How to Grow Mushrooms With Bulk Substrate

Pasteurize Bulk Substrate

• 1

  Preheat the oven to 300 F.

• 2

  Fill the oven bag with dry substrate. Add enough distilled water to reach field consistency. You have reached the correct water level if a small trickle of water drips from your fist when squeezed. Insert the meat thermometer and tie off the bag with tape or string.

• 3

  Place the bag of substrate in the preheated oven. Do not allow the thermometer to get above 185 F. Once the temperature reaches between 170 F and 180 F, turn the oven down to between 190 F and 200 F. Bake the bag of substrate for three hours. Remove from the oven. Take out the thermometer and tie off the bag. Allow it to cool for six to 10 hours.

Inoculate with Grain Spawn

• 4

  Place the pasteurized substrate in a large tub. Break up any clumps.

• 5

  Shake the container of grain spawn to break up any clumps. Mix the grain spawn evenly into the cooled substrate.

• 6

  Place the tub in a dark location for five days to two weeks until it becomes completely colonized.

Fruiting

• 7

  Soak perlite until it is saturated with water. Tip the perlite into a colander and let it drain.
  Place a layer of soaked perlite on the bottom of the fruiting chamber. This will help keep the humidity high.

• 8

  Place the colonized bulk substrate into the fruiting chamber. Move the chamber from the dark area to an area where it is exposed to indirect light. Keep the temperature between 70 F and 79 F for optimum fruiting.

• 9

  Reap the mushrooms once they are mature. Continue to mist the substrate to encourage multiple flushes of fruiting bodies.