Step one is to drill some holes in your bucket.
That is to present someplace for the fungi to fruit from. The holes don’t should be huge; 6 millimetres (1⁄4 inch) is ok, although barely larger can also be not an issue. If they’re too huge the woodchip will fall out.
Subsequent soak the woodchip. You possibly can both do this in your pre-drilled bucket, by sticking the entire bucket into a bigger container stuffed with sizzling water. Or you possibly can put the woodchip into some other container to soak and switch. Then add alternate layers of spawn and woodchip into the bucket.
Go away the bucket for 2 to a few weeks in order that the fungi can colonise the woodchip.
It is important to maintain the woodchip moist throughout this era. In case your bucket has a lid you possibly can put that on, but it surely may also be value masking the entire thing with a plastic sheet or bag to cease it drying out.
If they’ve colonised effectively, you must begin seeing some ‘pins’ (or child mushrooms) beginning to kind via the holes within the facet of the bucket.
Now transfer them to a shady, sheltered fruiting spot.
This may be exterior or in a shed or storage. Once more, the essential factor is to not allow them to dry out.
It’s possible you’ll have to water them to maintain them producing. Water little and infrequently to maintain the chip moist however not moist.
In the proper circumstances you possibly can typically get a second and even third flush from the chip, nevertheless you may as well use the contaminated woodchip to colonise new buckets, or add as a mulch within the backyard the place you would possibly get extra mushrooms.
Closing the Loop
Although mushrooms feed on the substrate as they develop, the spent materials on the finish of the harvest remains to be of worth. By rising mushrooms on it now we have successfully begun the composting strategy of the woodchip.
In an in depth out of doors system, the partially digested woodchip will already be in place as mulch or woodpile and might be left in place.
Materials from an indoor system can increase your compost heap and newer woodchip piles. Alternatively sprinkle round present vegetation or onto no-dig beds – particularly good when you’ve got used manure or espresso grounds within the combine.
Advisable Reads
Soil Remediation: Restore Your Soil With Woodchip
Drill, Plug, Wax, Wait: 6 Easy Steps to Rising Mushrooms Outside