Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: pepsi100 on December 24, 2007, 19:53
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Has anyone tried to grow mushrooms, not the type that grow on wood(come to them in a bit), but the 'penny bun' type ?
How difficult is it ? Where do you get decent mushroom compost ? Where did you get the 'seed' ?
Now on to the one's that grow on rotting wood........
Where does the wood have to be stored ? Does it have to be dry ? Are they difficult to start to grow ? Where do you get seeds for these ?
Any advice would be appreciated
(Ray Mears and Jamie Oliver have got a lot to answer for, my missus has been watching these two, and said, thats easy, WE should grow them, dunno where the WE came from :!: )
I just plant seeds and stand back, this looks a bit more involved, its easy having chickens, feed in one end, eggs out the other + a decent bit of manure for the top of the garden :)
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They are difficult I think as I did not have any success with them. Might be just sour grapes... :lol:
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I tried some in a mushroom kit once, they were button mushrooms and very flavoursome, but they did come with those dang little flies, so had to make sure there were no maggoty ones in there.
Must say, I've not seen those kits around for a while.
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I tried some in a mushroom kit once, they were button mushrooms and very flavoursome, but they did come with those dang little flies, so had to make sure there were no maggoty ones in there.
Must say, I've not seen those kits around for a while.
They're still around, I had the same results as you, but I thought it was a fly kit that came with dang mushrooms.
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I've got a load on the go at the mo. It's a kit made up of a little straw bale in a plastic bag. When it's ready you split it in two and bury them under shallow moist soil. The shrooms that it's produced are excellent, but they yield has been low. It's the first time I've tried, and I'll be doing some more research before buying another kit to see if I can figure out how to get more.
I paid EUR 2 for the kit, and probably got a kilo of shrooms. That's about the same price that I can buy them for in the market.
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Good you are saying that, Contadino, I wanted to try them, but they are also much more expensive here.
I've only tried the log things once, which was very disappointing to me.
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Do the logs have to be dry ?
What sort of temp do they have to be kept at ?
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Do the logs have to be dry ?
What sort of temp do they have to be kept at ?
I'm no expert but would hazard a guess to say that mushrooms don't grow in dry conditions! This should help...
http://www.ragmans.co.uk/products/logcare.htm
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Do the logs have to be dry ?
What sort of temp do they have to be kept at ?
I'm no expert but would hazard a guess to say that mushrooms don't grow in dry conditions! This should help...
http://www.ragmans.co.uk/products/logcare.htm
Now that is what I would have thought, but on some other website, it says to make sure the logs are dry and freshly cut and to store them 6 weeks, thats why I thought I'd ask the experts in here :)
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You probably need to wait till end of festivities till someone who grows them successfully comes on, but if my memory serves me right, dry here might well refer to the logs not supposed to be very fresh, some 3 months old at least, I think. But it's all vague memories.
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Has anyone tried to grow mushrooms, not the type that grow on wood(come to them in a bit), but the 'penny bun' type ?
How difficult is it ? Where do you get decent mushroom compost ? Where did you get the 'seed' ?
Penny Bun type ?? You mean regular white mushrooms like this? http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200604/r79967_230279.jpg
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Has anyone tried to grow mushrooms, not the type that grow on wood(come to them in a bit), but the 'penny bun' type ?
How difficult is it ? Where do you get decent mushroom compost ? Where did you get the 'seed' ?
Penny Bun type ?? You mean regular white mushrooms like this? http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200604/r79967_230279.jpg
nope, they are button mushrooms, these are penny bun mushrooms........
http://images.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&q=penny+bun+mushroom&cr=countryUK%7CcountryGB&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi
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ceps only grow wild as far as I am aware. We get loads of them around this area
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ceps only grow wild as far as I am aware. We get loads of them around this area
That's good news, next time your out walking, taking the dog/kids/missus, collect a few and send some down :D
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ceps only grow wild as far as I am aware. We get loads of them around this area
That's good news, next time your out walking, taking the dog/kids/missus, collect a few and send some down :D
Some folks earn a lot of dosh by gathering them and selling them to an wholesaler. Ceps and chanterelles.
