Sarah Brown
Spawn is the living fungal culture, called mycelium, grown onto a substrate. It provides the backbone to any mushroom-growing operation. The simplest way for beginners to start growing their own mushroom spawn is by using the stem butt method. This involves taking the stems of oyster mushrooms and placing them in a container with some damp cardboard. In a couple of weeks, you will have your own spawn. However, making your own spawn can be unreliable and time-consuming, and it may be more cost-effective to buy spawn from a supplier.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Spawn type | Plug spawn, sawdust spawn, grain spawn |
| Spawn ingredients | Grain (rye berries, wheat berries, brown rice), sawdust, wooden dowels |
| Equipment | Wide-mouthed jars, pressure cooker, bowls, sieve, spoon, knife, fork, aluminium foil, drill, cotton wool, scalpel, alcohol burner, petri dishes, nutrient agar, young mushrooms, mushroom spores, syringe, sterilized water, clean room, duct tape, bleach, workbench, storage shelves, pressure gauge |
| Sterilization method | Autoclave, pressure sterilization |
| Sterilization time | 35 minutes, 45 minutes, 90 minutes |
| Sterilization temperature | 121°C |
| Pressure | 15 psi |
| Spawn preparation | Soak grain, simmer grain, drain grain, fill jars, sterilize jars, inoculate jars, incubate |
| Spawn source | Spawn bag, spawn jar, DIY |
| DIY method | Stem butt method (place oyster mushroom stems in a container with damp cardboard) |
| Advantages of DIY | Cheaper, more control over varieties, educational |
| Disadvantages of DIY | Time-consuming, prone to failure, requires a lot of equipment, requires a sterile space |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Using the stem butt method
The stem butt method is a cheap and easy technique to grow mushroom spawn at home. It does not require expensive equipment and is not very time or resource-intensive. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use the stem butt method to spawn mushrooms:
Firstly, you will need to find some fresh oyster mushrooms. You can try to find wild oyster mushrooms, or buy fresh ones from a grocery store or farmer's market. The mushrooms should be as fresh as possible, as the stem needs to be alive to continue growing.
Next, you will need to find some large pieces of cardboard. The cardboard should be clean, with no ink or writing on it, as mushrooms are bio-accumulators and can absorb any chemicals or toxins from the cardboard. Cut or tear the cardboard into smaller pieces.
Now, you need to get your cardboard wet. Pour boiling water over the cardboard, let it cool, and then drain off the excess. This step helps to kill any wild moulds, yeasts, or other fungi that might be on the cardboard. The cardboard should be damp but not soaking wet.
Once your cardboard is ready, it's time to prepare your mushroom stems. Take the lower stems of your oyster mushrooms and cut them into sections. You can cut them lengthwise or slice them across, depending on what you find easier.
Place the mushroom stem butts into a container, spreading them out on top of the damp cardboard. Try to put in as many stem butts as possible to increase your chances of success. Then, add another layer of cardboard on top to fully cover the stem butts. Seal the container properly; you can use rubber bands to create a tighter seal.
Finally, find a warm and dark place to store your container. Keep it sealed and do not open it, as this could expose your spawn to contamination from wild yeasts and moulds. After about 11 days, your container should be fully colonized with fresh, white, strong growth. You can then try taking your mushroom spawn out of the container and allowing it to start producing mushrooms.
The stem butt method is a simple and affordable way to grow your own mushroom spawn at home. With just a few basic materials and steps, you can spawn mushrooms using this technique.
Mushroom Foraging in Austin: Best Spots to Find Fungi
You may want to see also
Creating a master culture
Laboratory Setup
A microbiological laboratory setup is ideal for creating a master culture. This includes having a sterile environment to prevent contamination. You will need petri dishes, small glass jars (such as baby food jars), an agar medium like potato dextrose agar (PDA), tweezers, needles, spatulas, an alcohol lamp or propane burner, parafilm or tape, and ethanol (200-proof alcohol) for sterilization and disinfectant.
