Emily Johnson
Oyster mushroom spawn is a product that allows people to grow their own oyster mushrooms at home. Spawn is available in different formats, including sawdust, wooden plugs, and small blocks, and can be used with a variety of growing mediums, such as logs, straw, and coffee grounds. Oyster mushrooms are known for being easy to grow and delicious to eat, making them a popular choice for home growers. They are also reliable producers and colonize quickly, making them a good option for beginners.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Colour | Blueish-grey |
| Taste | Meaty and sweet |
| Texture | Soft and watery |
| Growth | Grows well on poplar and Ailanthus logs |
| Cultivation | Easy to cultivate |
| Spawn type | Sawdust spawn, plug spawn, liquid culture |
| Spawn weight | 5 pounds |
| Spawn quantity | Sold in bags of 100 and 500 |
| Spawn preparation | Prepare spawn in a 1-litre jar with a breathing hole |
| Spawn preservation | Preserving jars are ideal for spawn preservation |
| Spawn transfer | Transfer 1-2 spoons of spawn into a jar of sterile grain |
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What You'll Learn
Oyster mushroom spawn is available in sawdust form
Oyster mushroom spawn is the initial step in cultivating oyster mushrooms. It involves using a small block of spawn, which can be purchased commercially, and growing it in a substrate such as straw, sawdust, or grain. Sawdust spawn is a popular choice for growing oyster mushrooms due to its low cost and ease of use. It is available in the form of small particles, which allows for fast growth onto the inoculated substrate.
Sawdust spawn can be used to grow oyster mushrooms on logs, stumps, pillars (totems), beds, or containers. When using sawdust spawn, it is important to follow proper inoculation techniques. This involves breaking up the sawdust spawn into small pieces and filling the holes in the substrate completely with spawn. A palm inoculator is a specialised tool that can be used for this process. The holes are then sealed with wax to protect the spawn and extend its lifespan.
The type of tree species used for growing oyster mushrooms on logs can also impact the success of cultivation. Oysters typically grow well on aspen, cottonwood, tulip tree, and willow. It is recommended to cut trees with a diameter of at least 3 inches and drill holes of about 1 inch depth every 4 to 6 inches in a staggered diamond pattern. The logs should be inoculated within one to two weeks of cutting to ensure the best results.
Sawdust spawn is available for various oyster mushroom varieties, including blue oyster, yellow oyster, and shiitake mushrooms. It can be purchased in bags, with a typical weight of 5 pounds, which is sufficient to inoculate about 25 logs. Proper storage of the spawn is crucial, and it should be stored in the refrigerator if not used immediately. Fresh spawn has the highest chance of success, but it can be stored for up to 6 months before inoculation.
Compared to grain spawn, sawdust spawn offers economic benefits due to its lower cost. Grain spawn requires sterilisation, which adds to the time and equipment expenses. However, grain spawn may provide a slightly faster run for the inoculated material. Nonetheless, similar results can be achieved by adding nutrients to the sawdust spawn that promote faster mycelium growth. Overall, sawdust spawn is a cost-effective and efficient option for cultivating oyster mushrooms, especially for commercial production and beginners.
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Spawn can be grown in buckets, beds, containers, logs, or outdoors
Oyster mushroom spawn can be grown in a variety of ways, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. One popular method is to use a bucket, which can be purchased or recycled. A user on Reddit reported successfully growing oyster mushrooms in a bucket of coffee grounds, with mushrooms appearing in around five weeks. Buckets can also be used with straw, which can be sourced from local feed straw.
Another option is to use beds, which can be set up either outdoors or in a climate-controlled room. One user reported that their mushroom bed started producing in just three months. When creating a bed, it is important to ensure proper air circulation and to protect the spawn from contaminants.
Containers are also a viable option for growing oyster mushroom spawn. Containers can be used both indoors and outdoors and offer flexibility in terms of placement and size. However, it is important to consider the light sensitivity of certain oyster mushroom strains, such as the Brown Oyster, which can become trapped in clear containers. Therefore, it is recommended to use black bags or nursery pots with holes.
Logs are another popular choice for growing oyster mushroom spawn. Logs should be made from hardwoods such as alder, ash, aspen, beech, birch, elm, maple, oak, sweetgum, box elder, cottonwood, willow, ailanthus, or tulip poplar. Log inoculation tools, sealing wax, and wax daubers are required for this method. It typically takes over a year for the mycelium to spread through the log and produce mushrooms.
Finally, oyster mushroom spawn can be grown outdoors, where it fruits well on oak, sweetgum, poplar, and many other hardwood species in the spring and fall. When growing outdoors, it is important to consider the environmental triggers that can impact fruiting, such as temperature and moisture levels.
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Spawn requires a substrate, like straw, to fruit
Oyster mushroom spawn is a commercially available product that allows you to grow your own oyster mushrooms. It is a small block of spawn that can be placed in a bucket of coffee grounds or straw, which will eventually produce mushrooms.
