Agaricus bitorquis : Warm Weather Button, Tork Culture Syringe

Material provided in sterile aqueous solution using 10cc BD Luer-Lok syringes. One 1.5in 16ga needle will be provided for each syringe.

Substrate: Manure and straw based composts
Colonization/Fruiting Temperatures: 84-86F/75-77F

Agaricus bitorquis is essentially a warm temperature version of the well known common white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus). Torks are denser, higher in disease resistance and less sensitive to high CO2 levels than the button mushroom. These traits make this species more suitable for the home grower, especially in warm climates. Like most agaricus, the Tork needs a non-sterile casing layer for optimum fruiting. But we have observed spontaneous fruitings in unopened jars of grain spawn that have been overincubated. It is unknown if unseen contaminates stimulated the fruiting or if this species can fruit in a sterile environment.

This species can be grown to maturity as a white Portabella or harvested young as a firm button. This is by far the easiest and most forgiving Agaricus species for the home grower that we have tested. Highly recommended.