Blue Oyster Stump Inoculation Pictoral

[hyphaenation]

I built up my Oyster spawn over the last while. The last transfer I did was into many jars of popcorn and birch sawdust. These jars colonized well. Meanwhile I had need to cut some punky birch trees in the backyard. I decided to inoculate the stumps with edibles.

For my first project I choose Blue Oyster. Here's a list of things you need to get started on stump inoculation:

Wood-lover spawn (Oyster, Shitake, Hyphaloma etc)
Drill with a 5/8 bit
Wax for capping the holes


The first thing I did was drill a series of holes all around the stump with my cordless drill and I had the recarger close by with a spare battery unit charging. It helps to be on high torque mode for hardwwods like birch.

After drilling the holes I opened the spawn jars and took a pinch of spawn to stuff in each hole. When all the holes were stuffed with spawn I carefully dabbed my melted wax over the opening of each. To get the wax ready to use I put a candle in a jar and double boiled it inside a pot of water.

For experimental purposes I took a bunch of loose Oyster spawn and placed it on the cut face of the stump. Next I placed the wedge that was cut out back on the spawn, and put more spawn on top. Finally I add the orginal trunk segment back on the stump and wedge. All around the crevices that were exposed I shoved in more spawn.

My plan is to go back and use metal lath to join the stump to the first cut block. This should keep them together well. Also I shoved spawn into natural cracks in the sides of the stump. As I have more time i'll drill and plug more holes all around where I missed.

I really like Blue Oysters. They taste great and make nice boquets. Hopefully someday down the road this stump will produce some nice fruit. The extra beauty is that the gully where these stumps are is within hose dragging distance.

I'd encourage anyone interested in Oysters to get out there and start inoculating stumps and fallen hardwood trees in your yard and in the wilds. Its pretty easy once you get your spawn together.

More later

Cheers

H

[hyphaenation]

One of the stumps had heartrot that made a perfect hole once removed. I scooped it all out and disposed of it. I had a Pearl Oyster straw log that had gone through a few flushes and I noticed it was the perfect size.

Stuffed it in the hole in the stump and covered with sawdust. THe plan is to drill holes around this stump and inoculate the whole thing with Pearl.

[eatyualive]

very cool hyph!

[weed4all]

[~Hippie3]

how long until supper ?

[hyphaenation]

how long until supper ?

Apprently not long ...

[hyphaenation]

... Now I know, I know, its the spawn that I put in there fruiting not the birch stump. However it goes to show that the mycelium is well and alive.

I left these mushrooms alone to spore out on to the stump. Hopefully some spores will find their way into some nooks & crannys.

[dice]

Wow, man thats awesome congrats. Look tasty enjoy.

[hyphaenation]

I'm going to try something different today. I plan on laying woodchip spawn over top of the cut face of the stump and then securing plasic with holes over top. This way the spawn will stay in place and keep humid. The whole cut face is a good mycelium/stump interface and hopefully it will sink in fast.

[onediadem]

Way too much fun! I cant wait to see the fruiting pics!

[Fresh Brewed]

Love this thread Hyph! Very interesting.

[twoguysupnorth]

very nice! i still have to try and grow out my oysters. the jars contaminated before i got to innoculate them. soon though, i keep saying.

[dice]

So did you pick any yet hyph? My oysters will be ready any day now. Good eats for the both of us.

[~Hippie3]

congrats, more to come!

[Mermaidia]

I'm glad this is turning out well hypha. I was really hoping it would. I can't wait to see more fruits as the mycelium grows and spreads.

Very well done.