ALL METHODS ARE EXPERIMENTAL IN NATURE AND CONTINUALLY REVISED AND UPDATED

Nameko mushrooms growing in a monotub

Potato Starch Dextrose Agar Recipe

Modified from instructions on shroomok

Per 6 x 8oz mason jar containers:

300mL water

6g potato starch

4.2g dextrose

6g agar agar powder

Boil the distilled water. Meanwhile, measure all dry ingredients. Add boiling water to a pressure cooker safe, lidded container of at least 450mL in volume. A 1qt mason jar is fine. Add all the water, then add the agar a little bit at a time, swirling in between. Swirl until the mixture is even. Pour equal amounts of the liquid agar mix into 8oz mason jars and cover with solid lids. Load the jars into a pressure cooker, and sterilize for 20 minutes at 15psi. Cooking time begins when the pressure vessel is pressurized, NOT when you turn on the burner!

Potato starch dextrose agar in a flat 8oz ball jar

Spore Prints Method

Cut tinfoil into rectangles. Spray with rubbing alcohol and wipe dry. On one side of the rectangle, place the mushroom fruiting body pore/gill side down. If it’s a mushroom with a cap, you will need to twist and pull the cap off so that the gills or pores can contact the tinfoil surface. If it’s a shelf mushroom, it can just be trimmed to a suitably small size and plunked spore side down on the foil. Cover with a clean cup, and leave 12-24h. Remove the cup and mushroom, and fold the tinfoil in half to protect the spores. Store in a ziploc bag in cool, dry conditions. ALWAYS label your spores clearly so you remember what they are!!

Nameko spore print on tinfoil

Basic Enriched Wood Substrate Recipe

Modified from a Freshcap article on understanding substrates

per 2 x 5Lb mushroom grow bags:

6qt hardwood fuel pellets (normally used for grilling)

1/2qt bran (animal feed pellets are cheapest)

6 1/2qt boiling water

Boil the water. Meanwhile, measure wood pellets and bran and mix in a 66qt storage tub. When the water boils, add it to the tub with the wood and bran. Close the lid of the tub, and let sit for half an hour. Stir, then load equal amounts into 5lb capacity mushroom grow bags. Seal with a heat-based bag sealer and micropore tape for good measure. Place in a pressure canner, and sterilize for 4-6 hours at 15psi. Anything less than 4 is NOT enough! This recipe contains a high level of enrichment. Highly enriched substrates MUST be thoroughly sterilized. It is not recommended to use more than 10% bran because it increases the risk of contamination more than it benefits the mushrooms.

A 66qt storage tub full of mixed enriched wood substrate, ready to bag

Corn Grain Spawn Recipe

Modified from Drippy Corn recipe, afaik originally published on YouTube by Philly Golden Teacher

Per 5 x 1qt jars:

1000g corn (again, animal feed is cheapest)

2tbsp Karo dark corn syrup (NO alcohol or vanilla)

Water, estimated as needed

Measure the corn and corn syrup and pour into a pressure cooker. Cover with water by at least a few inches. It’s possible to drain the corn, but not possible to un-burn it. Pressure cook at 15psi for 30 minutes. Cool, drain if needed, and load into 5 x 1qt jars. Load the jars back into the pressure cooker and sterilize at 15psi for 90 minutes.

Drippy corn in the pressure cooker, and as I load it into jars