Post date: Aug 26, 2020 5:43:48 PM
Growing oyster mushroom: by Poongothai
It needs really low effort, low overhead, low setup.
1. Get a 5 gallon bucket with lid. This one is food grade from Firehouse Sub - $3 donation. Available in HD, Lowes for $5 (not food grade). You can use grow bags as well.
2. Drill holes approx 6" apart horizontally and approx 1" vertically in diamond pattern using 5/8 drill bit. Approx 6 rows.
2a. Drill few holes at the bottom as well for any water to drain.
3. Get Oyster mushroom grain spawn of your preference from any spawn seller (check them out on net. Keyword: "mushroom spawn"). Usually they are available in 2 lb to 5 lb packs. The mycellium is grown on grain. Price goes by variety, weight, and retailer. typical cost 5lb is about $20. Put it in refrigerator as soon as it arrives. Shelf life is about 3 months (based on literature from spawn sellers). Spawns are available on dowel, and saw dust as well. For bucket, grain works best. Dowel/Saw Dust are for wood log. Thats for another day. PM me to get the grower, I bought from.
4. Grow medium is wheat hay/straw. You can get from any big box retailer (HD, Lowes, etc)., Costs about $8
5. Get isopropyl alcohol 70% or any other disinfectant. Fill in a spray bottle.
6. Optional. Get fresh used coffee grounds from neighborhood coffee shop. Free. You need to call them ahead so that they save it for you.
If you made this far, pat yourself. Now, you got all the ingredients for making the biriyani. Let's hit the stove. :)
1. Take approx 2 bucket worth of raw hay. Sterilize in boiling water to get rid of any pathogens. Leave it in water overnight to cool it. The grow medium needs to be sterile, so that no mold or other contaminants grow.
2. The bucket needs to be sterile as well. Spray isopropyl alcohol on the inside, on the lid and let it dry.
3. wash hands, wear gloves and spray isopropyl alcohol on gloves, and any other items, the surface you may use. Little paranoia helps. Think of protocols for C19 (that you didnt follow!).
4. Take a handful of wet hay. Squeeze any excess water out of it. It needs to be moist, but not too wet. Lay about 1" layer of hay at the bottom. If you have coffee ground, spray a handful. this is optional. mix it with hay.
5. Spray 1 or 2 handful of grain spawn on hay.
6. repeat steps 4 & 5, until top row of the holes reached. cover with a layer of sterile hay/straw.
7. close the lid, keep it in a dark corner of the house for 2-3 weeks. Temperature in 60s to 70s. Temperature, humidity requirements may vary based on the variety. The seller will have right conditions for the variety. Let the mycellium grow on the media. Resist the urge to open the lid to check the growth. OK Ok. open once in 2nd week to check mycellium growth - a white layer on top of the hay. Unlike plants, fungi grows in dark.
8. In 3rd week, you should see the growth on the holes. Its the flower, fruit - called flush. In about 5 days, it will mature.
7. Enjoy biriyani for another 2 to 3 weeks. Keep harvesting.
There are lot of videos on youtube with detailed instruction, and lit on web. check them out.