Shiitake project

[Myc]

Working from a plugged live tissue syringe, I was able to successfully transfer clean tissue to hard winter wheat berries.
G2G - HWWB to WBS.
The WBS is near colonized.
Now I would like to make my own supplemented sawdust blocks.
Have ordered autoclaveable spawn bags from a sponsor.
My plan is to make sawdust/ wheat bran in a 4:1 ratio
Load into spawn bags and PC
Then I'll have to innoculate with grain spawn in my glovebox and seal the bags. No impulse sealer so I guess I'll use tape.

Is there already a tek here discussing this method?
Should I poke "pinholes" in the bags for air?

Never done this before so any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[catdaddy]

Myc,

I don't know how much constructive material I can add, but I will watch the thread. I have shiitakes on PF jars of hardwood sawdust, BRF, and verm.

I have blue oysters on straw/poo/sawdust.

Maybe we can work out the best parts into one good way for shiitake cultivation. I know there's stuff in the archives- have you searched them?
I need to do that too- just been a bit busy lately.

Here's to your success!

Catdaddy

[Myc]

I've been scrounging the archives for several weeks now and can't find anything on supplemented sawdust logs/ blocks.

In addition to the effort mentioned, I plan to PC hardwood dowels in bags and innoculate with grain spawn for log culture. I am just experimenting with a faster fruit production method.

[hyphaenation]

Here's a few links courtesy of Space Cowboy ( a sponsor here). I got them from his signature. Thanks SC !

http://forums.mycotopia.net/faq-freq...world-com.html (Mushroom Growers' Handbook 2 by MushWorld.com)

http://forums.mycotopia.net/edible-m...ltivation.html (Lions Mane, Reishi, and Shiitake Cultivation)

Qoute from: http://forums.mycotopia.net/edible-m...g-kitchen.html (Medicinal Mushroom Growing in the Kitchen)

substrate FORMULATION

The common industry standard by dry weight is 80% hardwood sawdust with 20% supplement. The most common supplement is millet and wheat bran. Water is mixed in until it barely drips from the substrate when squeezed with a fist. The use of both supplements to the sawdust versus just the bran or millet tends to produce better results. However, this is species and strain dependent, as different mushrooms have different needs. For example, Oyster and Shiitake mushrooms tend to grow better with a higher supplement level, but Reishi mushrooms show nicer fruit body formation when a lower supplement level to the sawdust is used.

Substitution of other supplements such as rye grain and/or brown rice flour work great too. The use of wheat bran and millet are just industry standards. The main purpose of the supplement is to add readily available nutrients to the mushroom in order to speed up production. Wheat bran is probably the cheapest supplement, but wild birdseed has shown increasingly great results and is very inexpensive.

Not all sawdust is the same. Sawdust varies from source to source and it holds moisture more or less based on its particle size, type, and initial moisture content. The best consistency of sawdust to use is a 50/50 mix of fine and coarse particles. The fine sawdust has the consistency of flour, where as the coarse is just above that or even as dense as hardwood mulch. Keep notes on formulas for replicating the substrate formula that works the best given your situation. Here is a generic fruiting formula by volume:

* 2 parts hardwood sawdust
* 1 part wheat bran
* Add water same as before

The key to a good fruiting formula is largely based on reliable mushroom spawn and experimentation. Always experiment because each mushroom strain has different characteristics. Find what works best for your situation, and then build on it.

Hope these help.

[hyphaenation]

Catdaddy I don't think the poo is helpful for Oysters. It adds a whole contam vector. Horse poo with lotsof straw may work, but poo in general is unnecessary.

[hyphaenation]

Additional info on supplimented blocks FYI

[Lazlo]

Originally Posted by hyphaenation

Catdaddy I don't think the poo is helpful for Oysters. It adds a whole contam vector. Horse poo with lotsof straw may work, but poo in general is unnecessary.

Actually, Oyster's grow excellent on manure based substrates and composts.

[hyphaenation]

Thanks for the heads up Lazlo. I have used some horse manure but I was under the impression straw or wood chips would be better than manure.

I love learning new things...

[Myc]

Thanks for the info Hyphae. I had actually read that information somewhere else but it never hurts to see it again.
As for air exchange, (I'm such a bone head sometimes) the bags I ordered have a breathable filter patch on them. Duh.

So, since the sawdust/ woodchips will be spawned in a 4:1 ratio with grain, I should already have met the 20% nutrition requirments. A little extra bran won't hurt anything either.

[Hippie3]

good luck