Emma Wilson
Harvesting spores from mushrooms is a simple process that allows you to grow your own mushrooms and make beautiful natural prints. The reproductive bodies of fungi, mushrooms' purpose in life, is to produce spores, or seeds. Each type of fungus has a different spore type and releases them in unique patterns depending upon the form of the underside of the mushroom cap. Gill mushrooms are the easiest to harvest spores from, but with some experimentation, spores from all types can be harvested. To harvest mushroom spores, you can make a spore print by using a mature mushroom and placing it on a sterile surface, such as paper or foil, to release its spores, which settle into a spore print.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Mushroom type | Any variety, but gill types are easiest |
| Mushroom condition | Fresh, firm, and not mushy |
| Mushroom source | Store-bought or wild |
| Equipment | Paper, glass, bowl, water, gloves, scissors/knife, heatproof gloves, metal surface, wax paper, aluminium foil, hair spray, artist spray |
| Process | Remove the stem, place the cap gill-side down, add a drop of water, cover with a bowl, leave for 2-24 hours, remove the bowl and cap to reveal spores |
| Spore preservation | Spray spores with hair spray or artist spray to preserve the print |
| Spore cultivation | Use spore syringes, agar plates, or grain spawn bags |
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What You'll Learn
Preparing your mushrooms and surface
To prepare your mushrooms and surface for spore extraction, follow these steps:
Firstly, select a fresh, mature mushroom with gills that are readily apparent. Ensure the mushroom is firm and not mushy, with no signs of mould, brown spots, or wetness. For best results, choose a mushroom with a large cap. It is important to use a mushroom that is known to be edible, especially if you plan on consuming the mushrooms you grow from these spores.
Next, prepare your surface. You will need a piece of white paper and a piece of black paper, or foil, placed side by side. Having both colours ensures that you will be able to see the spores clearly, regardless of their shade. Sterilize the surface by wiping it with 70% rubbing alcohol or holding it over a flame. This helps prevent bacterial contamination. If you are using foil, you can also place the mushroom inside a basket and enclose it with foil when collecting in the field.
Now, prepare the mushroom. Remove the stem from the mushroom by cutting it at its base, as close to the gills as possible. You can use scissors or a knife, but be sure to sterilize them first by holding them over a flame. Alternatively, you can simply pull out the stem, as it usually separates easily. If your mushroom has a skirt that is protecting the gills, carefully remove it with a heat-sterilized knife.
Finally, place the mushroom gill-side down onto the prepared surface. If you wish to keep the stem attached, cut a hole in an index card, insert the stem, and place the card on top of the paper, with the underside of the cap resting on the card.
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Removing the stem
To harvest spores from mushrooms, you'll need to remove the stem from the mushroom cap. This process is slightly different depending on the type of mushroom you're working with.
If you're working with a gilled mushroom, the spores lie on the gill surface. To remove the stem, use scissors or a knife to cut the stem at its base, as close to the gills as possible. You can also pull the stem out, as it usually separates easily from the cap. If the mushroom has a skirt of the cap that grows over the gills, use a heat-sterilized knife to carefully carve out this part, being careful to avoid the gills.
For mushrooms with pores, the spores will be inside the pores underneath the cap. If the mushroom is soft and fresh, such as a bolete, you can simply cut or pull out the stem. However, if the mushroom is hard, it may be more difficult to obtain spores. Try wrapping the mushroom in a wet paper towel or newspaper overnight before placing it on foil, paper, or glass to make a spore print.
Once you have removed the stem, you can place the mushroom cap gill-side down onto a piece of paper, foil, or a microscope slide. If you want to reduce the risk of contamination, sterilize the surface beforehand using 70% rubbing alcohol or hold it over a flame. You can then proceed to collect the spores by covering the cap with a bowl or glass and leaving it for 2-24 hours.
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Using water to extract spores
Firstly, select a fresh, mature mushroom with gills readily apparent. The mushroom should be healthy and large-capped. If you are using a mushroom with pores instead of gills, the spores will be inside the pores under the cap. Remove the stem from the mushroom, either by cutting it at its base with scissors or a knife or simply pulling it out.
