Previous Tutorial: Spawn Production
Once your inoculated
grain spawn has reached 100% mycelial colonization, it is now time to spawn it to a bulk substrate, like our
Myco Mix™.
If you don't know how we got to this step, please read the previous tutorial.
Once the bag is completely colonized with mycelium (you should not be able to see any uncolonized grain), break the grain up with your hands through the outside of the bag. Make sure the grain gets broken up completely and thoroughly.
Measure 44 fluid oz. (5.5 cups; 1300 mL) of clean water (store-bought spring water is recommended). Add the water to a heat-safe pot and place atop a stovetop burner. Adjust heat to HIGH.
While waiting for the water to reach a boil, open the bag of
MycoMix™ and pour it into a bucket
with lid that is between two and five gallons in size.
Bring water to a rolling boil for one (1) minute.
Carefully remove the pot of boiling water from the stovetop and pour into the bucket containing the
MycoMix™.
After pouring the boiling water into the bucket, IMMEDIATELY seal the bucket with the bucket lid. The contents will be very hot and the steam may partially break the seal of the lid. If this happens, let the steam vent for a few seconds then reseal the lid.
Pick up the bucket and shake it violently in a vertical motion for approximately two minutes. You will want to grab the bucket in such a way that your hands are exerting pressure down on the lid while you are shaking. This will help prevent the lid from popping off. The heat inside of the bucket may pop the seal of the lid while you are shaking the bucket. When this happens, simply crack the lid to quickly vent the steam, then reseal the lid and continue shaking. It is normal for the heat to break the seal of your lid and it may happen several times throughout the two minute shaking process.
Let the sealed bucket sit for eight (8) hours. It is very important that the bucket is left to sit for a full eight hours. If you attempt to proceed to the next step prematurely, the heat from the mixture could kill your spawn.
It is best to do this step in a small, clean workspace with limited airflow. Each bag of our
MycoMix™ makes enough substrate for spawning TWO (2) bags of our
sterilized rye berries. With a clean, gloved hand transfer half of the
Myco Mix™ in the bucket to a
large 5.0 µm filter bag then set the bag aside. Transfer the remaining half of the
Myco Mix™ in the bucket to another
large 5.0 µm filter bag. The two bags you just made are for TWO separate bags of colonized rye.
Cut off both bags of broken-up
colonized grain (the bags that you previously broke up) directly below the filter-patch with a clean pair of scissors.
Dump one of the broken-up grain bags into one of the bags of
MycoMix™ substrate that you just made. Dump the other broken-up grain bag into the other bag of MycoMix™ substrate.
Seal the bags with the included
mushroom bag clamps and
tubes approximately two inches from the top of the bags.
Mix the grain and substrate mixtures by massaging the outside of each bag. It is very important to make sure that the mixtures are blended thoroughly and that the grain is distributed evenly throughout the bags.
Put the bag in a dark place that will maintain a temperature between 75-81°F. Disturb the bag as little as possible during this time period and
do not open it until colonization is complete. It will take approximately 5-10 days for the substrate to completely colonize with mycelium (you will be able to tell if it has completed colonization when the substrate has turned completely white). The bag should look like the picture above. Once you reach this point, it is now time to introduce the bag to
fruiting conditions.
Next Tutorial: Fruiting Conditions
