UK gardening - Mushroom question

Author

Mushroom question

Leslie

2006-06-21, 1:25 pm

Hello
some years ago I remember reading adverts in the newspapers and glossies for
mushrooms that grew on just plain straw from the fields

Apparently there was no need compost the straw in any way whatsoever.

Have any of you come across this strain and if so where can I get some spawn

......................Leslie

Chris Hogg

2006-06-22, 1:25 pm

On Wed, 21 Jun 2006 19:10:04 +0100, "Leslie"
<science.fiction@ukonline.co.uk> wrote:

>Hello
>some years ago I remember reading adverts in the newspapers and glossies for
>mushrooms that grew on just plain straw from the fields
>
> Apparently there was no need compost the straw in any way whatsoever.
>
>Have any of you come across this strain and if so where can I get some spawn
>
> ......................Leslie
>
Many years ago you could get mushroom growing kits, that consisted of
(IIRC), a bucket of compacted straw that had been inoculated with
mushroom spawn. All you had to do was add water and keep them in a
dark place.

I don't think the spawn has to be special (unless you want to grow
specialist fungi), but moisture is important. Mushrooms, like most
fungi, grow on decomposing vegetable matter, and the wet straw
provides this and probably a bit of heat as well, as it decomposes.
You could try getting a bale of straw, soaking it very thoroughly and
keeping it moist, and scattering some mushroom 'gills' onto it and
just see what comes up. I don't think it takes too long (like ten days
or a fortnight) before you start to see some growth, if it's going to
happen. I imagine field mushrooms might be more successful than the
cultivated ones you get in most shops, and tinned mushrooms definitely
won't work!

--
Chris

E-mail: christopher[dot]hogg[at]virgin[dot]net

Leslie

2006-06-26, 1:25 pm

Thank you Chris

.......................Leslie

"Chris Hogg" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:ikkl92hdli3k0m27v5srcie3etafb44fg3@4ax.com...
> On Wed, 21 Jun 2006 19:10:04 +0100, "Leslie"
> <science.fiction@ukonline.co.uk> wrote:
>
> Many years ago you could get mushroom growing kits, that consisted of
> (IIRC), a bucket of compacted straw that had been inoculated with
> mushroom spawn. All you had to do was add water and keep them in a
> dark place.
>
> I don't think the spawn has to be special (unless you want to grow
> specialist fungi), but moisture is important. Mushrooms, like most
> fungi, grow on decomposing vegetable matter, and the wet straw
> provides this and probably a bit of heat as well, as it decomposes.
> You could try getting a bale of straw, soaking it very thoroughly and
> keeping it moist, and scattering some mushroom 'gills' onto it and
> just see what comes up. I don't think it takes too long (like ten days
> or a fortnight) before you start to see some growth, if it's going to
> happen. I imagine field mushrooms might be more successful than the
> cultivated ones you get in most shops, and tinned mushrooms definitely
> won't work!
>
>
> --
> Chris
>
> E-mail: christopher[dot]hogg[at]virgin[dot]net

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