Overview of mushroom growing methods
The mushroom growing methods which are suitable for the product categories that I sell are as follows:
Inoculated plugs Inoculated plugs can also be used to grow oyster mushrooms on straw
bales or used coffee grains. The other mushroom types that I sell are generally not suitable for this purpose.
Inoculated plugs are normally used to grow mushrooms on logs. Holes are drilled into
the logs and then the plugs are inserted usign a hammer. Please see the respective growing instructions, the list of suitable wood types and the photos page.
Inoculated grain (e.g. millet, wheat or rye)
Inoculated grain is
normally used to grow mushrooms on logs. Slots are cut into the logs using a chain saw and the grain is then filled into the slots. Normally, a slot is cut half way through the log at each end of the log. The filled slots
must be protected with packaging tape to keep out rodents and insects, who like mushroom-flavoured grain. Due to the need for a chain saw, inoculated grain is normally only used by professional mushroom growers. In contrast,
inoculated plugs are suitable for both professional and hobby mushroom growers.
Shiitake mushroom culture blocks
Mushroom culture (or substrate) blocks consist of pressed blocks of wood chips and
sawdust which are mixed with other organic materials. The blocks are manufactured in a special process which involves sterilization followed by inoculation with mushroom spores. Please see the respective growing instructions. Due
to the difficulty of shipping, we currently only supply mushroom culture blocks in larger quantities, e.g. 100 blocks or more, and only within Germany. Please ask about availability and price.
Nicola Krämer, Hannover * Marketing of mushroom-growing products * Home