How to grow mushrooms (Part 1)
How to Grow Mushrooms:
In this blog post I will begin to explain how to grow mushrooms. I will start by telling you how I prepare spawn jars with WBS grain. I use three types of grain and each are prepared differently. I will start off by reminding everyone, there are many techniques in mushroom cultivation however, I will only go over what I have found best in our environment in South Florida.
I personally use wild bird seeds, rye berries and spent beer grains to create mushroom spawn. There are tons of grains to use however, these are my 3 favorites.
Preparing Jars
- Get a 1/4 inch drill bit.
- Drill one hole in the center of the cap while still on the jar.
- After drilling holes, fill each cap with polyfill by using a smaller bit something else to feed it through. Make sure it is snug.
- Your Jars are now ready to be filled
Wild Bird Seeds (WBS)
You can find WBS at most grocery and feed stores. It usually consist of three types of seeds (millet, milo, and Sunflower.)
This can be found at any local supermarket. 20lbs once cooked can fill 28 quart jars 3/4 full or 5 spawn bags comfortably.
To prepare 20lbs of WBS: How to grow mushrooms.
- Put 4 gallons of water into a stock or crock pot and place on stove to bring to a boil.
- Once boiling, turn off stove and pour seeds into water and cover for 12 to 24 hours. This is done to hydrate the seeds and kill the endospores. I have used as little as 3 hours for soaking however, I have found it best to just soak overnight.
- After seeds have soaked, pour into strainer or strainers and rinse thoroughly. The water coming out should be clear before you are done. The main purpose of this is to keep them from clumping together and having a slimy like consistency which the mycelium would have a much harder time to colonize in.
- Cover with paper towels and let drain for about 20 minutes.
- Once drained, place in a tote to get any excess water out. I use a sham wow and for a 20lb bag, it takes me about 5 minutes to get to that perfect moisture content to where when you stick your hands in the seeds, it feels moist however, your hand does not come out wet.
- Place 16oz of finished seeds into each quart jar and 7xs that for bags.
Rye Berries
- Use 2.5lbs of dry rye berry for every 7qts prepared you wish to have.
- Rinse seeds until water is clear.
- Place seeds in your stock or crock pot and cover with 3 times the amount of water
- Add a teaspoon of gypsum to help to keep them from sticking together.
- Stir then let sit for 12 to 24 hours.
- Stir to keep from burning the berries.
- Bring to a boil for a 10-15 minutes. You will see a few popped berries before they are ready.
- Poor into a strainer and let heat evaporate, mixing once every 10 minutes for 30 minutes.
- Place 16oz of finished seeds into each quart jar and 7xs that for bags.
Spent beer grains
- The capacity is already measured since these grains are wet.
- Measure each qt the same by filling a 16oz cup for each desired quart of spawn.
- Place in strainer and rinse until water is clear.
- Allow to air dry and get excess water with a sham wow like cloth.
- Put 16oz in each quart jar and 7x’s that for spawn bags
Prepare to Sterilize
- Take a 16oz container (solo cup) and fill to the rim. Place in quart jar. The jar should be about 3/4 full. For spawn bags, use 7x’s the amount.
- If using bags seal them 1/2 inch from the top. If using jars put caps and lids on.
- Bags are ready to be inserted in the cooker. Jars need a coffee filter followed by rubber band.
- 3 bags or 10qt jars can go in the 23qt pressure cooker listed below.
- Place cookers on stove and put heat on high. Once toggle pops up and pressure starts, watch carefully and turn heat down to around med high to keep a consistent 15 psi 90 mins for jars and 120 for bags.
This is the end of How to grow mushrooms part 1. Stay tuned for the next blog. If you have any questions you can email me at Scott@subfarms.com