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ceps only grow wild as far as I am aware. We get loads of them around this area
That's good news, next time your out walking, taking the dog/kids/missus, collect a few and send some down :D
Some folks earn a lot of dosh by gathering them and selling them to an wholesaler. Ceps and chanterelles.
I'd be more'n willing to pay (I have never even seen a 'penny bun' mushroom, until Ray Mears started on about them)
Had a few white caps, and puff balls and those shitake mushrooms (shitake are nice in a stir fry, buttons are fine in a fry up breakfast, puffball are great on their own, fried, bit of balsamic oil, bit of a crusty loaf, be hard to beat :D
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Actually, I wasn't hinting. :D
Ceps and chanterelles are two which I'd be reasonably confident about identifying but if you would please just sign and return the following disclaimer to my lawyer ... :wink:
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After the hassle I had with logs (age, type, etc) I would suggest impregnated ones.
SOMETHING LIKE THIS (http://www.annforfungi.co.uk/shop/mushroom-logs-/cat_1.html), if you are trying.
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After the hassle I had with logs (age, type, etc) I would suggest impregnated ones.
SOMETHING LIKE THIS (http://www.annforfungi.co.uk/shop/mushroom-logs-/cat_1.html), if you are trying.
Meikle Wartle in the Highlands? Ha !!!
I may have to pop in and pay them a visit. I'm headed down to Peterhead this avro so will be passing through it. There are only 4 or 5 houses there :lol:
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If you can negotiate a discount, on bulk buying or any other basis, I'd relieve you of a few. :wink:
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If you can negotiate a discount, on bulk buying or any other basis, I'd relieve you of a few. :wink:
I've heard of this woman before - I think she is / was an academic type
May not be today but I'll call in past sometime. It would be much cheaper to buy the dowels and innoculate your own logs. Are you listening, splodger?
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Well, if you have any suitable logs and talent to do so successfully, like Splodger, then yes. 8)
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Couldn't find the mushroom place - nothing obvious but, as the name suggests, Meikle (muckle) Wartle is a BIG place. Maybe 30 - 35 houses AND streetlights! Wah!!! I was thinking about Drum of Wartle earlier - easy mistake to make :wink:
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Bit of a culture shock -- streetlights! :D
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Bit of a culture shock -- streetlights! :D
Scared the heck out of me, I can tell you. :?
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well, when you next passing by in daylight... or you think it's somewhere else entirely?
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Bit of a culture shock -- streetlights! :D
Scared the heck out of me, I can tell you. :?
We get all excited by traffic lights (nearest are usually 50 miles away) :roll: There are major roadworks in the village/all over the area and the men sometimes put traffic lights up --- it's the talk of the village!!
It's only 35 miles to the nearest roundabout!
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well, when you next passing by in daylight... or you think it's somewhere else entirely?
I'll phone. It was also a Sunday :?
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well, I got these mushroom dowel things, (they look like leftovers from a MFI wardrobe)
I have to put them in logs, which is fine, BUT what is the law on going into the local park and hacking down a few trees?
If I was to take a walk round Black Park or Denham and happen to find a few logs, can I legally take em ?
What time of the year are trees pruned in parks ?
Maybe I could scrounge a few :)
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Well, I told you you don't wanna be hunting for logs. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Have you an instruction which tells you what varieties of trees are suitable and at what age of log? :wink: And a torch. 8)
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logs from any broad leaf tree, NOT pine or any resin bearing trees (well thats the Christmas tree out of the picture)
And logs that are reasonably fresh, not more than 6 months old (do I count the rings to find out when it was cut down ? :?
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Any broad leaf tree ... LMAO, what mushroom have you bought?
PS I don't think you can count rings for months. :lol:
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of course you can, you just divide the rings up into 12ths and the ones that are missing, gives you the month it was cut down, roughly :)
I got trhese lions mane (what kind of lion I'd like to know) things
Chicken of the woods (looks nothing like my chickens) and
Oysters (which look even less like an oyster)
Shiitake (I'm sure these were on the Sharon Tate show, they just pronouced them differently)
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:lol: :lol:
Well, the laugh is I can't find my growing instructions, all I remember that beech was generally recommended, shiitaki is also said to do well on oak and sycamore.
Good luck! 8)
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:lol: :lol:
Well, the laugh is I can't find my growing instructions, all I remember that beech was generally recommended, shiitaki is also said to do well on oak and sycamore.
