Usually, when it comes to growing mushrooms, the most important thing you’ll need to get started is the mushroom seed itself – this is where the mushrooms grow from, so it’s an essential ingredient. Without it, it would be like trying to grow an apple tree without the apple pit: it’s never going to work. The mushroom seed will usually be specially created by a mycologist, and will normally consist of some type of grain that has been infused with mushroom mycelium (mycelium is what mushrooms come from).
You can create your own mushroom seed in a number of ways, but what most people don’t realize is that you can actually grow your own mushrooms from old stems, allowing you to reuse old mushrooms and start your own cycle. mushroom cultivation.
All you need to do is cut a small section from the stem end of the mushroom, no larger than an inch in length. It is important to try to use the lower part of the stem, with the bulbous part of the stem intact (this part is usually removed before preparing the mushroom for cooking and packaging before selling in stores). However, if you’ve already grown some of your own mushrooms from some type of seed, then you’ll have no problem getting the healthiest variety of stemmed mushrooms. You can still try using the stem of store-bought mushrooms, but you may not be as successful.
It is important to note that not all mushrooms have this stem-growth ability, and only a few varieties are known to be able to regrow from their stems. These include oyster mushrooms (Pleutrous Ostreatus), Parasol mushrooms, Morels, Prince, and many more.
All you need to do is remove a section from the ends of the stem and you get some corrugated cardboard. Soak the cardboard and then try to peel it in half, so the paper is as thin as possible. Next, lay the cardboard out on a surface and place some of the stem ends on top. Try to leave about 6 inches of cardboard per stem end. Cover the stems with the rest of the corrugated cardboard, then soak again for a few minutes. Place the folded pieces of cardboard in an old box (cardboard, wood, or anything else that will keep the box moist), then place it in a shady spot in your garden before covering it with leaves.
What will happen is that the mycelium will start to grow through the cardboard pieces, from the tips of the stems, using the cardboard materials as food (fungi naturally grow on wood, so cardboard is ideal to use and it is easier to decompose). ). After a few months you will have your own cardboard spawn, and you can use it to grow mushrooms on more cardboard, or you can mix this cardboard spawn with straw, creating an outdoor bed or mushroom patch, or you can try transferring the spawn. to other substrates.