Three Pound Supplemented Sawdust Block w/ Rye Grain Pocket, Gourmet Mushroom Grow Kits by Everything Mushrooms include everything you need to begin growing gourmet mushrooms. Each kit includes your choice of gourmet mushroom culture and a number of pre-sterilized three pound bags.

Each bag contains three pounds of properly moistened, bran supplemented sawdust and wood shavings. A unique and incredibly handy addition to this bag is the 1.5 cups of rye grain located near the self-healing injection site. This small pocket of rye grain allows for direct culture inoculation with the gourmet culture of your choice (included).

Simply inject your culture through the self-healing site, incubate and mix once the rye pocket has become fully colonized. The resulting growth will colonize the supplemented sawdust and your block will be ready for mushroom production! In some cases the sawdust block can be utilized as spawn for larger outdoor wood chip beds, as when attempting to outdoor garden with Stropharia rugoso-annulata, the Garden Giant or Wine Cap Mushroom.

Note: Panellus stipticus is not an edible mushroom, but a novelty luminescent species.

The Sawdust Blocks included with this kit are specifically designed for growing the supplied gourmet culture by our good friends at Everything Mushrooms. Previous sawdust based bags sold by Sporeworks contained just over one pound of sterilized sawdust. The new Everything Mushrooms Kits are not only made with certified organic rye, they also contain nearly 2.5x the amount of substrate!

Directions for use:

Upon arrival, inspect your Bag for punctures or tears, if any are noticeable, contact us to arrange for a replacement to be shipped. Unfold the Bag, allowing the extra bag material to stand straight up.

Locate the small foam disk sealed and attached in a plastic housing near the base of the Bag. This disc is the self-healing injector site. Note: The disc will be covered by a small plastic shield. Do not attempt to remove the plastic covering the disc, you will inject through it. Sterilize a small section of the outside of the Bag (on the plastic shield) directly over the foam disc with an alcohol soaked wipe. With the same alcohol soaked wipe, sterilize the needle on your culture syringe.

Inoculate the substrate with culture syringe(included) solution by inserting the needle through the plastic shield and foam disc at the previously sterilized spot and squirting 1-3cc of culture solution into the mixture. Mix culture solution thoroughly by shaking the syringe before injection. When injection is finished, slowly remove the needle and the foam disc will seal the injection site (no need to tape). DO NOT insert the needle through the white filter patch.

Return the inoculated bags back to the shipping box and place in a dark, warm location (species specific). Allow the bag to remain extended so gaseous exchange through the filter patch is not blocked.

Within 7-14 days the rye grain pocket will become colonized with white mushroom mycelium. Once the majority of the rye grain pocket is white you may mix the bag. Mix thoroughly to distribute the grain spawn around the sawdust. Recollect the sawdust in the bottom of the bag and reform the "block" by compressing lightly. Colonization time will depend on the species used and incubation temperatures.

Once fully colonized the sawdust block can be induced to produce mushrooms by exposing the block to fresh air.

When growing Oysters, Lions Mane, Reishi you will cut several X's into the sides of the bag over the block. Roll down the excess top bag material and secure with a clip or clothes pin. Place the block on a plate and drape the supplied humidity tent over the block. The base of the tent can be rolled to gain support, or a makeshift frame can be constructed from chop sticks or wire coat hangers (be creative!). Supply humidity with a spray bottle mister and clean distilled or bottled water. Most of these mushroom types will do well in normal room temperatures, but may stop growing if it gets too warm or cool.

When growing Shiitake mushrooms, remove block from the bag once it has become completely white. Place on a plate, preferably with something holding it up... maybe a jar lid, etc. Drape the humidity tent over the block. Keep temperatures cool (50-70F). The mushrooms will form as small bumps and rapidly mature. The block will develop a brown, tough "skin" as it ages, this is good! Keep it moist by misting daily!

With Maitake mushrooms don't do anything until you've noted the small "brain-like" primordia growing from the block's surface. When you do, allow them to develop for a few days, then remove the excess bag material above the block, leaving a 1-2 inch collar above the block to help retain moisture. Place the block on a plate and drape the humidity tent over it. Mist daily with distilled or bottled water. Keep temperature around 65-75F.

For detailed procedures on spawn generation and mushroom cultivation we recommend the following books from our Mushroom Bookstore: