Emma Wilson
Mushroom inoculation is the process of introducing mushroom spores or mycelium to a suitable growth medium, such as logs or sawdust. The type of mushroom and growth medium determine the inoculation method, which can be dry or wet. Dry inoculation uses grain spawn, sawdust spawn, or plug spawn, while wet inoculation uses liquid culture or spore syringes. The inoculation process involves drilling holes into the growth medium, filling them with spawn, and sealing with wax to prevent contamination. Timing is crucial, as inoculating in the fall gives a head start for the next season, and strategic wood harvesting can maximise yields.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Mushroom growing terminology | Inoculation is the process of adding mushroom spores or spawn to a suitable nutrient medium for growth |
| Inoculation types | Wet or dry inoculation |
| Dry inoculation types | Grain, sawdust or plug spawn |
| Wet inoculation types | Liquid inoculation using mycelium growing in a nutrient-rich solution or mushroom spores in a sterile solution |
| Inoculation stages | Culture stage, grain spawn stage, sawdust spawn stage, bulk substrate stage |
| Inoculation process | Drill a series of holes in each log, fill with spawn, cover the surface of each hole with wax |
| Spawn characteristics | Should be moist, white (sometimes with a brown crust) and appear fuzzy; should smell like mushrooms, not mildew or mold |
| Spawn storage | Should be kept away from direct sunlight and temperature extremes; thimble spawn keeps for shorter periods, dowel spawn for longer |
| Timing | Logs should be inoculated within a month of cutting in northern latitudes, within 2 weeks in more southern latitudes |
| Log characteristics | Thin-barked, low-density hardwood tree species provide quick fruitings but only for a short time; logs with a thick sapwood layer and small heartwood area are preferred |
| Mushroom bed types | Wine caps, oyster mushrooms, pink oysters (perennial only in subtropical and tropical regions), blue oysters, snow oysters, Italian oysters |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- The inoculation process: Drill holes, fill with spawn, seal with wax
- Choosing spawn type: Plug, sawdust, grain, liquid or thimble
- Preparing spawn: Check for contaminants, store correctly, leave at room temperature before use
- Preparing logs: Cut from live, healthy trees, store, drill holes
- Growing mediums: Manure compost, straw, sawdust, logs
The inoculation process: Drill holes, fill with spawn, seal with wax
The inoculation process is a crucial step in mushroom cultivation, where the spawn is introduced to a suitable nutrient medium, known as the substrate, to initiate its growth. One common method of inoculation involves drilling holes in logs, filling them with spawn, and sealing them with wax. Here is a detailed guide to this process:
Drilling Holes:
Before starting the inoculation process, it is important to prepare the logs properly. Diseased and wounded sections of the logs should be removed, and small branches should be cut down to stumps of approximately two inches. The logs should then be cut to their final length, ensuring a maximum number of suitable logs that can be easily inoculated.
Once the logs are prepared, it is time to drill the holes. A drill bit with a diameter of 7/16” and a depth of 1.25” is ideal for creating the holes. Starting one inch from the end of the log, drill holes that are three inches apart in rows along the length of the log, with three to four inches between each row. The number of rows of drill holes should correspond to the diameter of the log; for example, a log with a six-inch diameter should have six rows. It is recommended to have a minimum of 30 to 40 drill holes per log, staggered in a diamond pattern to ensure rapid fungus growth.
Filling with Spawn:
After drilling the holes, it is time to fill them with spawn. Plug spawn is a simple option, as it only requires a drill and hammer or mallet to insert the spawn into the holes. However, it is slightly more expensive and slower compared to sawdust spawn, which requires a special tool called an inoculator. The type of spawn used will depend on the mushroom species being grown and personal preferences.
Sealing with Wax:
The final step in the inoculation process is sealing the holes with wax. Coating the surface of each hole with wax helps optimize mycelium growth conditions and reduces the risk of contamination by other fungal species. It is also important to coat the wounds on the logs (except the log ends) with wax to seal in moisture and promote mushroom growth.
The inoculation process is just the beginning of mushroom cultivation. After inoculation, the mycelium will grow through the substrate, a process known as colonization, which can take several weeks or months. During this time, it is crucial to maintain optimal conditions, including temperature and moisture levels, to ensure successful mushroom growth.
Mushrooms' Slimy Secrets: Unveiling the Mystery
You may want to see also
Choosing spawn type: Plug, sawdust, grain, liquid or thimble
Choosing the right spawn type for mushroom inoculation
The type of spawn used for mushroom inoculation depends on your specific project needs, species of preference, available substrates, and growing methods. The spawn type also determines the cultivation strategy, spawn run time, and price points. The most common spawn types are plug spawn, sawdust spawn, grain spawn, liquid spawn, and thimble spawn.
Plug Spawn
Plug spawn is ideal for small to medium-sized projects and is typically used for log cultivation with species like shiitake and lion's mane. It is made with hardwood dowels about the diameter of a pencil and 1" long. The process is straightforward and relatively inexpensive, and it is one of the best ways to get started with growing mushrooms. The only tools needed are a drill and a hammer or mallet. However, plug spawn is slightly more expensive per log than sawdust spawn, and the mycelium takes longer to migrate into the sapwood of the log.
Sawdust Spawn
Sawdust spawn is formulated from supplemented hardwood sawdust and is ideal for large log inoculation projects, as well as some specific species, gardens, and outdoor beds. It is the least expensive type of spawn, especially in larger quantities, and it is easy to use for inoculation with a few specialized tools. It has the fastest spawn run time, colonizing logs the most quickly, which results in a shorter time to harvest. However, sawdust spawn requires special tools for inoculation, such as a drill or angle grinder with an adapter, a special drill bit, an inoculation tool, wax, and an applicator. It also dries out more quickly than plug spawn and needs to be kept moist and used promptly to avoid contamination.
