Mushroom Spawn Bag 1.7kg – Wine Cap Mushroom (Stropharia rugosoannulata) EASY TO GROW –  NO shipping to WA

Description

The Garden Giant: King Stropharia Wood Chip Guide

1. Preparing the Substrate (The Fermentation Method)

The key to a successful bed is giving your Wine Caps a head start over competing fungi.

• The Soak: Submerge your hardwood chips in water for 2–3 weeks. You want them to turn “black and yucky.” This anaerobic environment kills off many common wood-rotting competitors.

  • Note: In colder weather, this process may take longer; wait for that distinct colour change.

• The Oxygen Shock: After soaking, spread the chips out a few inches deep. Let them air out for 30–60 minutes. This “oxygen shock” kills the water-borne anaerobic bacteria, leaving the chips clean and ready for the mushroom spawn.

2. Choosing the Perfect Location

Wine Caps love moisture and protection from the drying sun.

• Shade is Essential: Position your bed in a shaded area—under a tree canopy, along the shady side of a shed, or tucked behind tall perennials.

• Natural Irrigation: Choose a spot that receives a good soaking during rainstorms. Natural rainfall is often the “trigger” that tells the mushrooms it’s time to fruit.

3. Bed Construction (The Layering Method)

For a bed that produces for years, depth and structure are vital.

• Excavation: Dig your bed down approximately 30–40cm deep.

• The Cardboard Foundation: Use corrugated cardboard (peel it back to expose the “ridges” inside). This provides a textured surface for the mycelium to grip. Lay it at the bottom and soak it thoroughly with water.

• The Lasagna Technique:

  1. Spawn: Sprinkle a generous, even layer of spawn over the wet cardboard.

  2. Chips: Add a layer of fermented wood chips (or a chip/straw mix) about 5–10cm thick.

  3. Repeat: Continue layering spawn and chips until the bed is full.

  4. The Protective Casing: Finish with a final 10cm layer of wood chips, and top with a straw casing layer. This straw mulch helps retain moisture and creates a perfect microclimate for fruiting.

4. Quick Reference Facts

• Spawn Ratio: Use 1 spawn bag per 1 cubic meter (1000L) of wood chips.

• Preferred Wood: Hardwoods such as Oak, Beech, Birch, and Alder.

• The Straw Boost: While wood chips are the primary fuel, you can mix clean agricultural straw into your wood chip layers to speed up colonisation. A top layer of straw is also highly recommended to keep the bed from drying out.

• Longevity: Once established, your Wine Cap bed can produce mushrooms for several seasons. Simply “feed” the bed with fresh chips each year to keep it going.

Please note that this culture is sold with our Mushroom Spawn and Cultures sale agreement. By purchasing you agree to this agreement