Mushrooms..

[Easydrinker]

An attempt at putting something somewhere sensible
I have copied the following post from another thread on the forum, simply because I found it so informative and effusive.(For sure there are tidier ways to do this, but WTF)
Thank you BlindXX, I look forward to some free time to play with this.

Robert.

[Easydrinker]

All depends on the type of mushroom. Inside or out? Bit of both. I grow the spawn on birdseed inside, transfer to cardboard (cold sanitized with washing up liquid) in plastic buckets with lid. When colonized place contents in 35l RUB with some holes drilled in and damp vermiculite in bottom. Spray every day. Leave inside or out (left mine out), when conditions are right, they'll grow. Where abouts are you? I'm North London (Waltham Abbey) so rarely gets too cold for a prolonged period. main thing is to be careful sterilizing grains to grow initial spawn on and keep things clean as possible to reduce other bacterial contamination. I got really into it, took my own spore prints from them, got two jars of mycelium in nutrient solution in the fridge, along with 10 spore syringes... It's like the edible version of brewing! Getting ready to do my next lot in a couple of weeks (pink and grey oysters, shiitake when I have a bit more experience). look up Basic PF tek for some easy how to's. Finally, and this is for anyone who reads this and is interested, oysters are great beginners mushrooms. They grow on cardboard, old books, anything cellulose based, and more importantly I don't think there is any strain of poisonous mushroom that they can be mistaken for!

[Mash]

Can you keep mushrooms going or do I buy spores everytime?

[BlindXX]

1 spore syringe (10ml) should be enough for 5-10 grain jars. Each grain jar should be enough to innoculate 5-10 bags of bulk substrate. Depending on the mushroom, it's usually not too hard to make a spore print and make your own spore syringe. If there's enough interest I can write a full tek for the whole process.

[Mash]

I know this is technically a spirits forum, but from time to time breadmaking & growing & Gardening often pops up.

If you fancy doing a write up. That would be superb. I'm sure I'm not the only one who is interested.

[Easydrinker]

Apart from the odd Puff ball that each year grows in the poly tunnel,and was last year joined by a few parasols, I know little about actually cultivating them.
If you can be bothered to write something up, I for one would be interested to read it.

Robert.

edit; But don't let a write up get in the way of stilling!

[BlindXX]

Working on a full write up. It may take a few days though. It'll pass the time until my airstill arrives...

[BlindXX]

Here is my basic mushroom tek - just guidelines. Research properly and enjoy growing.

[Easydrinker]

Thanks dude,
I have not checked your links to spore/spawn suppliers, but top class info, thank you.

I hope that you glean enough info from this site to make it seem a fair swap.

Robert

[Mash]

Cracking read thanks - are you taking questions?

Pressure cooker for 1 hour. Presumably this is the sterilize - why 1 HOUR ?

[BlindXX]

One hour is simply because that is what all the other teks say Yeah, it is to sterilise, I assume the contents of the jars need to reach temperature from the steam (about 125 degrees in a PC?) and then sit for long enough to kill any spores. I'd imagine bacteria die off pretty quick but I'm not sure about other fungus types. Also noted a little error - buy a liquid culture syringe if you can, rather than spore syringe. Initial colonisation will be much quicker.

[Mash]

Thanks ..... just looking a different syringes now.