Michael Davis
Mushrooms are perennial organisms that can live for decades. They have two distinct parts: underground, a web of thread-like hyphae, known as mycelium, covers a huge area and absorbs nutrients, and above ground is the reproductive organ, which is the part we eat. Mushrooms are an increasingly popular food source, as they are fat-free, low-calorie, low-sodium, gluten-free, nutritious, and available all year round. They can be grown outdoors on hard wood logs and wood chips, and some varieties, such as Wine Caps and Oysters, are perennial in certain climates.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Mushrooms are perennial organisms that can live for decades |
| Parts | Mushrooms have two distinct parts. Underground, a web of threadlike hyphae known as mycelium covers a large area, absorbing nutrients and powering the fungi. Above ground is the visible fruit, which is the reproductive organ that we eat. |
| Perennial fruiting | Mushrooms are a decay fungus that continues to produce a new pore layer and spores from the same fruiting structure over several or more years |
| Perennial growing | Perennial mushrooms can be grown outdoors on hard wood logs and wood chips. |
| Perennial species | Shiitake, oyster, wine cap, lion's mane, blue oyster, snow oyster, Italian oyster, and nameko mushrooms are perennial in certain climates. |
| Perennial growing conditions | Mushrooms will thrive where there is sufficient temperature and moisture. |
| Perennial benefits | Perennial mushrooms can be a great additional food source, and they also improve soil health. |
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What You'll Learn
- Mushrooms are perennial organisms that can live for decades
- Perennial mushrooms can be grown outdoors on hard wood logs and wood chips
- Perennial fruiting structures are hoof-shaped or flattened conks attached to the trunk of a tree
- Perennial mushrooms include wine caps and most oyster mushrooms, except pink oysters
- Perennial mushrooms can be grown in containers with limited space and without specialised equipment
Mushrooms are perennial organisms that can live for decades
Perennial mushrooms can be grown outdoors on hard wood logs and wood chips. For inoculating logs, cut healthy wood when the trees are dormant, from fall through late winter, at an average diameter of 6 inches by one meter long. Drill the logs every six inches all the way around and insert wooden dowels with fungi growing on them, sealing them in with wax. The logs are then laid somewhere moist for 6 to 18 months as the fungi run through the log. Once the fungi have colonized the log, it will begin to fruit when the temperature and moisture levels are right—generally after a warm spring or fall rain. A stout log can produce mushrooms for up to eight years with no further input beyond harvesting.
Perennial mushrooms can also be grown in garden beds, mulched paths, and containers. Garden beds can be inoculated with straw, which is a good option if you're planting garlic in the fall. Wine cap and oyster mushrooms will both do well in straw. Containers can be inoculated at almost any time of year and are a great way to grow mushrooms with limited space.
When growing perennial mushrooms, it's important to consider the climate and temperature sensitivities of your preferred mushroom species. Mushrooms will thrive where there is sufficient temperature and moisture. There are tricks for dry climates, such as partially burying logs or using permeable covers to preserve moisture.
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Perennial mushrooms can be grown outdoors on hard wood logs and wood chips
Mushrooms are perennial organisms that can live for decades. They have two distinct parts: underground, a web of thread-like hyphae, known as mycelium, covers a huge area, absorbing nutrients and powering the fungi; and above ground is the visible fruit, which is the reproductive organ—the part that we eat.
Perennial mushrooms can be grown outdoors on hardwood logs and wood chips. The process is simple: cut healthy wood (trees or limbs) when they are dormant, from fall through late winter, at an average diameter of 6 inches by a meter long. Once cut, drill the logs every six inches all the way around and insert wooden dowels with fungi growing on them, sealing them in with wax. The logs are then laid somewhere moist for 6 to 18 months as the fungi run through the log.
Once the fungi have colonized the log, it will begin to fruit when the temperature and moisture levels are right—generally after a warm spring or fall rain. A stout log can produce for up to eight years without any further input other than harvesting the mushrooms.
When growing mushrooms on wood chips, you can grow them under trees in the field or garden, or put the chips into containers and grow them inside or outdoors. If you put the chips into a container, you can have more control over the production process. You can sterilize the chips, isolate them from potentially competitive fungi species, or water your mushrooms. Growing indoors also allows you to monitor and control temperature and humidity, which will help you get the highest yield.
If growing outdoors, you may need to fence the area or lay wire netting on top of the wood chips until they are established to prevent animals from digging up the chips. It is also important to note that growing mushrooms outdoors means that there is always the possibility of wild colonisation by potentially toxic species.
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Perennial fruiting structures are hoof-shaped or flattened conks attached to the trunk of a tree
Mushrooms are perennial organisms that can live for decades. They have two distinct parts. The first is the underground network of thread-like hyphae, known as mycelium, which covers a large area, absorbing nutrients and powering the fungi. The second is the visible fruit, or reproductive organ, which is the part that we eat.
