The essential guide to cultivating mushrooms : simple and advanced techniques for growing shiitake, oyster, lion's mane, and maitake mushrooms at home PDF
Preview The essential guide to cultivating mushrooms : simple and advanced techniques for growing shiitake, oyster, lion's mane, and maitake mushrooms at home
THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO CULTIVATING MUSHROOMS THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO CULTIVATING MUSHROOMS Simple and Advanced Techniques for Growing Shiitake, Oyster, Lion’s Mane, and Maitake Mushrooms at Home S T E P H E N R U S S E L L ß Storey Publishing Te mission of Storey Publishing is to serve our customers by publishing practical information that encourages personal independence in harmony with the environment. Edited by Carleen Madigan and Claire Mowbray Golding Art direction and book design by Mary Winkelman Velgos Text production by Jennifer Jepson Smith Indexed by Christine R. Lindemer, Boston Road Communications Cover and interior photography by © Stacy Newgent, except: © Bon Appetit/Alamy, 55; © DP Wildlife Fungi/Alamy, 24; © GAUTHIER Stephane/SAGAPHOTO.CC/Alamy, 227; © image- BROKER/Alamy, 25; © John Greim/fotolibra.com, 143; © Stephen Russell, 16, 30, 39; © Susan Waughtal, 34 (bottom); © Tammy Venable/Alamy, 15 Illustrations by © Marjorie Leggitt, 18 and © Michael Gellatly, 89, 99 Mushroom spore prints throughout by Mary Velgos, photographed by Mars Vilaubi © 2014 by Stephen Russell All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages or reproduce illustrations in a review with appropriate credits; nor may any part of this book be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means — electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or other — without written permission from the publisher. Te information in this book is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. All recommen- dations are made without guarantee on the part of the author or Storey Publishing. Te author and publisher disclaim any liability in connection with the use of this information. Storey books are available for special premium and promotional uses and for customized edi- tions. For further information, please call 1-800-793-9396. Storey Publishing 210 MASS MoCA Way North Adams, MA 01247 www.storey.com Printed in the United States by Versa Press 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Library of Congress CataLoging-in-PubLiCation Data Russell, Stephen (Stephen D.), 1984– Te essential guide to cultivating mushrooms / by Stephen Russell. pages cm Includes index. ISBN 978-1-61212-146-8 (pbk. : alk. paper) ISBN 978-1-61212-463-6 (ebook) 1. Edible mushrooms. 2. Mushrooms. I. Title. SB353.R87 2014 635'.8—dc23 2014015198 CONTENTS Preface . . . 7 Part 1: Basics for Beginners 1 Getting to Know Mushrooms . . . . . . . 11 2 Basic Growing Options . . . . . . . . . . .25 3 Combating Contaminants . . . . . . . .42 4 Your First Grow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Part 3: Advanced Methods Part 2: Intermediate Methods 11 Agar Cultures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 5 Pressure Cookers and Flow Hoods . . 86 12 Large-Scale Grain Spawn . . . . . . . . 199 6 Grain Spawn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 13 Bulk Substrates . . . . . . . . . . . . . .207 7 Casings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127 8 Liquid Cultures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145 Resources . . . 228 9 Working with Sawdust . . . . . . . . . . 152 Index . . . 228 10 Midsize Fruiting Chambers . . . . . . . 165 7 Preface Deciding to grow mushrooms has turned troubleshooting section that lists common out to be one of the most rewarding expe- mistakes or problems that new growers riences of my life. In many ways, it has are likely to encounter. shaped my entire lifestyle: it has enlivened Tere are several things to keep in my curiosity about the natural world, mind when reading this book. First, there guided my plans for the future, and helped is no “best” or “right” method for grow- shape the way I view the planet. Most oth- ing mushrooms; instead, there are many ers I know who have been ensnared by the diferent paths to the same goal. Te best hobby fnd it equally compelling. Te ulti- method for one cultivator may be ter- mate intention with this manuscript was to rible for another, depending on a num- develop the book I wish existed when I frst ber of factors, including climate, family made the decision to become a cultivator. situation, cost, species desired, and the When I began growing mushrooms availability of materials, time, and space. a decade ago, the best references were I have outlined many of these consider- Paul Stamets’s books Te Mushroom ations while discussing the various meth- Cultivator and Growing Gourmet and ods. Even if you are familiar with growing Medicinal Mushrooms. Tey were so infu- plants, remember that working with ential that I often referred to them as the mushrooms requires a quite diferent set Old Testament and the New Testament. of processes and conditions. Some of the However, while the Stamets books were processes may not become entirely clear extraordinary — even revolutionary for until you actually try them and watch mushroom cultivators — they did not them work. Attempting the processes is fully elaborate on many of the most ben- the best way to learn them. efcial methods for small-scale, at-home Second, this book should be cultivation. Tey also did not address approached in a stepwise manner, as many of the unique challenges home many of the basic methods and chapters growers often encounter. are building blocks for the more advanced With that in mind, I set out to pro- methods. If you attempt the more duce a book of solid methods that read- advanced methods before you have a frm ers could replicate for success, or use as grasp of the basic methods, you’ll prob- a base for their own experimentation. ably introduce a variety of contaminants Using the step-by-step methods presented to your product, resulting in failures here, hobbyists can successfully grow that you will not have the experience to a supply of mushrooms for their home diagnose. Te most successful mushroom dinner tables, or fll up their basements growers take the time to learn the basics with mushrooms to sell at weekly farm- and approach the process in a methodical ers’ markets. Each chapter includes a manner. 8 Experimentation is good, but only if My approach to growing mushrooms you don’t adjust too many variables at is based on the science of controlled the same time. You can expect a certain experiments: I want to replicate my suc- amount of failure in mushroom cultivation, cesses and minimize my mistakes. Tat’s so if you can’t narrow down the source of why this book stresses indoor cultivation that failure, then you’ll learn nothing from methods. Growing mushrooms outdoors the experiment. And try not to let failures often involves too many variables — it’s get you down. Over the course of time, I’ve unpredictable and sporadic. It is also made nearly every mistake possible, many seasonal, depending on your climate, so of which are described here. Try to view them as learning experiences, and then try to avoid repeating them! 9 you may only get a couple of harvests a make this commitment, the end result is year. Indoor mushroom cultivation, on truly rewarding, and you will have gained the other hand, will yield consistent and a signifcant and marketable skill set that predictable harvests year round. It is the few people have attained. gold standard of cultivation, but to be able I hope the information in this book to do it efectively requires a serious com- will enrich your life in much the same way mitment of time and learning. If you can it has enriched mine.
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