So have you ever thought about growing your own mushrooms?
If you have ever considered growing your own mushrooms you might want to try an easy method consisting of a rye grain grow bag.
What is a rye grain mushroom grow bag you might ask?
An autoclavable, patented spawn incubation bag with a micro porous filter patch that allows gas exchange but precludes the passage of contaminants. Spawn bags are an economical substitute to canning jars. When producing bulk amounts of substrate, spawn bags are able to hold larger amounts of rye grain, seed, or any substrate that you may be using. We impulse seal the bags to create an air tight seal which highlyreducesthe introduction of contaminates.
To get started growing mushrooms with this bag you need first have some spores. Inoculate your bag with just 2 or 3 cc’s of liquid culture or spore solution into the middle of the rye bag. Some people choose to then mix around the rye to disperse the solution throughout the whole substrate and some choose to just leave it be after inoculation. We suggest you research the species of mushroom you are growing and work accordingly. We have found that both methods work fine with just about any species.
Place your bag by itself in a warm place. An incubator at 84-86 degrees would be ideal but if you do not have one then on top or behind a refrigerator, in a hot garage, or on top of your dryer, etc. The bag will slowly develop mycelium inside turning white. The bag may also expand while this happens, that’s ok. Once your bag is 100% colonized it’s always a good idea to break the substrate up with your hands and let it re-colonize. This will inevitably make your mycelium network stronger.
How do I fruit mushrooms using the growing bag?
There are several ways to fruit your mushrooms from this point and depending on what species you are using you will want to use the correct method.
Here are a few examples:
Oyster Mushrooms
Puncture or cut small “x’s” into the sides of the bag at mid-substrate level about two inches apart. The mushrooms will begin to form and grow from these slits or punctures from seeking out the oxygen.
Sclerotia
Sclerotia forms best in dark environments. Sclerotia should only be harvested from the Bag when it appears as though they are no longer expanding in size. Sclerotia should not be harvested from the Bag before full colonization takes place (even if sclerotia begin forming early). Sclerotia can often be harvested from the bag, and more will often grow if the bag is resealed. Most sclerotia producing species may take up to 4-5 months to produce their peak amount of sclerotia in the Bag.
Sclerotia from the King Tuber can be harvested and replanted in other mediums. The sclerotia will sprout spike-like growths which will eventually mature to form regular fruit bodies. Slicing the bag when these spikes are noticed is recommended. Place the sliced bag into a larger humidity chamber or tent to allow the spike-like growths to mature into fruit bodies.
Reishi
Once the bag is 100% colonized, usually within 2-3 weeks with white healthy mushroom mycelium, puncture the side of the bag at substrate level in several locations with a clean instrument. These holes allow the Reishi mushroom to get started.
Here is a great video showing how to use a mushroom grow bag