Grain Spawn
Grain spawn is composed of hydrated grains like millet, oats, rye, wheat, sorghum, popcorn, brown rice, or even birdseed. It is typically used for indoor cultivation and is combined with bulk substrates to make fruiting blocks, spray and grow kits, sawdust spawn, and plug spawn. Grain spawn is highly nutritious, but mushroom yields from grain spawn alone are low. It is more expensive and prone to contamination than sawdust spawn, and it has a slower spawn run time due to its larger particle size.
Liquid Spawn
Liquid spawn involves growing mycelium in a nutrient-rich solution or using mushroom spores in a sterile solution to inoculate a substrate. Spore syringes are commonly used to inoculate agar plates or grain to grow mushroom mycelium. Liquid spawn is often used to inoculate grain, which is then used to inoculate other growing mediums.
Thimble Spawn
Thimble spawn is a type of spawn that is used for mushroom inoculation, but there is limited information available on this spawn type compared to the other types mentioned.
Mushroom's Place in Ketogenic Diet: Friend or Foe?
You may want to see also
Preparing spawn: Check for contaminants, store correctly, leave at room temperature before use
When you receive your spawn, check for contaminants. Good-quality spawn should be moist, white (sometimes with a brown crust), and appear fuzzy. It should smell like mushrooms, not mildew or mould. Weed fungi and bacteria can be controlled by not damaging or opening the spawn container until you are ready to use it. Once opened, the risk of contamination increases.
To store spawn correctly, keep it away from direct sunlight and temperature extremes. Depending on the type, spawn can be kept for one to six months and should be refrigerated at about 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Thimble spawn keeps for shorter periods, while dowel spawn keeps for longer. Check the supplier's website for strain-specific storage directions. Do not store spawn in the freezer.
Before inoculating, leave the spawn at room temperature, following the supplier's instructions. Usually, this will be for around two to five days in advance.
Mushroom Spores: Best Places to Plant and Grow
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Preparing logs: Cut from live, healthy trees, store, drill holes
Logs are an essential component of mushroom inoculation. Here is a detailed guide on preparing logs for inoculation:
Cutting from live, healthy trees
Logs must be cut from healthy living trees. The best time of year to cut is during winter or spring when the trees are completely dormant. Planning wood harvests around sap flow maximises the available nutrients in the wood. During the fall, the optimal time for harvesting wood is after 30% of a tree's leaves have changed colour through full leaf drop.
Storing
Inoculation should take place within zero to two months from the date the tree was felled. Logs can be cut and inoculated nearly any time of the year, but strategic timing can increase yield and longevity.
Drilling holes
Drill a series of holes in each log. The holes should be 7/16” in diameter and 1.25” deep for plug spawn, or 5/16" deep for sawdust spawn. Start 1-2 inches from the end of the log, drilling holes 3-8 inches apart in rows along the length of the log, with 3 to 4 inches between rows. The holes should be staggered in a diamond pattern to ensure rapid growth of the fungus throughout the log. Closer spacing increases colonisation and results in more rapid mushroom production, but spawn costs are also greater.
Mushroom Gravy: Heinz's Vegan Option?
You may want to see also
Growing mediums: Manure compost, straw, sawdust, logs
The growing medium and method of inoculation depend on the type of mushroom you are growing. Here is a detailed guide on the different growing mediums:
Manure compost
Horse manure is the most widely used manure for mushroom cultivation, specifically for Agaricus family mushrooms like Portobello, which do not grow on wood substrates. To prepare the substrate, fill black plastic trash bags with a 50/50 mix of straw and horse manure and allow them to compost for a minimum of 2 weeks in full sun. Deposit the fresh compost into your shaded bed of choice and inoculate with your garden spawn. One popular commercial blend of mushroom substrate is a mix of wheat straw, gypsum, and chicken or horse manure.
Straw
Straw is a preferred growing medium for mushrooms, especially Oyster mushrooms. It is also used in traditional straw bale gardening, where bales are "conditioned" by adding nitrogen-rich compost or manure to provide nutrients and initiate decomposition. When using straw, it is better to break it up into 1-3 inch pieces.
Sawdust
Sawdust is a good option for growing mushrooms, especially for hardwood-loving Oyster mushrooms. It is also a common substrate for commercial mushroom cultivation. However, sawdust has a low water-holding capacity and can be challenging to rehydrate once completely dry.
Logs
Logs are a good option for growing wood mushrooms such as shiitake. When properly cared for, mushroom logs can fruit as often as every 5 weeks for over 5 years! Logs should be cut fresh and optimally inoculated on the same day. To inoculate logs, you will need a tool called an inoculator to inject sawdust spawn into the holes.
Mother Mushroom: The Fearless Voice of Vietnam
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Inoculation is the process of adding mushroom spores or spawn to a suitable nutrient medium for growth. Depending on how and where you’re growing your mushrooms, you may need to inoculate the substrate in sterile conditions to prevent contamination.
There are two main types of mushroom inoculation: wet and dry. Dry inoculation uses grain, sawdust or plug spawn to introduce mycelium to a mushroom substrate. Grain spawn is most often used when growing mushrooms indoors. Liquid inoculation, on the other hand, uses mycelium growing in a nutrient-rich solution or mushroom spores in a sterile solution to inoculate a substrate.
First, a series of small holes are drilled into each log. The depth and spacing of these holes depend on the type of mushroom and spawn being used. Each hole is then tightly packed with spawn and sealed with wax to prevent contamination. The logs are then soaked with water and kept in a shady place to grow.