To grow oyster mushrooms, you will need a spawn bag or jar, a sterile utensil, cotton wool, and a pressure cooker. You will also need a substrate, such as straw, sawdust, or coffee grounds, for the mushrooms to fruit. The substrate should be pasteurized wheat straw or cotton hulls for the best results.
The process of growing oyster mushrooms involves breaking up the grains in the spawn bag or jar and transferring them to a sterile jar of grain. The jar should have a breathing hole covered with cotton wool. The jar is then shaken to disperse the grain spawn, and it is placed in a clean room to incubate. The incubation temperature depends on the variety of oyster mushroom being grown. For example, the pleurotus ostreatus variety should be incubated at 24°C (75°F), while the pleurotus pulmonarius variety prefers a temperature range of 24°C to 30°C (75°F to 85°F).
Oyster mushrooms are a great choice for beginner mushroom growers because they colonize quickly and are reliable producers. They are also ideal for commercial cultivation, especially when grown on straw. Blue oyster mushrooms, in particular, are known for their fast colonization and prolific fruiting in early spring or late fall. They produce richly umami mushrooms with a soft, meaty texture that pairs well with most dishes.
Overall, growing oyster mushrooms from spawn is a rewarding and delicious experience that can be achieved with basic equipment and a good understanding of the process.
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Spawn can be purchased online from mushroom farms
Oyster mushroom spawn can be purchased online from mushroom farms, such as Sharondale Mushroom Farm, North Spore, and Mushroom Mountain. These farms offer a variety of oyster mushroom spawn products, including sawdust spawn, plug spawn, and kits for growing your own oyster mushrooms.
For example, Sharondale Mushroom Farm offers blue oyster mushroom spawn in the form of sawdust spawn and mushroom plug spawn. Their sawdust spawn comes in 5-pound net weight bags, while their plug spawn is sold in bags of 100 or 500. They also offer modified cheese wax for purchase, which can be applied with your finger and helps in the cultivation process.
North Spore specializes in organic blue oyster mushroom sawdust spawn, which can be used for log projects, outdoor beds, containers, and bucket projects. Their spawn is handmade from a blend of locally sourced, organic, and non-GMO woods and supplements. North Spore provides detailed instructions on how to use their spawn, including the importance of providing airflow and the need to combine the spawn with a substrate like straw for fruiting.
Mushroom Mountain offers a wide variety of oyster mushroom sawdust spawn, including specialty spawn such as Aspen Oyster, Brown Oyster, and Tarragon Oyster. They provide growing recommendations, highlighting the importance of pasteurized wheat straw and cotton hulls for indoor cultivation and various types of hardwood logs and stumps for outdoor growth.
In addition to purchasing spawn, you can also find kits for growing oyster mushrooms online. Field & Forest, for instance, offers certified organic spawn and ready-to-fruit indoor mushroom grow kits, complete with tools and technical information.
When purchasing oyster mushroom spawn online, it is important to consider factors such as the type of spawn, the quantity required, and the specific growing instructions provided by the supplier.
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Spawn is easy to grow and delicious to eat
Oyster mushroom spawn is easy to grow and delicious to eat. Blue oyster mushrooms, in particular, are known for their ease of cultivation and gourmet flavour. They are a great choice for those looking to add seasonal mushrooms to their edible garden. Blue oyster mushrooms produce beautiful clusters that are easy to harvest and grow well on poplar and Ailanthus logs.
Oyster mushrooms are also a good option for beginner cultivators as they colonize quickly and are reliable producers. They can be grown in buckets, logs, stumps, or totems, and are ideal for commercial cultivation, especially when grown on straw. Blue oyster sawdust spawn must be combined with a substrate like straw or used in log inoculation to fruit. One bag of sawdust spawn can inoculate up to 20 logs.
Growing your own oyster mushrooms from spawn is a simple process that requires only basic equipment. You can use preserving jars, wide-mouthed jars, or buckets to grow your mushrooms. The process involves soaking grain in water for 24 hours, rinsing and draining the grain, transferring spawn to the jar or bucket, and then shaking the container to disperse the spawn. It is important to maintain a sterile environment to reduce contamination.
Oyster mushrooms have a soft, meaty texture and can easily replace button mushrooms in recipes. They are high in protein and can be sautéed, grilled, or fried, or even sliced and used as a meat substitute. When consuming home-grown mushrooms, it is important to cook them thoroughly and start with a small amount to check for allergies. Overall, oyster mushroom spawn is a delicious and easy-to-grow option for those interested in cultivating their own mushrooms.
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Frequently asked questions
Oyster mushroom spawn is a commercial product that allows you to grow your own oyster mushrooms. It usually comes in the form of a small block of spawn or sawdust spawn.
To use oyster mushroom spawn, you need to add it to a substrate such as straw, logs, or coffee grounds. You can also use it with log inoculation tools, log sealing wax, and wax daubers for larger log projects.
Oyster mushroom spawn is available from various online retailers and specialist mushroom growing suppliers.
The time it takes for oyster mushrooms to grow from spawn varies depending on the method used. Bucket cultivation can produce a modest amount of mushrooms in about five weeks, while log inoculation can take over a year.