Mushroom Tissue Culture
The process begins with obtaining a small fragment of pure mushroom mycelium. This can be done by scraping a petri dish to shave off a bit of mycelium, ensuring no agar is transferred. The goal is to get pure mycelium into sterile water without any trace of nutrients. This step can be tricky, and having a sterile laboratory setup is crucial.
Inoculation
Once you have the pure mycelium, inoculate a petri dish and place it in the refrigerator. After about a week, you can split the petri dish into two or three portions and store them in the fridge for up to six months. This will allow you to create multiple master cultures and ensure their longevity.
Expansion
After the initial inoculation, you can use the master culture to inoculate quart jars of grains, creating what is known as G1 masters. This step will help increase the mycelial mass. The G1 masters should be grown out in regular mouth quart mason jars, providing an ideal environment for the mycelium to thrive.
Spawn Creation
Once the G1 masters are fully colonized by the mycelium, they become spawn. At this stage, you have the option to create more spawn by inoculating additional grain-filled jars (G2) or moving on to bulk substrates like straw, wood, or compost. This step allows for the expansion of your mushroom cultivation, as each colonized grain jar can inoculate 10-20 more jars or be used for larger substrates.
Tasty Chinese Mushroom Chicken: A Classic Dish
You may want to see also
Using plug spawn
Plug spawn is a great way to grow mushrooms outdoors on logs or stumps. It is a natural choice for beginners and small projects as it is easy to use, requires no special tools, and is available in small quantities.
Choosing the right wood
When planting mushroom plug spawn, it is important to use the right logs. Mushrooms in the wild grow on dead trees, working to decompose organic matter to acquire nutrients. Each species has its own tree preferences, so your first step is to find the right kind of wood. Oyster and Shiitake mushrooms prefer hardwood tree species such as alder, birch, oak, maple, cottonwood, and beech. The next thing to consider is the health of the tree. You want to select fresh, healthy trees for your mushroom logs. Harvest your tree(s) during the fall or winter, when their leaves have fallen and their sugar concentration is highest. Logs should be inoculated within a week or two of cutting, unless they can be stored in a way that keeps them below freezing and hydrated.
Preparing the logs
Use an 8.5mm or 5/16" drill bit to drill holes about six to eight inches apart down the length of the log. Make a line of holes every three inches around the log to create a grid of holes in a diamond pattern. Tap your plug spawn into the holes using a mallet or hammer. You want them to sit just below the bark, flush with the wood of the log, so there is space left for sealing the holes.
Sealing the logs
Seal the plugged holes with melted wax to protect the log from drying out and potential contamination. If growing in a dry climate, consider also sealing the cut ends of the logs with wax.
After inoculation
Keep the logs close to the ground but not in direct contact with it, and stack them densely to help mitigate moisture loss due to excessive airflow. Mushrooms require ample moisture, so choose a location that is easy to access, at least partially shaded year-round, and has easy access to a water source. The amount of time between inoculation and the first fruiting will depend on the species of both log and mushroom, environmental conditions, and size of the logs. It usually takes between four and ten months to see your first mushrooms, depending on the variety.
Tripping on Mushrooms? Here's How to Sober Up
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Using sawdust spawn
Sawdust spawn is a great way to get started with mushroom cultivation. It is easy to work with, produces good results, and is the least expensive kind of spawn, especially when bought in larger quantities. The most common substrates used for mushroom spawn are grains, sawdust, and wood chips. Any type of hardwood sawdust can be used to make sawdust spawn, but softwood sawdust is not suitable for most commonly grown species of gourmet mushrooms.
To get started, select a spawn that is compatible with sawdust cultivation and matches the mushroom species you plan to grow. Hardwood sawdust can be supplemented with soybean hulls, wheat bran, or rice bran to enrich the substrate and boost mushroom growth. You can also experiment with other supplements like gypsum or coffee grounds to enhance the nutrient profile of your sawdust substrate.
