Large grow bags are filled with mushroom substrates and inoculated with seeds to grow a large mushroom crop. Straw, sawdust, or wood chips can be used as a substrate depending on the type of fungus required. Once the substrate is fully colonized by mycelium, it can fructify.
Once your mushroom grow bags are ready to bear fruit, you have a few options. In most cases, the bag will be moved to a fruiting room, which will exchange light, more moisture, and fresh air. Second, the colonized substrate will be used as a fruiting block.
The bag helps keep most of the block high in high humidity and prevents contamination, while the open-top leaves room for fresh air and fungus to exchange.
Start by pouring cold water into your straw or sawdust granules. If desired, you can use hot or boiling water to further pasteurize the pellets. Once you add water to the granules, let them sit for thirty minutes until they are fully hydrated.
If you are using hot water, allow the mixture to return to room temperature. Then it is time to mix your substrate with the spawn.
You can adjust the ratio as needed for large or small quantities. Just make sure the proportions of the granules, water, and spawn are the same. Once you have added your spawn, it is time to give everything a final mix and then load your plastic bag with the mixture.
If you are using chopped straw, you can fill the bag to the top. Larger straw particles allow better air exchange. All you have to do now is seal the bag.
Most grow bags do not come with a specific way to seal them, so you will need to find your own way to seal them after inoculation. The easiest way is to twist the top of the bag and wrap it with a zip tie or a wire.
At the moment, there is nothing to do but wait. All you have to do is store your bag in a warm place inside your house. An ideal temperature range is between twenty and twenty-four degrees Celsius. It can also help to keep your bag in a dark place.
After a few days, you will notice small white spots on your substrate. They will eventually take over the entire bag. In the case of oyster mushrooms, the whole process takes between two and three weeks. You will notice that your bag is ready to fruit when the entire substrate is covered with bright white mycelium.
Time to actually grow mushrooms now. Use a pair of scissors to cross-cut the front of your bag. You will need to pull the flaps down where you cut and mist the mycelium thoroughly twice a day with water.
If you cut the top of the bag or open the entire top, the substrate dries quickly and you will usually find many small mushrooms rather than a few groups of large mushrooms. For most bags, one hole is sufficient. But for really big bags, you can cut more than one.
During the fruiting stage, your mushrooms need moisture, light, and fresh air. You'll provide moisture by spraying your bag with water every day.
If you do everything right, you will start growing smaller mushrooms after about five days. Then they will start to grow very fast and will double in size every day. After about two weeks, you are ready to harvest the mushrooms.
