are still going with this.

I love the hanging pot photo those mushrooms look yummy.

[joshbuchan]

sorry for me really late reply,

the ones that did not get infected look grate! and the oysters look really yummy
how do u keep them warm? I got a propergater I am thinking of putting them in but I dnt know if that will be to hot, I will not put the top on.

I am planing to start them 2moz, got everything ready.

[The Helpful Gardener]

I feel like a mad scientist....

And you look like one too!

I am most impressed AS; I have not tryed this yet but want to try some mushroom logs as a precursor to hugelkultur growing; think the combo just fits. Soil's oil sounds like a really easy and cool way to do that...

but you are actually doing it already. And don't be surprised at the occasional countercultured pathogen; my friend [url=https://www.wtic.com/pages/16256.php?]Len[/url] did this for years for a big commercial operation and says that's WAY more common than people know (he was a plant pathologist who knows fungal stuff as well as plants0 maybe I can suck him in here one of these days). But you have harvested and eaten and inspired others to do the same and THAT is something to be proud of...

HG

[applestar]

And you look like one too!

Why thank you, HG.

Sounds like a good number of us will be throwing around 'shroom jargons like PC's, teks, casings, etc. very soon, and adding the 8th layer to our Permaculture (or however you define it) gardens... and save the world or Earth.... (:oops: I think I'm babbling)

Peeked in the jars a little earlier (had just about given up on them and hadn't looked for a few days) -- one jar (Shiitake spores) had two patches of mold growing on them so I flushed it; another jar (Oyster spores) have fluffy white hyphae all over the surface and starting up the sides!

I wasn't as careful with the jars as I should've been, thinking they're probably toast. Anyway, tomorrow, I'll definitely prep the agar and culture samples out of them and see what happens, as well as try growing some more Oyster spores. I'll also post a photo of my new (as of today) Mushroom Grow Area set up as well.

[joshbuchan]

were r u getting your spores from?

I seen at cabrey garden center they are selling like 7 diffront types of dryed mushrooms sporses and 3 cardboard slabs to grow them in!
they have shiitake, orysters, pink oyster!, button and a good 5 6 more!
they are very cheap aswell, with a guide on the back telling u how to grow.

I am going to get some.

I was just woundering do u put any bleach in the water in the spray gun?

[applestar]

Interesting! I imagine I could find some local myco enthusiasts/society/club but haven't yet. I originally got the SPAWN (not spores) from Fungi Perfecti but have been collecting my own spores since the mushrooms started to fruit.

I don't believe in bleach. I use hydrogen peroxide which mushrooms can digest but DOES hurt you (learned that the hard way -- if you don't rinse off right away, your skin starts to turn white and dry up) and rubbing alcohol (which seems to be better for rubbing all over your hands... duh! -- directed at myself, not you )

It turned out that 3 out of 5 agar cultures were growing something: 1 Oyster spore, 1 Oyster clone, and 1 Shiitake spore.
Here are 2 of them:
[img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/Image6297.jpg[/img] [img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/Image6306.jpg[/img]
Aside from the one that I flushed earlier, there was one other Oyster clone culture that was doing nada:
[img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/Image6309.jpg[/img]
so compared to this one, the other 3 seemed alive and well.

