Bulk substrate quality requirements

[nyi]

Hi all, just a dump question.

I got some straw on my hands, which was left outside through the winter till late march. I has black spots here and there, is yellow to light yellow colour and doesn't look fresh.

I know the best is fresh yellow-gold straw, but will ageing hurt the straw nutrients a lot, or make it more susceptible to contamination? I would like to use it in a bulk tub, but I would not like to waste the other ingredients, so: Used someone straw stored under the sun, rain and winter snow? What was the result?

And I would like to ask, if manure/coir bulk substrate would make fruits as big as straw, or manure/straw substrate. I doubt, but...

My last attempt with manure ended in kontamination of the grains with some mold... white mold, which didn't spread to the manure. This wasted will be added to my outdoor attempt in a compost pile.

[marmy]

While I am not an expert, I did stay at a Holiday in Express last night..

Straw should be kept in a cool dry storage area.... If it has contams, I would toss it... I mean a bale of hay ( wheat straw) is like 5 bucks. or there abouts...

Cubies, It appears, love straw. So any bulk sub my foaf uses straw.

Also, make sure you use a lot of spawn... Helps speed up colonization times and reduces the risk of contams.

I hope that helps you out.

[joystik]

Go ahead and pasteurize it, (I personally sterilize everything) and this time use more spawn.

[~Hippie3]

year-old straw has lost a great deal of its' nutes
straw that has gotten wet is often moldy too

[trips6928]

[QUOTE=nyi;715536]Hi all, just a dump question.

I got some straw on my hands, which was left outside through the winter till late march. I has black spots here and there

QUOTE]

those black spots might be black mold ? Ive seen straw in my barn get spots, which where indeed black mold growning on the inside. Id do a test run, but as H3 said...

Originally Posted by Hippie3

year-old straw has lost a great deal of its' nutes
straw that has gotten wet is often moldy too

[Soliver]

Yep - why waste all that good spawn on questionable straw when a new bale is
so cheap? You can even buy 1/2 bales at craft / hobby stores if transportation, etc.,
is an issue

soliver

[killaweed]

Originally Posted by marmy

While I am not an expert, I did stay at a Holiday in Express last night..

Straw should be kept in a cool dry storage area.... If it has contams, I would toss it... I mean a bale of hay ( wheat straw) is like 5 bucks. or there abouts...

Cubies, It appears, love straw. So any bulk sub my foaf uses straw.

Also, make sure you use a lot of spawn... Helps speed up colonization times and reduces the risk of contams.

I hope that helps you out.

lamo holiday inn express too funny

[nyi]

Ok, I used this straw in my compost pile and I'll use all of it. Here around you can not find straw bales at stores, that's why I'm asking. But I sow some wheat and Oat, so I'll have some fresh at end of summer. Thank you all!