Mushrooms!

[Hunt-Grow-Cook]

Some homegrown species. Golden oysters and Winecaps.

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[JayneR13]

Wow! @Hunt-Grow-Cook I know some of those species, like the tree and coral oysters, but not most of them. What's that huge one you're holding, last picture in last post? And one of the reds looks almost like a wine cap but not quite? What is that one?

@Moth1992 I would think you'd see good colonization in a couple of weeks. Much more than that and mold is more likely to develop according to the Stamets book. I've found colonization proceeds better in my Martha tent now that the heater is there, but I'm in NE Wisconsin. Baby it's cold outside! My monotub, which is unheated, hasn't pinned in the month since I inoculated. And it was looking promising for awhile too.

As for dividing your Martha tent, all you can do is try. It seems to me that mushrooms and tomatoes require vastly different conditions though so I'm a bit dubious. But no worries! As you gain in skill you'll likely use the space in that tent. Give it time! Rome wasn't built in a day and neither is a garden.

On the up shot, my bear's head are pretty much ready to harvest. The shiitake and coral tooth are taking their time, which is probably just as well. I can only eat so much fresh at once and fresh doesn't last very long. What I can't eat will be dehydrated.

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[JayneR13]

For the record: almost one pound! Not exactly free of course, but much cheaper than the grocery store. And healthier since I know what went into it!

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[JayneR13]

Some homegrown species. Golden oysters and Winecaps.

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[Moth1992]

Wow @JayneR13 i can only dream if the time i can harvest more fresh mushrooms than I can eat.

[Hunt-Grow-Cook]

Wow! @Hunt-Grow-Cook I know some of those species, like the tree and coral oysters, but not most of them. What's that huge one you're holding, last picture in last post? And one of the reds looks almost like a wine cap but not quite? What is that one?

The red coral is Ramaria araiospora, not related to oysters at all I dont think... coral oysters, Is that a nick name? The huge one is a water-looged, overgrown Bolete. Coastal porcini. The red one is a type of Russula mushroom, Russula Emetica I believe. Some Coccora and Lobsters in there too. I've got some other pictures I'll upload when I can find them. Some better pictures of the winecaps we have grown. Chicken of the woods and Lions mane we found in the wild, and of course Morels too.

[JayneR13]

Wow! @Hunt-Grow-Cook I know some of those species, like the tree and coral oysters, but not most of them. What's that huge one you're holding, last picture in last post? And one of the reds looks almost like a wine cap but not quite? What is that one?

The red coral is Ramaria araiospora, not related to oysters at all I dont think... coral oysters, Is that a nick name? The huge one is a water-looged, overgrown Bolete. Coastal porcini. The red one is a type of Russula mushroom, Russula Emetica I believe. Some Coccora and Lobsters in there too. I've got some other pictures I'll upload when I can find them. Some better pictures of the winecaps we have grown. Chicken of the woods and Lions mane we found in the wild, and of course Morels too.

AKA pink oyster. It looks quite a lot like yours. This is why I don't forage myself, although my grandmother did. A local herbalist I know has poisoned herself twice by eating the wrong shroom. That's learning the hard way! But here's a link to pink aka oysters. You may have a different name for them.

https://urbanspore.com.au/how-to-grow-m ... mushrooms/

@Moth1992 You keep dreaming! And keep growing. This is one of the biggest flushes I've had to date and came from two bags that were ready for harvest at the same time. I've made plenty of mistakes in my mere three years and will make more. I've learned from every one though! You will too. And soon you'll have that huge flush that's more than you can eat at one time.

[Hunt-Grow-Cook]

Gotcha, I was just confused when you added the coral to it. Have never heard them called that, especially considering there is an actual group of "coral" mushrooms. The two varires, pink coral and pink oyster have very different growth habits and are easy to distinguish. And one is wild (coral), one is only cultivated commercially or by home growers. Dont think you'd ever find a pink oyster in the wild here in the states. Foraging is definitely not something to jump into willy nilly, but is extremely rewarding, educational and fun. A good field guide and practice, youd be surprised how many edibles species that are rather easy to ID once you learn the key characteristics. Oysters are actually some of the easier ones to ID.

[Hunt-Grow-Cook]

Foraged lions mane found growing on an Oak tree. Fantastic substitute for "crab" in a crab cake recipe.

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[Hunt-Grow-Cook]

Few more. Chanterelles and homegrown golden oysters.

