A Tisket A Tasket ~~ Outdoor Shroom Baskets (Argentina & Cambo's)

[Freaky]

I've built some straw/coir baskets for outdoor enjoyment.

I soaked straw and coir and had my baskets and mycromix bags ready.


I then layered the straw/coir mix on bottom, followed by spawn, etc. I don't normally layer, the reason for layering here is simple, I don't want to loose spawn out of the holes in the basket, but keep substrate layers in the middle.




After layering, a final straw/coir 2 inch layer is applied to the top- this is to act as a moisture holding barrier and a casing (hopefully)




A side shot:


Last step, enclosed in a garbage bag, holes cut in randomly for air exchange


I had 2 choices, to set outside immediately after making, and risk pests/critters demolishing them, or let them colonize in the bags, retaining moisture while inside the shed/barn. I choose the garbage bags, we'll see how it works out.

Strains - Cambo and Argentina.

[Godflesh]

Good luck!!

[hyphaenation]

Looks great Freaky.

Ive done similar projects and I noticed something. With the combination of manure and straw a god deal of moisture transpires inside the plastic bag. It will even collect in a bottom corner of the plastic bag. To mitigate this I cut a couple large holes in each bag and stuffed polyfil in. Also you can set it up so the one corner that does collect can drain out. I especially noticed this effect when its warm out or I did the colonizing inside at 80 degrees.

Constantly high humidty can encourage trich (but you knew that). I found that giving the crates more air via the polyfil really helped.

Can't wait to see how this goes...

[golly]

Damn Freaky - your pretty good with a drill...heh..

Looks like a solid idea ,just going to loosen the bag as pinning time approaches..?

[apear]

yeah baby looks like a good start.

[eastwood]

Good luck Freaky

[CoyoteMesc]

~ I see big boys in your future ~

[the jesus]

Good luck with them Freaky (not that you'll need it)

[livewire420]

good luck

[seymorebunz]

This is cool Freaky....i'll be tuned in for this one

Good Luck!

Awesome pics by the way

[wendal]

Nice!

I've seen this done, but without the garbage bags....the bins were just left under the porch of a house and watered daily. Turned out great, even with minor damage from some bugs and the occasional rouge chipmunk that seemed to really like the spawned rye berries

Good luck!

[Freaky]

Thanks Friends! You give me hope!

Hyph, I cut large holes in the corners of the bags for draining, because I figured pooling water might occur from the condensation. I built these on Sat. so I may pull em out of the bags to check on the few days' progress. Oh, no poo used in these (I know, Freaky not using poo ) I figured I'd test a no poo outdoor grow because its been a heavy rain season so far and my poo subs like to turn to sponge slop when too wet.

Golly, I haven't decided if I'm going to fully introduce them to nature without the bags once pinning starts or just open the bag to allow fruiting from the bag. I still have to think on that some. We'll see how colonization goes.

I hate outdoor pests and critters demolishing my beds and only allowing for a couple good flushes. I'm hoping to make an easier long term production method that suits me.

I was tempted to set em under the deck, but thought against it to see how it fairs in its current home.

Thanks for the good wishes, I know my fungus can feel it



Ohhhhh, those baskets are available at your local dollar store for $1 a piece

[Hippie3]

good luck,
straw in the summer can be trichy...

[hyphaenation]

Spawning it like you did should make for some dang quick colonization !

[Lazlo]

Originally Posted by Hippie3

straw in the summer can be trichy...

Heard that!

[Freaky]

I couldn't resist taking a peek

this is the front side of the cambo's........going fairly well. Though this shot shows the bits of substrate that slipped out of the middle layer while spawning. Hopefully it means the middle is growing well.
IMG_5161.jpg
IMG_5162.jpg

This is under the top layer of straw on the Arg's. The center is colonizing fairly quick.
IMG_5164.jpg

I think the Argentina's will be quite a bit ahead of the Cambo's. Though it is only 3 days since spawning.


Straw can be a PITA in the summer. One reason I decided to do a coir/straw mix and find a way to keep it breathing, but moist and hydrated, hence the garbage bags.

Last summer none of my straw logs worked out, they dried out horribly. I'm hoping I've found a simple solution to help me out.

[Mermaidia]

Cool Freaky! I'm sending contam free vibes your way! I really wanna see some big ones from this grow.

[eatyualive]

cool thread. ill keep tuned to this..

[waylitjim]

Good to see ya keepin' busy girl

[Freaky]

you know me Jim, I can't help but to grow the magik

It feels good to have these seasonal outdoor projects, but I'll tell ya, seeing all of you post stuff in the fall and winter makes me jones And damn, ya'll flush some beautiful shroomies!

I'll try to take some update pics tomorrow.

[cym]

when i was checking out the pics i couldnt help but be excited to see the specimens you gather from these.

[Freaky]

These are updates on the Argentina basket because nothing too much to show in the Cambo basket yet. I'll update the Cambos tonight or tomorrow.

These first 2 pics are from last Thursday:
IMG_5196.jpg IMG_5193.jpg

This pic is from Sunday, 8 days since spawning.
IMG_5205.jpg

I have to say I'm liking this Argentina strain. I can't wait for it to fruit

The Cambos have a 2 inch layer of straw on top of the last layer to act as a casing layer of sorts. I'm thinking of tossing on some mulch, or grass clippings on top of this Argentina basket since its colonizing all the way through to the top. Thoughts?????

[Freaky]

Returned from a weekend vacation to find a happy basket, and a soon to be happier basket

The Argentina basket is looking nice. I'm hoping to get a few more side fruits in the future. I wish I could clone and work with an isolate from this strain. I can't complain about the multi-spore genetics with this one.
IMG_5327.jpg IMG_5329.jpg


The Cambo basket is coming along a little more slowly. Hopefully it will pop like the other basket.

IMG_5330.jpg IMG_5331.jpg IMG_5333.jpg


What I've gained in the knowledge dept. with this outdoor grow is:
1. The bag is needed to help keep the straw moist and humidity level high.

2. The bag works great for keeping out critters/pests and other destroying life forms.

3. I may continue with this type of set up for the remainder of the season but switch to some manure based substrates because of the results.

[waylitjim]

Nicely done Freaky
Can't wait to see em all grown up!

[Seee]

freakin sweeeet, beautiful straw babies..
i love the thread title

[golly]

Yep - they look great...!

.....enjoy.....

[livewire420]

wish i had that basket

[eatyualive]

great job. kinda cool seeeing the leggy straw pokin out!

[Freaky]

Thanks Friends! I'm gonna check on them later today. Hopefully they'll have matured quite a bit since last night.

Eats, one thing that should always be done is to chop the straw. I am lazy when it comes to outdoor grows and fail to chop.

[Lookyhere]

You could hit it with a lawnmower or I saw that someone (a mod I think) uses a weedwacker inside of a trashcan.

[Freaky]

Yeah, weedwacker inside a trashcan makes for some quick chopping. I just don't chop my outdoor straw, like I said, I am a lazy Freak.

I do think its most beneficial, so if you want better straw results : chop your straw, don't be lazy like me

[Seee]

Yeah i saw the person who used a weed wacker, i was so ready to try that... never got around to it

If you can get your hands on the electric leaf blower/leaf shredder from wally world, that thing works wonders for choppin up straw, just tie a garbage bag to the end of it and start suckin!

Freaky is there only one layer of spawn?