Tabletop Mushroom Cultivation

Alson Sears, D.V.M.
Christopher Keller
AWSEARS@HOTMAIL.COM

1. Grain (rye grain works best, however wheat grain has also worked). Grain needs to be fresh and dried. It can be purchased at health food stores and must contain no fungicides. Approximately 8 ounces of grain for each quart jar will be required
2. Seven ounces of bottled water for each quart jar.
3. Quart Mason jars, the number needed will be determined by the amount of mushroom desired.
4. Pressure cooker.
5. Screwdriver and Hammer
6. Cotton Balls
7. Aluminum foil

Procedure

1. To a one-quart Mason jar add 8 ounces of grain, 7 ounces of bottled water.

   
   

   

   
    
    

2. You will need to punch a hole in the top of the lid, do this with the screwdriver and the hammer.
   
   
      
    
3. Now fill the hole with a cotton ball, this process allows for air exchange, without allowing harmful bacteria into the jar.
   
   
    
    
    
4. Place the lid on the Mason jar, and screw the lid down.
   
   
    
    
5. Shake the bottle to mix the grain and water
   
6. Cover the jar with a piece of aluminum foil, this will collect any dust that may collect on top of the lid and can then be discarded later without allowing the contaminants to enter the jars.
   
   
    
    
7. Allow the mixture to set overnight
8. Place the jars in the pressure cooker and cook for one hour at 15 p.s.i.
   
   
    
    
9. Allow jars to cool and set overnight. Shake the jars to break up any clumps of grain then recook them at 15 p.s.i. for another hour. 
   
   
    
    
10. Jars need to be shaken again, then they will be ready for inoculation with mycelium from culture plates.
    
    
     

    IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT ANYTIME THE JARS ARE NOT IN DIRECT USE, THEY BE COVERED WITH FOIL
    

Home

Agar
plates

Spore print

Preparing grain

Inoculating grain

Preparing sawdust

Fruiting mushrooms