Tag: mycelium

GROWING MUSHROOMS: MAKING THE SPAWN

Freak of Natural Staff

  The purpose of the “spawn” is to increase the fungal biomass, previously present as a small mass of cells in a Petri dish or liquid culture, and to expand this mass to possibly several kilos of mushrooms. The seed is generally made up of cereal grains such as barley, wheat, rye, oats, rice, etc., already colonized from the fungus. Each colonized grain, mixed in the final substrate, becomes a point where the fungus will develop,  colonizing completely the bag or jar containing the substrate in just few days. To…

GROWING MUSHROOMS: NOTIONS OF STERILIZATION

Freak of Natural Staff

  In this article we will deepen into the part that is considered by many to be the most delicate in the processes of mushroom cultivation. Any lack of attention during this steps can lead to contamination, making all our efforts in vain. The first step in mushroom cultivation, taking into account that you want to go through all stages of their production, is to learn how to work with the culture medium, with sterilization methods and good laboratory practices so that there won’t be contamination in any stage of…

GROWING MUSHROOMS: MYCELIUM CULTURE MEDIA

Freak of Natural Staff

  When growing mushroom, culture media are usually medium solid and consist of a water base to which nutrients are added, and a compound with solidifying properties, which is normally Agar. The compound is mixed in the liquid phase, bringing the water in which the nutrients and Agar powder are dissolved to a boil. The liquid is sterilized and then poured into Petri dishes where it will cool and solidify to obtain a gelatinous consistency where it is possible to inoculate the mycelium to start the culture. The culture medium…

GROWING MUSHROOMS: THE LIFE CYCLE

Freak of Natural Staff

  To learn how to grow mushrooms it is essential to know their life cycle in nature. During the cultivation of mushrooms the grower needs to simulate all the conditions that the mushroom would encounter in nature. So, instead of a rotting tree trunk, we will give the mushroom to feed it sawdust or straw that has a similar composition to its natural substrate. Instead of the shade and fresh air that you would find in an undergrowth, we will set up an air-conditioned greenhouse that simulates the conditions of…

GROWING MUSHROOMS: THE SPORES

Freak of Natural Staff

  WHAT ARE MUSHROOMS SPORES? We know that re the spores that allow mushrooms propagation. They separate from the fungi and travel long distances thanks to the air currents until they fall on a suitable substrate, giving birth to another colony of mushrooms.   When we collect these spores, we can place them in a container containing substrate, and start cultivation. Growers do not normally use spores to grow mushrooms due to the high genetic variability. Each pair of spores will generate a different individual. This means that hundreds of…

GROWING MUSHROOMS: INTRODUCTION and TECHNIQUES

Freak of Natural Staff

  GROWING MUSHROOMS IS SMART, SUSTAINABLE AND PROFITABLE! Do you plan to grow mushrooms? There are many good reasons to begin  this hobby or activity: if desired, mushrooms are a good, profitable and economically attractive commercial crop. In addition, they are easy to grow even at an amateur level and finally they have important nutritional values. Some species, if that weren’t enough, also carry important medicinal properties. The period between inoculation and harvest can be very short, just three weeks. After the cultivation, the support can still be reused to…