Next, place the mushroom cap, gill or pore-side down, onto a piece of paper or foil. If you want to be as sterile as possible, use heat-sterilized tweezers to handle the cap. If you are using paper, it is recommended to use one white and one black sheet side by side, as spores can be light or dark-coloured.
Then, add a drop of water to the top of the mushroom cap to keep it moist and encourage spore release. Be careful not to add too much water, as this may ruin the spores. Cover the mushroom with a cup or bowl to lock in moisture and prevent spores from blowing away. Ensure that the cup or bowl does not press down on the mushroom, as this could damage it.
Finally, leave the mushroom undisturbed for 2 to 24 hours, depending on the humidity and freshness of the mushroom. The mushroom will release its spores, which will fall onto the paper or foil, creating a spore print pattern.
If you are planning to grow mushrooms from the spores, you can re-hydrate them using sterile, distilled water and a syringe. This involves drawing cooled, sterilised water into the syringe and using it to collect spores from the spore print. With this method, you can then inoculate a growing medium, such as compost or substrate blocks.
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Using a spore syringe
To make a spore syringe, you will need to source some mushroom spores. These can be found online in the form of spore prints, or you can buy ready-made spore syringes. Choose the strain or strains you wish to cultivate, ensuring that you obtain high-quality spores from a reputable source. Consider the strain's growth characteristics, potency, and any specific requirements.
To create a spore syringe, you need to work in a sterilized environment and with distilled water that has been boiled two or three times to ensure any bacteria has been eliminated. Make sure your syringe needle is sterile by holding it in a flame for a few seconds. Pour some of the cooled, sterilized water into the syringe body. Using the syringe needle, lightly scrape the spores from your spore print into a sterilized glass. Expel half of the water from the syringe into the glass. Draw the spore water back into the syringe. At this point, you should notice that the water has become slightly discoloured, and you may even be able to see some floating clusters of spores.
To inoculate a mushroom bag, use the tip of the syringe to scrape up the spores, then mix them into the distilled water. Fill the syringe and cap it off. Inject 20-40ml of spores into a disinfected grow bag.
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Storing your spores
Firstly, it is important to store spores in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight. Sunlight, and in particular UV rays, can degrade spores over time. Keeping spores away from exterior walls or windows will also protect them from temperature fluctuations.
Secondly, spores should be stored in a sealed container. Airtight containers, such as vacuum-sealed bags, mason jars, or airtight boxes, will protect spores from oxygen, moisture, and contamination. If you live in a high-humidity environment, you may wish to include a desiccant packet in the container to ensure moisture levels stay low.
Thirdly, refrigeration will significantly extend the lifespan of spores. Refrigerators set at temperatures between 2°C and 8°C (35°F and 46°F) are ideal for maintaining spore viability. However, it is important never to freeze spores, as this can damage them and reduce their viability.
Finally, it is recommended that you use spores within 12–18 months for the best results. While spores can remain viable for years, fresh is always better.
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Frequently asked questions
The most common method for harvesting spores from mushrooms is by making a spore print. To do this, you need an edible mushroom with gills, a piece of white paper, a glass container, and water. Cut off the mushroom stem and place the cap, with the gills facing down, onto the paper. Put a drop of water on the cap, cover it with the glass container, and leave it for 24 hours. When you remove the glass, you should see a spore print pattern on the paper.
You can use spores to grow mushrooms by inoculating a prepared substrate, such as compost or substrate blocks, with the collected spores. Keep conditions humid and dark to encourage growth. Alternatively, you can mix spores with water and spray them onto a substrate, but this method is less effective and more expensive due to contamination issues.
When harvesting spores, it is important to use a fresh and healthy mushroom, as unhealthy mushrooms may not produce spores. Sterilize any tools and surfaces used in the process to reduce the risk of contamination. If you plan on growing the mushrooms to eat, make sure to use a type you know is safe and edible.
