| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| OtleyLad |
Anyone tried growing Oyster mushrooms?I finally gave in and got myself two packets of Mr Fothergills 'Marvellous Mushroom' spawn.The instructions say the Oyster mushroom should be grown on Wheat straw. Its not easy to get round here (Barley straw is the most common) and I wondered if anyone has grown these and used Barley straw instead of Wheat? |
| wipka84 |
These guys seem to mention wheat, barley and hardchips for growing Oyster mushrooms. So sounds like you'd be ok.
Skip to the end to see some cool pics of semi-commercially grown oysters. Always wondered how it was done. http://www.alohamedicinals.com/book1/chapter-5-1.pdf |
| James |
I've grown oysters on many different substraits. They're not fussy at all. They even fruit well on rolled up newspaper logs. You'll be fine with barley straw.
Not sure what your instructions say, but apparently there's a benneficial fungus that will help the oyster mycellium run through the substrate. This occurs naturally in straw (which is one reason why it makes a good substrate) However, its killed off if you sterilise the straw, but its not killed if you pasturise it. I pasturised my straw by filling a straining bag with chopped up straw (I used garden shears to roughly chop the straw), then dump the bag into a big pan of water thats almost boiling (I seem to remember that 82 to 88 c is good). After 15 minutes at this temperature, I pulled out the bag of straw and let it to drain in the bath (previously cleaned & the bit that the bag sits on was sterilised with a wipe of methelated spirit) By the time the straw is cold, it should have drained enough to innoculate (squeeze a handfull and it shouldn't liberate more than a couple of drips of water- if it does, turn it & let it drain more). After innoculation, I put the straw into a bin bag and packed away in a closed cardboard box to allow the mycellium to run. Oysters need no light and no oxygen for the mycellium to completely colonise the fruiting medium (straw). If they are exposed to either light or air, they will stop colonising the straw and start fruiting. If they start fruiting before the straw is fully colonised, the un-colonised straw provides a possible location for infection. Once the straw is fully comlonised, puncture lots of holes through the cardobard and bin bag to allow in light & air. These holes will soon start to produce fruit. |
| OtleyLad |
Thanks for that info James - I have just got some barley straw and will start it going this weekend. I'm pleased that you advise using bin bags as I could not find any large transparent bags anywhere! |