Perennial mushrooms can be grown outdoors on hard wood logs and wood chips. Species such as shiitake, oyster, and wine cap mushrooms are well-suited to this method. To inoculate logs, you should cut healthy wood when the trees are dormant, from fall through late winter, at an average diameter of 6 inches by 1 meter long. Next, drill the logs every 6 inches around their circumference and insert wooden dowels with fungi growing on them, sealing them with wax. The logs should then be placed somewhere moist for 6 to 18 months as the fungi colonize the log. Once the fungi have colonized the log, they will begin to fruit when the temperature and moisture levels are right – generally, this is after a warm spring or fall rain. A stout log can produce mushrooms for up to eight years with minimal further input beyond harvesting.
Perennial fruiting structures are hoof-shaped or flattened conks attached to the trunk or large scaffold branches of a tree. They are difficult to remove from the tree without a mallet or considerable force and typically increase in thickness and size with age. When broken in half, these conks exhibit evidence of multiple pore layers.
When growing mushrooms, it is important to consider the environmental conditions they require. Different mushrooms fruit in different seasons, so matching your mushroom to its preferred season will give you the best results. Additionally, certain species do better on certain substrates, so it is essential to match the mushroom to the right substrate. For example, oyster mushrooms grow well on straw, while wine caps are cold-hardy and perennial in northern zones.
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Perennial mushrooms include wine caps and most oyster mushrooms, except pink oysters
Mushrooms are perennial organisms that can live for decades. They have two distinct parts: an underground network of thread-like hyphae called mycelium, which absorbs nutrients and powers the fungi, and the visible fruiting body above ground, which is the reproductive organ that we eat. Perennial mushrooms include wine caps and most oyster mushrooms, except pink oysters.
Wine cap mushrooms are a great option for beginner growers as they are resilient and low-maintenance. They thrive in shady areas and can grow under tomatoes with minimal watering. Wine caps can also grow on wood chips that have been decomposed by oyster mushrooms.
Oyster mushrooms are another easy-to-grow option, especially for beginners. They are fast-growing and adaptable to different conditions, making them suitable for both indoor and outdoor cultivation. Oyster mushrooms can be grown on various substrates, including hardwood logs, wood chips, straw, and paper. They are known for their distinctive flavour and texture, which make them a favourite among chefs.
However, it is important to note that not all oyster mushrooms are perennial. The Pink Oyster mushroom, for example, fruits in warmer weather and is not considered a perennial variety. Perennial mushrooms produce spores in more than one season from the same fruiting structure, while annual mushrooms only produce spores for a single growing season.
When growing oyster mushrooms, it is important to consider their preferred temperature range, which is generally between 30-80 degrees Fahrenheit. Some varieties, like the cold blue oyster mushrooms, prefer colder climates and require a "frost shock" to initiate fruiting. On the other hand, species like the Flamingo and Pink Oyster thrive in warmer weather.
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Perennial mushrooms can be grown in containers with limited space and without specialised equipment
Mushrooms are perennial organisms that can live for decades. Perennial mushrooms can be grown in containers with limited space and without specialised equipment.
Mushrooms can be grown in containers such as reusable, non-biodegradable buckets, baskets, tubs, and crates. These containers are ideal for outdoor settings and can be placed in small yards, balconies, and patios, making mushroom cultivation accessible to those with limited outdoor space. Containers also enable experimentation with different mushroom species, substrates, and techniques. The best mushrooms for container growing are side-fruiting varieties like Blue Oyster, Golden Oyster, Pink Oyster, Italian Oyster, and Lion's Mane.
When choosing a container for growing mushrooms, growers have several options, including plastic mushroom bottles, mason jars with lids, single-use mushroom growing bags, and reusable containers like tubs or buckets. The ideal container will depend on the type of mushroom, chosen substrate, growing method, and quantity of mushrooms desired. Plastic containers, such as monotubs made from plastic totes, plastic bags, small plastic containers, and buckets, are popular choices but may not withstand high temperatures required for sterilization. Therefore, they are best used with less nutritious substrates like straw, cardboard, coffee grounds, and sugarcane bagasse, which do not need sterilization.
To grow mushrooms in containers, the basic steps are the same for all. First, choose a suitable substrate for your mushroom variety. Then, add the mushroom spawn, known as inoculation, and moisten it. Keep the container at the correct temperature for the mycelium to grow. Finally, change the environmental conditions to trigger fruiting, usually by adjusting temperature and humidity.
For those in milder climates, mushroom cultivation can be a year-round endeavour. By inoculating in the fall, you can get a head start on growing for the next season, and the cool, wet conditions of fall are ideal for mycelial growth. In addition, the cold snaps of fall often trigger fruitings, and if temperatures consistently dip below freezing, you can bring your container inside to continue growing through the winter.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, mushrooms are perennial organisms that can live for decades. Perennial fruiting bodies produce spores in more than one season from the same conk.
Outdoor perennial mushroom growing is usually done on hard wood logs and wood chips. Cut healthy wood when they are dormant from fall through late winter, at an average diameter of 6″ by a meter long. Drill the logs every six inches all the way around and insert wooden dowels with fungi growing on them, which is then sealed in with wax. The logs are then laid somewhere moist for 6-18 months as the fungi run through the log.
Wine caps and most oyster mushrooms are perennial in temperate climates.
