Emma Wilson
Turkey tail mushrooms (Trametes versicolor) are a type of polypore mushroom that can be found worldwide. They are known for their medicinal properties and striking appearance, with their cap displaying concentric zones of varying colours including black, brown, white, cream, red, orange, cinnamon, and grey. They are thin, flexible, and leathery in texture, with a white to light grey underside covered in dense, small pores. Turkey tail mushrooms grow in clusters on dead stumps and fallen branches of deciduous trees, and they are powerful decomposers, contributing to healthy forests by recycling nutrients back into the soil. While they are not typically eaten fresh due to their tough and woody structure, they can be used in soups, stews, teas, or dried and ground into powder. Here is a guide on how to plant and grow your own turkey tail mushrooms at home.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common names | Turkey tail mushrooms, Coriolis Mushrooms, Coriolus versicolor, kawaratake, yun zhi, cloud polypore |
| Scientific names | Trametes versicolor, Coriolus versicolor, Polyporus versicolor |
| Appearance | Striking, colourful, fan-shaped, semicircular, spoon-shaped, convex, flat, kidney-shaped, circular, semi-circular, bracket-shaped |
| Size | 1-4 inches wide, 1-4 mm thick |
| Texture | Leathery, flexible |
| Colour | White, light grey, black, brown, cream, red, orange, cinnamon, grey, green, blue |
| Pores | Dense, small, whitish yellow |
| Spore print | White |
| Spores | Cylindrical, smooth |
| Habitat | Woodlands, stumps, fallen branches, dead logs, hardwood forests, deciduous trees |
| Temperature | 18°C-24°C |
| Humidity | High |
| Growth time | 2-4 weeks, 6-12 months, 3-4 months, 10-12 months |
| Growth methods | Grow kits, log cultivation, sawdust blocks, grow bags, plastic containers, buckets |
| Uses | Medicinal, tea, supplement, soup, stew, mushroom powder, tinctures, extracts |
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What You'll Learn
- Turkey tail mushrooms can be grown using kits, log cultivation or sawdust blocks
- The log method is the most traditional and natural way to grow them
- Grow kits are the most beginner-friendly way to grow turkey tail mushrooms
- Turkey tail mushrooms grow very slowly and can take several months to reach a harvestable size
- They can be grown indoors or outdoors
Turkey tail mushrooms can be grown using kits, log cultivation or sawdust blocks
Turkey tail mushrooms are a type of polypore mushroom that can be found worldwide. They are often sought for their medicinal properties. They can be grown at home using kits, log cultivation, or sawdust blocks.
Grow Kits
Turkey tail mushroom grow kits are the most beginner-friendly way to grow turkey tail mushrooms. These kits are intended for use indoors but can also be used outdoors if the weather conditions remain suitable for the entire fruiting phase. The kits are ready in 2-4 weeks and cost $15-30. They include everything needed, such as a humidity tent to maintain the optimal temperature and humidity for the mushrooms to fruit.
Log Cultivation
Log cultivation is the most traditional and natural way to grow turkey tail mushrooms. It involves inoculating hardwood logs with turkey tail spawn. This method produces the best yields but takes 6-12 months. To start, select freshly cut hardwood logs such as oak, maple, beech, alder, or birch, with a diameter of 4-8 inches and a length of 2-3 feet. Logs should be cut from healthy living trees within the last 4-5 weeks. Clean the logs by brushing off any dirt, moss, or lichen from the bark without damaging it. Turkey tail mycelium needs about 10-12 months to fully colonize a log. During this time, maintain moisture by watering during dry periods. The first mushrooms typically appear in late summer or early fall of the year following inoculation, and logs can continue producing for 3-5 years.
Sawdust Blocks
The sawdust block method is ideal for intermediate growers seeking faster results than log cultivation. This method uses sterilized sawdust blocks supplemented with nutrients to grow turkey tail mushrooms indoors. The substrate should be sterilized by boiling the moistened sawdust mixture in a large pot or container for 1-2 hours to eliminate competing microorganisms. The mycelium will then colonize and form a thick layer for about 3 months in the high CO2 environment of the sealed bag.
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The log method is the most traditional and natural way to grow them
The log method is the most traditional and natural way to grow turkey tail mushrooms. This method can be traced back thousands of years to modern-day Japan. Turkey tail mushrooms are a potent medicinal mushroom with antioxidant and bioactive properties, and they have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries.
To grow turkey tail mushrooms using the log method, you will need to inoculate hardwood logs with turkey tail spawn. Choose hardwood logs cut from healthy living trees within the last 4-5 weeks. Logs should be 4-8 inches in diameter and 2-3 feet long. Brush off any dirt, moss, or lichen from the bark without damaging it, as the bark is needed to maintain moisture and protect the log from competitive wild fungi.
The logs should be placed in a shaded, moist environment and monitored regularly to prevent drying out. Water the logs during dry periods to maintain moisture. The first mushrooms typically appear in late summer or early fall of the year following inoculation, and logs can continue producing for 3-5 years.
While the log method is a more traditional and natural way to grow turkey tail mushrooms, it is important to note that this method takes longer than other methods, such as grow kits or sawdust blocks. The log method typically takes 6-12 months to yield mushrooms, while grow kits are ready in 2-4 weeks, and sawdust blocks take 3-4 months.
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Grow kits are the most beginner-friendly way to grow turkey tail mushrooms
Turkey tail mushrooms (Trametes versicolor) are a potent medicinal mushroom with a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine. They are well-known for their health benefits and striking appearance, resembling the multicoloured feathers of a wild turkey's tail.