According to my notes, I
-Used a 50-qt clear storage tote as a "clean room" -- laid it on side, thoroughly wiped out with alcohol, kept the lid clamped on when not in use
(according to the full instruction for this box, you're supposed to cut a hole on the bottom of the box and silicone seal a small HEPA air cleaner outflow to it to make a clean airflow box -- oh well, one step at a time)
And on Monday 2/1, I made:
(1) Weck jars of Oyster spores, collected 1/30/10 on black construction paper <1> <2> <3> -- taped the lids closed.
(2) 1/15 PRSYA (Potato Rice Syrup Yeast Agar) cultured Shiitake spores <4> <5> and Oyster spores <6> and Oyster clone <7> mycelia. -- alcohol-wiped plastic bag/sheet+ring lids -- Cut a piece off the myceliated agar and placed it hyphae side down on block of RSEYA (mycelial sandwich)
[img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/Image6304.jpg[/img] [img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/Image6313.jpg[/img]
***
Filled a roasting bag with substrate and PC'd for 2 hrs.
Filled 1 pint jar. Boil/steamed remaining substrate in pasta pot for 2 hrs, placing the filled pint jar and an empty qt jar on top to steam pasteurize as well.
<1> Filled the pasteurized qt jar with PC sterilized substrate in 4 layers, sandwiching 3 Shiitake spore agar pcs between each layer (9 pcs total)
<2> Alcohol wiped, then Peroxide sprayed a squat jar, filled with PC sterilized substrate in 2 layers, sandwiching 3 Oyster clone agar pcs -- weaker growth than Oyster spore agar -- (3 pcs total)
<3> Buried 3 Oyster spore agar pcs in the Pint jar pasteurized substrate
<4> The pint jar "grain" spawn that was allowed to fruit 1x in December -- removed the top 1" of the substrate and used the remainder to inoculate 1/2 roasting bag. Alcohol wiped, then cut a hole in the bag -- taped closed with bandage tape
<5> Washed, alcohol sprayed, then peroxide sprayed the pint jar then mixed the top 1" spawn with substrate and filled the jar.
[img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/Image6316.jpg[/img]

Not boring you with these details, I hope. I *may* add some photos to this post later on, but no time now. Ta da.

ETA: My new Mushroom Room. (You like the new use I found for the room de-ordorizing doo-dad that was popular on TV infomercials last year?)
[img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/Image6295.jpg[/img]

[joshbuchan]

wow thank you so much for all that detail!!

so what did u use for your susbstrat?

I cant wait to get things going, I just need to make a cleen room with some gloves inthe side

I bought a msuhroom foriging book, it was the river cottage one acturly so when its time I want to go up the woods hunting some wield ones aswell

[Ozark Lady]

Apple, you are in big trouble!

I have more projects now than I can do! And I am so fascinated with mushroom growing, that I have been in You tube looking at the many ways of accomplishing this, all before Gixx pointed out this thread to me.

I saved alot of you tube links, to go back and view them again later.
They are fascinating. And in one, the farmer said, he just steams the mushroom growing medium when he is done with it, and puts in on his land. Hmmm... seems to me that the left over soil would be special for the garden. I wonder if you could put earth worms in it following the mushroom culture to turn it all into casings and have a real bonanza!

Here are some of the interesting mushroom videos that I was watching:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vz6qgRCD0_I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9eE1hcA2t8&feature=fvw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGWjZXDstbc&feature=related

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pibnCO3HKHI&feature=related

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ua-bAdvxEhg&feature=fvw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfpkPJw32f0&feature=related

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdNRJ_zt6vQ&feature=related

A wise man takes a multitude of counsel. Since this is new to me, I think if I try several different methods and compare them, then I should see which works best for me. I notice you also tried variations.

My issue and still not totally found, is how to get from a spore on mushroom to a new culture in a jar. I need to re-watch these...

I also found a place where you order mushrooms like they are garden seeds. https://m.italianseedandtool.com/results.cgis?catalog=ISATFULL&keywords=mushrooms

[applestar]

Thanks Lady! I'll go watch them and come back for more.

[applestar]

They're BAACCK! This is the one that used to be in the "hanging pot"
Little primordia starting to pop. Hopefully inside the new Mushroom Room, higher humidity can be maintained and a good % of them will grow out:
[img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/Image6326-1.jpg[/img]

[syntheticbutterfly]

I keep looking longingly at this thread and would love to give mushroom growing a go, I'd be thinking about doing it in the cave house in the back yard. Would that work do you think? How much light/warmth do you need?

[Ozark Lady]

I am not sure about the warmth, but the best time for me to find some mushrooms is ... as soon as this snow clears out.

Then others will pop up as the season gets warmer.

In this video they grew mushroom in a brick looking building, looks dark and they used a candle for light.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vz6qgRCD0_I

I found many different ways of growing mushrooms, surely there is a way to fit every single one of us...

For me, it is just getting brave enough, and some spores, or plugs and trying it...