Subject: Re: straw growing

From: [email-masked] (harringtonj-smtc)
Date: Tue, 4 Apr 1995 06:16:00 +0000

Paul,
 
Regarding growing out the Oyster mushrooms, IMHO,
 
1. Chopping the straw: A chipper won't do it. Chippers are
for wood. You need a shredder, or chipper/shredder. If none
available, spread your straw out on a flat soil surface
and work it over with a lawn mower.
 
2. Rolling you own plastic tubing is risky. You need
a TIGHT, COMPACT medium for the mycelium to colonize. You
will probably end up with some air gaps or pockets that
will contaminate. For your first go at it, you might
consider some sturdy 4 mil plastic bags, about a cubic
foot in size. Much easier to handle. Your rolled plastic
tube might rip apart when you hang it up, especially after
you puncture it for the fruit to bloom through?
 
3. Temps for spawn run etc:  You need to follow the
parameters for the temp/humidity fairly closely. If its too
low, you risk contamination from competitors. Stamets give
the parameters for Ostreatus P. in his book. Copy success.
Maximize your growing area. If you have a space heater
(electric) available, put a line voltage thermostat in-line
on the extension cord. That way you can maintain the
required temps for the different stages.
 
4. Straws:  OAT straw should be fine. Wheat is preferred
because of its structure, but OAT is ok. Dr. Ralph
Kurtzman, USDA plant pathologist, was one of the pioneers
with Oyster cultivation, in the 1970's.  He wrote that he
had poor results with barley. Stamets said barley was
acceptable. Both agreed OAT is fine.
 
5. SPAWN GRAIN:  Again, OAT grain should be fine. Its not
clear how you are sterilizing it? It MUST be done in a
pressure cooker, at the specified times/pressures. Boiling
in a open atomosphere won't make it. Soak it overnight
before you autoclave it.
 
6. Inoculation rates: inoculate pasterized straw at minimum
of 5% or dry weight of straw, i.e., dry straw + 100 lbs,
add 5 # of grain spawn, ideally 10 # (10 %). Higher
inoculation rate will result in faster colonization.
 
Hope this helps!
 
Joe
 
Portland, Maine