Michael Davis
Mushrooms are the reproductive bodies of fungi, and their purpose is to produce spores, or seeds. Each type of fungus has a different spore type and releases them in unique patterns depending on the form of the underside of the mushroom cap. The most common method for harvesting spores from mushrooms is by making a spore print. This is a method used by mycologists to identify a fungus by examining the colour, shape, texture and pattern of the released spores. To make a spore print, you need an edible mushroom with gills, a piece of paper, and a glass container. Simply remove the stem from the mushroom and place the cap gill-side down onto the paper. Cover with a glass container and leave for 24 hours. The spores will then be ready to grow into mushrooms or use for art.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Mushroom type | Oyster, button, shiitake, Agaricus |
| Mushroom characteristics | Mature, fresh, healthy, with apparent gills |
| Equipment | Bowl, water, paper, glass, spore syringe, tweezers, knife, scissors, gloves, alcohol, foil, wax paper |
| Process | Remove mushroom stem, place gill side down on paper, add water, cover with bowl, wait 24 hours, remove bowl and cap |
| Contamination prevention | Sterilise equipment, wear gloves, avoid touching cap with fingers |
| Yield and contamination control | Worse with cubes |
| Substrate | Straw, composted manure, wood, coffee grounds |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing the right mushroom
When selecting a mushroom, it is important to opt for a mature specimen that is ready to release its spores. Signs of maturity include flattening or convex caps and enlarged gills that are beginning to drop spores. The ideal time to harvest oyster mushrooms, for instance, is when the caps start to uncurl and flatten, but before they become too flat. For pink oyster mushrooms, the best time to harvest is when the cap is flat or slightly concave, and the edges are just beginning to curl up.
In addition to maturity, it is essential to consider the health of the mushroom. Unhealthy mushrooms may not produce spores, so it is crucial to choose a firm mushroom with a dry cap and moist gills. Checking for mould, brown spots, and mushy areas can help ensure the mushroom is healthy.
Another factor to consider when choosing a mushroom is the type of substrate it requires. Different mushrooms prefer different growing media. For example, wood is suitable for oyster, shiitake, and chicken of the woods mushrooms, while portobellos thrive in manure. Understanding the nutritional needs of spores and providing the right substrate are vital for successful mushroom cultivation.
Lastly, it is worth noting that some mushrooms are more challenging to grow than others. Agaricus, for instance, can be difficult for beginners due to the time it takes for them to grow and the risk of contamination. On the other hand, oyster mushrooms are considered beginner-friendly. Choosing a mushroom variety that aligns with your experience level can increase the chances of a successful harvest.
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Preparing the mushroom
Once you have selected your mushroom, check for mould, brown spots, and mushy areas. Make sure the cap is firm and not wet or mushy, and ensure that the gills are moist. If they are old and dry, they are less likely to release spores. If your mushroom has pores instead of gills, you can still extract the spores.
Using scissors or a knife, cut the stem at its base, as close to the gills as possible. Alternatively, you can simply pull out the stem, as it usually separates easily. If your mushroom has a skirt of the cap covering the gills, use a heat-sterilized knife to carefully remove it without damaging the gills. If you do damage the gills, you can still make a spore print, but the pattern will be affected.
If you want to keep the stem attached to the mushroom, cut a hole in an index card and place it over a bowl. Insert the stem into the hole so that the cap rests on the paper. Otherwise, simply place the mushroom cap directly onto your chosen surface.
To prepare your surface, you can use paper, wax paper, or aluminium foil. If you plan to grow mushrooms from the spores, it is important to sterilize your surface to prevent contamination. Wipe wax paper with 70% rubbing alcohol, or hold aluminium foil over a flame. If you are making a spore print for art, you can simply use regular paper without sterilizing it. Place your mushroom gill-side down onto the surface, taking care not to crush it.
If desired, add a drop of water to the top of the mushroom to keep it moist and encourage spore release. Cover the mushroom with a bowl or glass and let it sit for 24 hours.
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Preparing the surface
Selecting the Mushroom
Firstly, choose a fresh and healthy mushroom with a firm cap. It should not be wet or mushy, and the gills should be moist. Check for mould, brown spots, and mushy areas, as unhealthy mushrooms may not produce spores. While any variety of edible mushrooms can be used, gill mushrooms are the easiest to harvest spores from.
Sterilisation Techniques
Sterilisation is essential to prevent contamination and bacterial growth. Use heat-sterilised tweezers or gloves to handle the mushroom cap. If using aluminium foil as your surface, hold it over a flame to sterilise it. Alternatively, wipe wax paper with 70% rubbing alcohol. Scissors or knives should also be sterilised by holding them over a flame until red hot, then dipping them into distilled water.
