Comment cultiver ses champignons

Where to start ?

Culture kit, mushroom spawn, spores or mycelium ?

 

The difficulty increases the closer you get to the beginning of the life cycle of the fungus, because at this stage it is necessary to work in sterile conditions.

On the other hand, the stage just before fruiting offers a very high probability of success, given that the mycelium is well established in the substrate and as long as the fungus is vital, no contaminants will be able to settle there.

In the growth process of a fungus, the stage corresponding to the mycelium is more advanced compared to the spores.

Spores have different advantages, which are widely exploited by experienced growers. For example, for long-term storage, it is preferable to use spores. To create and select new strains, the spores make it possible to create new strains.

 

a. With a grow kit:

At this stage there is no need to have a laboratory and to work in sterile conditions, the microbiology work has already been processed, the block of mycelized substrate is ready for the fruiting process. With a healthy and vigorous mycelium, the risk of contamination decreases drastically. Indeed the ground, the substrate, is already colonized and the mycelium will defend itself in the event of appearance of an intruder.

To trigger the fruiting process:

• Cut the bag by making an X in the bag.

• Put the bag in a humid place with light, avoiding direct sunlight.

However, even a ready-made kit requires attention and the right conditions. The main one being humidity. For the majority of species, an environment of at least 80% humidity is necessary.

 

b. With mushroom spawn

At this stage it is necessary to prepare the substrate for the mushroom spawn, generally enriched straw or sawdust. This consists of properly controlling the ratio of water in the substrate and the pasteurization process.

Concerning the material according to the quantities targeted, it is enough to have a large saucepan or a pasteurizer.

 

c. With mycelium or spores in syringes:

From this stage, it is necessary to know how to prepare the sterile nutrient medium made up of cereal grains (rice, rye, wheat, barley, corn, etc.).

It is necessary to be equipped with an autoclave capable of reaching a temperature of 121°C for sterilization.

 

d. With mycelium on agar in a petri dish or spore print.

At this stage, it is recommended to work in a sterile environment, ideally under a laminar flow hood which eliminates all micro-organisms thanks to a filter which retains all particles larger than 300 nm.

​

​

​