Next, you'll need to sterilize your sawdust mixture to ensure a contaminant-free environment for your mushrooms. This can be done using a pressure cooker or autoclave, or by steaming your substrate in a large drum. Once your substrate is sterilized, it's time to introduce the mushroom spawn. In a sterile environment, evenly distribute the spawn onto the cooled substrate for uniform colonization.
Finally, store the inoculated substrate in a dark, clean space with a stable temperature suitable for your mushroom species. This is where the mycelium will colonize the sawdust. Keep a close eye on your inoculated substrate for signs of mycelial growth, which appears as white, thread-like structures spreading throughout the sawdust. This process typically takes 2-4 weeks, depending on the mushroom species and environmental conditions.
The Secret to Making Stuffed Mushrooms Without Eggs
You may want to see also
Making grain spawn
Selecting the Right Grain:
Start by choosing the right grain for your mushroom spawn. Common options include rye, wheat, millet, brown rice, wild bird seed, or even popcorn. Among these, rye is the most popular choice due to its water-absorbing qualities, nutrient composition, and preference among mushrooms.
Sterilizing the Grain:
Begin by rinsing and cleaning the grains. Then, soak them in water for 12 to 24 hours to initiate germination and soften the grains. After soaking, cook the grains on a stove for 15 to 20 minutes to ensure they are thoroughly hydrated. It is important not to overcook the grains, as they may crack and become mushy.
Next, drain the grains to remove excess water and dry them thoroughly. You can test the dryness by placing a few grains on a paper towel and checking for wet spots after 15 seconds. Once the grains are dry, fill your Mason jars or bags to about two-thirds to three-quarters full.
Cover the jar lids with tinfoil to prevent water from dripping inside during sterilization. Use a pressure cooker or autoclave to sterilize the grains. The sterilization time varies depending on the equipment used, but it typically ranges from 60 to 180 minutes at 15 PSI. Ensure that your equipment can reach the required pressure and accommodate the size of your jars or bags.
Inoculating and Incubating:
After sterilization, allow the grains to cool down to room temperature. Then, introduce mushroom spores or mycelium to the grains using sterile tools such as a syringe, laminar flow hood, or a glove box. This step should be performed in a sterile environment to prevent contamination.
For incubation, store the inoculated grain in a warm, dark, and humid environment. The ideal temperature range for most mushroom species is 24°C to 28°C (75°F to 82°F). During incubation, the mycelium will grow and colonize the grains, forming a network of fungal cells.
Using the Grain Spawn:
Once the mycelium has fully colonized the grain, your grain spawn is ready for use. You can break apart the grain spawn or shake it, depending on whether it is in bags or jars, and then inoculate your chosen substrate, such as sawdust, straw, or wood chips. The grain spawn will serve as a nutritious base for your mushrooms to flourish.
Mellow Mushroom's New Face: Will Greczyn
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Spawn is the living fungal culture, called mycelium, grown onto a substrate. It provides the backbone to any mushroom growing operation. It is the carrier that holds a specific strain of mushroom mycelium in stasis until you transfer it into another substrate such as a wood log, straw, or compost.
There are three distinct types of spawn: Plug Spawn, Sawdust Spawn, and Grain Spawn. Plug Spawn is the type of spawn you'll see in small bags of spawn and is locally produced wooden dowels that have been grown with mushroom mycelium. Sawdust Spawn is similar to Plug Spawn but requires an inoculation tool for injecting into logs. Grain Spawn is used for commercial indoor mushroom growth.
The simplest way for beginners to start growing their own mushroom spawn is using the stem butt method. Take the stems of oyster mushrooms and put them in a container with some damp cardboard. In a couple of weeks, you’ll have your own spawn.
You will need some equipment, most notably a pressure cooker, but you won’t need an expensive laminar flow hood. You will also need wide-mouthed jars, cotton wool, bowls, a sieve and ladle, a spoon, knife and fork, aluminium foil, a drill, and a clean room.