The Surface
Place a piece of sterilised wax paper or aluminium foil on a flat surface. For artistic purposes, consider using coloured paper, with white and black being the most common choices for mushroom spores. If your goal is to identify the mushroom variety, use both white and black paper to ensure the spores are visible regardless of their shade.
Preparing the Mushroom
Remove the stem from the mushroom as close to the gills as possible. You can use scissors or a knife, or simply pull it out, as the stem usually separates easily. If the mushroom has a skirt that covers the gills, carefully remove it with a heat-sterilised knife, being careful not to damage the gills.
Positioning the Mushroom
Place the mushroom gill-side down onto the prepared surface. If your mushroom has pores instead of gills, place it pore-side down. Ensure the mushroom is not crushed or pressed down. You can use multiple mushrooms on the same piece of paper to extract more spores or create different designs.
By carefully following these steps, you will effectively prepare the surface for harvesting mushroom spores, setting the foundation for a successful spore collection process.
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Collecting the spores
Collecting mushroom spores is a simple process that allows you to grow your own mushrooms. You can collect spores from any mushroom as long as it is fresh and healthy. Make sure the mushroom is a known edible variety and check for mould, brown spots, and mushy areas. Unhealthy mushrooms may not produce spores. Feel the cap to make sure it is firm and not wet and mushy. Flip the mushroom over and check that the gills are moist; if they are old and dry, they are less likely to release spores. If your mushroom has pores instead of gills, you can still extract the spores.
To collect the spores, place the mushroom on a sterile surface with the gills facing down. You can use paper, wax paper, or aluminium foil for this. If you want to reduce the risk of contamination, wipe the paper with 70% rubbing alcohol or hold the foil over a flame. Remove the mushroom's stem so that the gills touch the paper. You can use scissors or a knife to cut the stem at its base, as close to the gills as possible. Alternatively, you can pull out the stem since it usually separates easily. If there is a skirt protecting the gills, use a heat-sterilised knife to carefully carve it out, avoiding the gills. Place a glass or bowl over the mushroom and leave it for 24 hours. When you remove the glass or bowl, you should see a print on the paper, which replicates the gill pattern from the mushroom. This is the spore print, which can be used to grow mushrooms.
If you want to encourage spore release, add a drop of water to the top of the mushroom cap. You can also create a spore solution and mix it with grain and a substrate to grow mushrooms. Substrates generally don't have enough nutrients to support mushroom growth, so it is recommended to inoculate sterile grains to make mushroom grain spawn. Once the grain spawn is colonised and free of contamination, you can mix it with the substrate.
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Growing mushrooms from spores
Collecting Spores
To collect mushroom spores, you will need a fresh, mature mushroom, a bowl, some water, a piece of paper, and a glass container. First, check your mushroom for any mould, brown spots, or mushy areas, as unhealthy mushrooms may not produce spores. Remove the stem from the mushroom, then place the cap gill-side down onto a piece of paper. Optionally, you can place the cap onto two pieces of paper, one white and one black, side by side, to ensure that the spores are visible regardless of their colour. Add a drop of water to the cap, then cover it with a bowl and let it sit for 24 hours.
Using Spores
Once you have collected your spores, you can use them to inoculate a prepared substrate (like compost or substrate blocks). Keep conditions humid and dark to encourage growth. Oyster mushrooms grow on straw, so you can use a breathable bag of straw as your substrate. Button mushrooms, on the other hand, grow in composted manure, while shiitake mushrooms grow on wood.
Alternative Methods
If you are looking for a low-tech method, you can mix your spores with water and squirt them around your yard and planter beds where composted material is. Another method is to use a spore syringe, which can be purchased online, to drop spores and water onto slides to be viewed under a microscope or to inoculate sterile substrates.
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Frequently asked questions
The most common method for harvesting spores from mushrooms is to make a spore print. To do this, you need an edible mushroom with gills (the easiest type to harvest), a piece of paper, and a glass bowl or container. Place the mushroom gill-side down onto the paper and cover it with a glass bowl. Leave it for 24 hours, then remove the bowl and gently lift the mushroom—you should be left with a spore print.
Spore prints can be used to identify a fungus, as each type of fungus has a unique spore type and releases spores in a distinct pattern. They can also be used to grow mushrooms—simply inoculate a prepared substrate (like compost or substrate blocks) with the spores.
Oyster mushrooms are a great option for beginners as they are low-tech and grow on straw. Button mushrooms are more challenging to grow but are the most commonly consumed species. Shiitake mushrooms are another option and grow on wood.
Growing mushrooms from spores can be fairly involved and requires some equipment. You will need a substrate (such as composted manure or substrate blocks) and spores to inoculate it with. You may also need sterile grains to make mushroom grain spawn, which is then mixed with the substrate.