Good luck! 8)
Why didnt you say, I'll try
and send you a pm with them, unless you want me to post it here :)
I sent you a PM, BUT I can post it here, and it may help anyone lse who is giving it a try
IF anyone else is trying this, can you let us know how you got o
Thanks
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Growing Mushroom logs (based on http://www.cjindustries.co.uk/it020007.html)
Select a broadleaf log, which has been cut no more than 6 months previously
Drill holes to accommodate the spawn dowels
Drill the holes a little larger than the dowel so the dowel pushes intro the hole easily
NEVER hammer the dowels in
The holes maybe sealed with wax (candle, NOT ear wax ) or cotton wool
If using cotton wool ensure that the cotton wool is kept moist, soak the logs for a short while in rain water (no problem we have had plenty)
Place the logs in a damp environment, either a plastic bag, under leaf mould or dig a pit, placating the logs upright and cover with plastic and leaf mould
Check regularly to make sure the log doesn't dry out
If required, water regularly with rain water or bottled water
Detailed instructions
Growing Oyster and Shiitake mushrooms on wood logs
Each pack contains 3 dowels, all kinds of broadleaved trees can be used, fir and other resin containing woods are unsuitable, unless stated
PREPARATION
Let the logs rest for a month after cutting
This will reduce the chance the wood is still viable and doest seal the hole around the dowels
Saw the logs in 1 meter (seems a bit long, butt that's what it says here)
The length should be adjusted to the weight, thicker logs should be shorter
The wood must be sufficiently moist which can be measured by squeezing the saw dust between finger and thumb, it should just stick together
If it is drier, plunge the logs for a day in water or sprinkle with water and cover again drying out
Spawn Run
The mycelium will grow through the wood in 6 months during the warm season
Take care the logs don't become too dry
You can bury the logs 1/3 of the way into the ground and let the rest stick out to ensure sufficient moisture in the log
There should be shadow throughout the year where the log can rest
Fruiting and Harvesting
When the temperatures go down and sufficient rainfall or watering is applied, the mycelium will form small buds which will form into ripe fruit bodies
You can harvest up to of 20% of the weight of the logs in the form of fresh mushrooms in several flushes
After two or three years the wood is exhausted and comes completely soft and can be discarded
I dumped mine in the pond for a day or so :D
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If the above is a copy/paste from another source, please provide a citation to avoid possible copyright issues. Thank you.
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If the above is a copy/paste from another source, please provide a citation to avoid possible copyright issues. Thank you.
This is a copy and paste from my messages to one of the above members, there is no copy right notice (unless I can get away with charging anyone who reads it a couple of quid :D )
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Mmmm. Looks a lot like http://www.cjindustries.co.uk/it020007.html so I have added that as a citation.
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Mmmm. Looks a lot like http://www.cjindustries.co.uk/it020007.html so I have added that as a citation.
I never even knew that site existed, I could have directed everyone there instead of typing that lot out :(
But its no problem and thanks for adding the citation (that site covered it a bit better than I did, anyway) :oops:
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IFAIK, you can keep mushroom kits going indefinitely (subject to weather) if you just keep providing the right kind of 'substrate'. For the kits we have, this means a certain type of straw (not sure which).
My neighbours tell me that old mattresses make good substrate for one type of shroom - although I'm a little unsure whether I want to eat anything that feeds on rotting 2nd/3rd/4th hand beds.
Another variety of local fungi grow under almond trees - and look just like the ones that grow under olive trees which aren't good to eat. :?
From what I've read, putting the wrong spores with the wrong wood produces poor results, and I suspect that's why growing mushrooms is such a hit'n'miss affair.
Sorry, but I can't provide the proper names of the variety we're growing as all I have is a dialect name (not even Italian). As I mentioned previously, we split our 'bale' in two and put half in a pit in our trulli (http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trullo) and half under a lemon tree. The half under the lemon has since produced some, although I'll have to wait for the snow to clear before checking further.
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Mmmm. Looks a lot like http://www.cjindustries.co.uk/it020007.html so I have added that as a citation.
I never even knew that site existed, I could have directed everyone there instead of typing that lot out
Thank you. :)
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Best way is to really soak the soil first.