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[JayneR13]

OMG! I was looking over my mushroom operation yesterday and found these baby portobellos! I've been really frustrated with my monotub. This is the fourth inoculation and I haven't harvested one single shroom yet. I thought it was just too cold for them to grow since I started this tub 12/17 but it wasn't moldy so I just left it. Then I saw this:

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I've also got a second flush of the bear's head going and my coral tooth are just about ready for harvest. I'll post a picture when I have the poundage on those. I also inoculated five grain jars yesterday with the last of my liquid culture from October. Since it had been a good 25 years since I made PDA, I went a bit overboard and had five tubes of everything I had at the time. My rationale was that at least one tube of each would mold so I'd have some that didn't. In most cases all five tubes were good, so I felt the need to use it all up. Now I'm down to just my master cultures and can make liquid culture as needed, a few weeks in advance of course. I can cut the PDA recipe down to 1/4 or even 1/8 if all I need is a few vials worth, although I hate to run my canner for that tiny amount too. At least sterilizing broth is only a 30 minute run rather than 1.5 or 2.5 hours, and I can toss my old test tubes in even though they got a boiling water treatment. Can't be too sterile where mushrooms are concerned! And I can't wait to see full sized portobello from my own operation. I used finished compost from my yard composter as well.

[Moth1992]

Its going at snail pace but FINALLY i see some myc in my first bags innoculated with liquid culture. I think my house is not that warm but hey, I see no contamination so far.

I did another batch last weekend implementing lessons learned, see how that goes.

[JayneR13]

That's what we do @Moth1992 ! Garden and learn, and get better. Do you have the Stamets book Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms? I'm finding it a wonderful reference. Among other things it gives heat values for spawn runs. My tent runs from the low 50sF to about 70F and the mycelia seem to be happy. And check this out! Another 3/4 pound of bear's head, harvested today. Hopefully I'll get a third flush.

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[Moth1992]

Ok so question

I have a bunch of spent substrate ( aspen shavings with old oyster myc).

I feel bad throwing it away but im not sure I can use it in container gardening?

I see people use mushroom compost as a soil amendment but that maybe has manure etc? Would aspen chips be of any benefit mixed in with soil or as mulch?

And would the oyster myc be too agressive and mess up seedling development?

Thoughts?

[JayneR13]

Absolutely use it in your garden beds! Tossing it in your compost bin is also an option. The lions mane I’ve tried seeding in my yard wasn’t terribly aggressive and I got a couple of small fruits. I don’t know how oyster mycelia would interact with your seedlings. Mushroom fungi don’t typically compete well, hence the mold problems we have. But the spent substrate would likely be a great soil amendment!

[Moth1992]

Absolutely use it in your garden beds! Tossing it in your compost bin is also an option. The lions mane I’ve tried seeding in my yard wasn’t terribly aggressive and I got a couple of small fruits. I don’t know how oyster mycelia would interact with your seedlings. Mushroom fungi don’t typically compete well, hence the mold problems we have. But the spent substrate would likely be a great soil amendment!

Ive seen some references to the use of oyster spent substrate in agriculture.

But im still not sure if its a good idea for container gardening. Wish I had a compost pile. It seems to be very high on salts. It sounds like it could be great mulch. Ive also been wanting to do a small vermicomposter im sure i could yse some of it

[JayneR13]

Absolutely use it in your garden beds! Tossing it in your compost bin is also an option. The lions mane I’ve tried seeding in my yard wasn’t terribly aggressive and I got a couple of small fruits. I don’t know how oyster mycelia would interact with your seedlings. Mushroom fungi don’t typically compete well, hence the mold problems we have. But the spent substrate would likely be a great soil amendment!

Ive seen some references to the use of oyster spent substrate in agriculture.

But im still not sure if its a good idea for container gardening. Wish I had a compost pile. It seems to be very high on salts. It sounds like it could be great mulch. Ive also been wanting to do a small vermicomposter im sure i could yse some of it

Perhaps if you mixed it with some potting soil? Potting soil isn't typically very nutrient dense anyway, especially something like Miracle Gro that isn't soil at all! But yeah, if it's high salt you might want to put it somewhere it can rejuvenate. I think mulch is a reasonable idea. It might even surprise you with some mushrooms!

[JayneR13]

A cheery sight on a snowy day! I'd cut the bag open so the mycelia could fruit, but they decided to flush under the plastic rather than on top. Not being one to argue, I cut the bag wide open along where the fruiting was happening. And for my trouble, I've got some nice, fat, fresh white elm oyster! These seem to do well for me. I'll have to keep the culture.

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[Moth1992]

Nice!!

My second innoculated batch was a disaster. I rushed and everything got contaminated. Oh well.

My first batch is in the tent now to fruit though.

[JayneR13]

I've had more disasters than I care to name! We keep trying and are eventually successful. I had one with my supper the other night and have another huge one ready for picking. And this weekend is Mushroom Weekend: prepare and inoculate six blocks since that's what I have ready spawn for, and bleach out the tent. Busy hands are happy hands, right?