Farming mushroom grain spawn requires attention to detail and sterile practices to ensure a healthy and productive culture. It can seem complicated and overwhelming but the truth is, once you have high-quality mushroom grain spawn cultivating grain spawn successfully can be simple.
Pebble Creek Mushrooms offers guidance and support on how to farm high-quality grain spawn for mushroom cultivation at your farm.
Steps to Successfully Farm Mushroom Grain Spawn
Step 1: Choose Your Substrate
Substrate choice can depend on the mushroom species you’re growing but some common options include straw (best for Oyster Mushrooms), hardwood sawdust (ideal for shitake and lion’s mane), composted manure (options include button or portobello); mushrooms listed are just some examples.
Most important is ensuring your substrate is free of contaminants and ready for inoculation.
Step 2: Prepare Your Substrate
Once you have chosen your substrate, it’s time to prepare it, which includes removing debris, dirt, and foreign materials and then pasteurizing or sterilizing the substrate. If you’re using straw be sure to soak it in water that’s been heated to 160-180°F (71-82°C) for one to two hours; then drain and cool. If you choose sawdust or another material, you can sterilize using a pressure cooker or steam for two to three hours to kill the contaminants.
Regardless of the substrate, be sure to let it cool completely before inoculating.
Step 3: Inoculate Your Substrate
Time to inoculate!
Sanitize your workstation so that your working environment is clean. If your spawn is clumped, break it up and then mix it evenly into the substrate. In general you can use 1 part spawn to 5-10 parts substrate as a guide for most mushrooms; make sure the substrate and spawn grain are well combined so that the mycelium can spread easily.
Fill clean containers (plastic grow bags with filter patches, buckets with small holes drilled for airflow, or wooden boxes for some examples) with your inoculated substrate.
Step 4: Inoculation
The inoculated substrate needs to be stored in a dark, warm place and should be monitored over the next 1-4 weeks as the mycelium colonizes the substrate. Keep an eye out for contamination: green, black, or unusual growth, and remove those areas right away.
Step 5: Fruiting
When the substrate is fully colonized, it’s time to move it to a fruiting chamber or designated area on your farm. Ideal conditions for mushroom growth to consider:
- Humidity
- Temperature
- Light
- Air Exchange
Grain Spawn to Mushroom Harvest
When the mushrooms’ caps are fully developed but not flattened, they are ready to harvest. To separate them from the substrate, you must gently pull and twist them or use a knife to cut them at the base.
Important Tip: Most substrates can produce several flushes of mushrooms as long as you maintain humidity and good conditions between harvests.
Consistency in temperature, humidity, and cleanliness is a top priority when farming mushroom grain spawn. Keep detailed records of the growing process and experiment with different grains to find the best results for your mushroom species.
Whether you’re a restaurant looking for high-quality ingredients or a farmer eager to elevate your crops, Pebble Creek Produce in Michigan offers fresh, sustainably grown mushrooms and mushroom spawn.
Elevate your mushroom growing experience and SHOP DIRECT: Happy Farming!