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B&Q did a kit version for button mushrooms over the Christmas break (cost about £5 and you are supposed to get a few harvests out of them) - might still be on sale. I have to admit I got one to try out, but you need to provide a 20-25oC temperature initially which is a bit awkward - I have a combi boiler so don't really have an airing cupboard or such which would be cosy warm.
In my research for growing mushrooms in logs, I read that apple and beech could be used, possibly oak as well.
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Well I've finally got to the bottom of the straw bale type mushroom kits. You put them somewhere warm and humid and spray them with water using an atomiser three times a day. You get 3 or 4 harvests from each kit. For the big ones (approx 70cm x 50cm x 30cm) you should expect about 2kg the first time, then two harvests of 4kg each.
Just started a kit of bracket fungus (called uillert in local dialect) so will report back in a couple of weeks (if anyone's interested.) Amazing how different the local gardening advice gets. :roll:
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I'm trying out a box of mushrooms I got as a Christmas present at the moment. It's from Taylors Bulbs and it's called a White Mushroom Kit, but a quick search on Google doesn't bring anything up.
Basically it consists of a growing medium and mushroom compost, and it needs to be at 20-24° for about six days, then kept at 18-20° until you get a crop of mushrooms after around another six days. You're supposed to get a few crops from it before you need to get freshly spawned compost.
I started mine last Wednesday (five days ago) and a quick inspection this evening revealed that I do have the white fluffy stuff growing in a few places so I guess it'll take a few days more before it can be transferred to a dark place to continue.
I'll keep you posted as to how it continues and how easy/difficult I've found it.
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...a quick inspection this evening revealed that I do have the white fluffy stuff growing in a few places
The kit I got from B&Q over Christmas is also showing lots of clumpy fluffy bits over the surface too! Wasn't quite sure if it was supposed to look like that so its nice to hear someone else is getting the same. :D
In't it exciting!
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That is the mycelium. Presumably the instructions tell you to apply the casing layer fairly soon?
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That is the mycelium. Presumably the instructions tell you to apply the casing layer fairly soon?
Yes! Instructions said wait 10 days which is today! The initial 20-25oC temperature was never reached so I had wondered about adding a couple of extra days to allow for that?
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I'd suggest casing as soon as the mycelium 'blobs' reach 1" in radius. The casing gives a little more protection against infection from spores of competitive fungi and from disease (which will happen, I promise you).
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My instructions said to mix a handful of the casing with the mushroom compost and put it in a box. As far as I'm aware I just need to wait until the mycelium has spread a little more and then move it somewhere cold(ish) and dark.
I must admit that whilst the instructions seem very simple, from everything else I've read and heard I don't have a lot of confidence in having oodles of lovely mushrooms on tap.
Look forward to hearing how yours come on PaintedLady, and happy growing!
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Just a quick note to say that I've definitely got some mushroom-type objects appearing out of the soil.
I moved them to a cooler and darker place when there were lots of white blobs about 1" across (thanks WG) and slowly but surely there are things growing.
So far it was a week from starting to 1" blobs, and it's now 5 days since transferring and I'd guess there's about 3-5 more days to go, so a lot longer than it says on the packaging but perhaps that's in the perfect conditions.
Doesn't seem like I'll get a huge crop though, perhaps enough for a slice of mushrooms on toast, but it does seem to be working. On the downside the spare wardrobe they're growing in is starting to smell a little musty, which I guess is to be expected but perhaps something you should bear in mind when choosing where you'll put them.
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Had my first mushrooms from my kit today and they were great! Took a couple of weeks from sowing to harvesting, but today I picked about 1lb of firm, white mushrooms and had them for breakfast on some toast.
Apparently you can have another go with the same box of stuff, so I'll give that a go and see if I get any more crops from it.
All in all I'm very pleased with my first attempt and look forward to trying again.
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I love fungi, I have a place in northern Italy and the area is famous for porcine (bet I spelled that wrong) and chantereles, but my favourite is the parasole, which in the right conditions is as big as a dinner plate. Those I can't eat I sun dry and bring back with me in November. Mind you I always show them to the villagers to make sure that I'm not about to kill my self. I thought I might try growing some button mushrooms in one of my cantinas, which is cool and damp. But I don't think that you can beat the taste of wild fungi.
cheers arthur