Growing turkey tail mushrooms at home is a surprisingly achievable endeavour, even for beginners. There are several methods to cultivate these mushrooms, but grow kits are the most beginner-friendly option. These kits are ideal for those with limited space and equipment, costing between $15-30. They are intended for indoor use but can also be used outdoors if the weather conditions remain suitable.
The grow kits come with straightforward instructions and usually require you to open the bag, mist with water, and place the kit in the provided humidity tent. Small bumps or "pins" will start to form, which will develop into turkey tail mushrooms. This typically begins 2-4 weeks after setting up the kit, but full development can take several weeks as turkey tails grow more slowly than culinary mushrooms. It is important to open the humidity tent briefly each day to allow for air exchange while maintaining the necessary humidity.
If you have successfully grown turkey tail mushrooms using a kit, you may want to try more advanced methods such as growing them in bags or using the traditional log cultivation method. The log method involves inoculating hardwood logs with turkey tail spawn and typically takes 6-12 months to yield mushrooms. Overall, turkey tail mushroom grow kits are an excellent option for beginners who want to try their hand at cultivating these vibrant and medicinal fungi.
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Turkey tail mushrooms grow very slowly and can take several months to reach a harvestable size
Turkey tail mushrooms are a type of polypore mushroom that can be found worldwide. They are known for their medicinal properties and striking appearance, with their cap displaying several colours, including white, various shades of red and orange, and dark brown. The underside of the cap is covered in tiny pores, and the entire mushroom grows in clusters of leathery, thin brackets with multicoloured zones.
Growing turkey tail mushrooms can be challenging due to their slow growth and specific needs. They thrive in temperatures between 18°C and 24°C and require high humidity to develop properly. The growth process can be complex, and it can take several months for the mushrooms to reach a harvestable size. Therefore, patience and careful monitoring are crucial when cultivating these mushrooms.
Beginners can start with a grow kit, which typically costs $15-30 and includes everything needed. These kits are intended for use indoors but can also be fruited outdoors if weather conditions remain suitable. To use a grow kit, you must first unbox and inspect it, ensuring that the mycelium (white, thread-like growth) is visible and there is no contamination. Then, find an appropriate location with indirect light and temperatures between 68-77°F (20-25°C), avoiding direct sunlight or heating/cooling vents. Finally, follow the kit's specific instructions, which usually involve opening the bag, misting with water, and placing it in a humidity tent.
Another method for growing turkey tail mushrooms is log cultivation, which is the most traditional and natural way. This method involves inoculating hardwood logs, such as oak, maple, beech, alder, or birch, with turkey tail spawn. Log cultivation typically takes 6-12 months and produces the best yields. To use this method, select appropriate logs cut from healthy living trees within the last 4-5 weeks. The logs should be 4-8 inches in diameter and 2-3 feet long. Clean the logs by brushing off any dirt, moss, or lichen from the bark without damaging it. Then, inoculate the logs with turkey tail spawn and maintain moisture by watering during dry periods. The first mushrooms will typically appear in late summer or early fall of the year following inoculation, and the logs can continue producing for 3-5 years.
Overall, growing turkey tail mushrooms requires patience and a careful approach to provide the ideal conditions for their slow growth. With the right knowledge and equipment, it is possible to successfully cultivate these medicinal fungi at home.
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They can be grown indoors or outdoors
Turkey tail mushrooms are versatile and can be grown indoors or outdoors. The most traditional and natural way to grow them outdoors is by using the log method, which involves inoculating hardwood logs with turkey tail spawn. The logs should be cut from healthy living trees within the last 4-5 weeks, with a diameter of 4-8 inches and a length of 2-3 feet. This method produces the best yields but takes 6-12 months.
If you're looking for a faster outdoor option, you can try the standard drill and fill method of log cultivation. For this method, you will need to drill holes in the logs and fill them with spawn.
For growing indoors, a turkey tail mushroom grow kit is the most beginner-friendly option. These kits are intended for use indoors but can also be used outdoors if the weather conditions remain suitable. The kits cost around $15-$30 and usually take 2-4 weeks to be ready. To use a grow kit, you will need to find an appropriate location with indirect light and temperatures between 68-77°F (20-25°C). Avoid direct sunlight or heating/cooling vents. Most kits will require you to open the bag, mist it with water, and place it in the humidity tent.
Another option for growing indoors is to use mushroom growing bags. This method involves preparing, inoculating, and incubating your mushroom substrate. You can also grow turkey tail mushrooms indoors in plastic containers or buckets. If using buckets, you can either drill holes in the side of the bucket for the mushrooms to grow out of or open the top of the bucket and let them fruit from there.
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Frequently asked questions
Turkey tail mushrooms can be grown in three ways: using grow kits, log cultivation, or sawdust blocks. Grow kits are the easiest method, while log cultivation yields the best results.
Turkey tail mushrooms take 2-4 weeks to grow with a grow kit, 6-12 months with log cultivation, and 3-4 months with sawdust blocks.
The traditional method for growing turkey tail mushrooms is log cultivation, which involves inoculating hardwood logs with turkey tail spawn.
Turkey tail mushrooms thrive in temperatures between 18°C and 24°C and high humidity levels. They require minimal air circulation and grow very slowly, so patience is crucial.
Turkey tail mushrooms grow in clusters of leathery, thin brackets with multicolored zones, resembling the tail of a wild turkey. The underside has whitish-yellow pores, and the cap may be semicircular, circular, or fan-shaped.
