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ShroomSpy

Background

How To Grow Chestnut Mushroom at Home

Cultivation Supplies
Embark on a rewarding journey of cultivating your own chestnut mushrooms with ShroomSpy's expert guidance. Our comprehensive resources cover everything you need to know, from selecting the ideal growing environment to harvesting your flavorful and nutrient-rich mushrooms. Join our community of mushroom enthusiasts and unlock the full potential of these health-boosting fungi in your own home.
Chestnut

Natural Habitat

• Ecosystem:

Parasitic or saprotrophic, often on beech species

• Locations:

North America, Europe, Asia

• Seasons:

Summer to Fall

• Climate:

Temperate

• Substrate:

Wood

Growing Params

• Difficulty:

Moderate

• Total Time:

40 - 64 Days

• PH Range:

6 - 7

Yield Performance

• Units:

% Weight of Substrate

• Poor:

10

• Average:

20

• Good:

30

• Excellent:

40

Culture Instructions

Agar Cultivation

Supplies Needed

  • • Agar Powder: Cellular medium for agar plates.
  • • Petri Dishes: Containers for pouring agar medium.
  • • Agar Jar: Narrow Mouth Jar with Sealing Lid is optimal.
  • • Parafilm: For Sealing the agar after innoculation. Grafting Tape is also sufficient.
  • • Scissors: Tool for cutting sealing tape to length.
  • • Stir Plate: Optional: Thorough mixing with sagenetic stirrir improves results by distributing nutrients evenly
  • • Nutrient Medium: Nutrition can be Light Malt Extract, Honey, Karo ext. For Mycelial Expansion.
  • • Suppliments: Suppliments not required, but can sometimes be added to the liquid culture medium to increase growth rates.
  • • Clean Environment: Flow Hood is optimal, but a still air box can be used.
  • • Pressure Cooker: Equipment for sterilizing agar mixture and Petri dishes.
  • • Scalpel or Innoculation Loop: Tool for transferring mycelium to agar plates.
  • • Alcohol Lamp or Burner: Sterilization tool for flame sterilizing instruments.

Growing Params

Recipe: MEA

Temperature Range:65 - 75 °F

CO2 Range:5000 - 10000 ppm

Growth Duration:5 - 10 Days

Cultivation Notes: Maintain sterile conditions and adequate moisture levels for optimum growth.

Liquid Culture

Supplies Needed

  • • Sterile Jar: Clean container for liquid culture inoculation.
  • • Modified Lid: Lid should have a filter port for gas exchange. Syringe Port Optional.
  • • Clean Environment: Flow Hood is optimal, but a still air box can be used.
  • • Nutrient Medium: Nutrition can be Light Malt Extract, Honey, Karo ext. For Mycelial Expansion.
  • • Suppliments: Suppliments not required, but can sometimes be added to the liquid culture medium to increase growth rates.
  • • Pressure Cooker: Equipment for sterilizing liquid culture medium.
  • • Scalpel or Syringe: Tool for transferring mycelial mass to growth medium.
  • • Alcohol Lamp or Burner: Sterilization tool for flame sterilizing instruments.

Growing Params

Recipe: MHLC

Temperature Range:65 - 75 °F

CO2 Range:5000 - 10000 ppm

Growth Duration:10 - 14 Days

Cultivation Notes: Use sterile technique to avoid contamination.Stir Daily

Agar Cultivation
  1. Prepare the agar medium by mixing agar powder with water according to the manufacturer's instructions.
  2. Autoclave the agar medium to sterilize it and let it cool to around 50°C.
  3. Pour the agar medium into sterile petri dishes, filling them about halfway full.
  4. Allow the agar to solidify in the petri dishes in a sterile environment, such as a laminar flow hood.
  5. Inoculate the agar plates with a small piece of chestnut mushroom tissue or spores using sterile techniques.
  6. Seal the petri dishes with parafilm or tape and incubate them at the appropriate temperature for chestnut mushroom growth, typically around 25°C.
  7. Check the agar plates regularly for signs of contamination or growth of the chestnut mushroom mycelium.
  8. Once the chestnut mushroom mycelium has fully colonized the agar plates, you can use them to inoculate your substrate for fruiting.
Liquid Culture Cultivation
  1. Prepare the liquid culture medium by combining water, malt extract, and agar in a sterilized container.
  2. Mix the ingredients thoroughly and sterilize the medium using a pressure cooker or autoclave.
  3. Allow the medium to cool to room temperature before inoculating it with a small piece of chestnut mushroom mycelium.
  4. Seal the container with a breathable lid or cover to allow for gas exchange.
  5. Incubate the liquid culture at the optimal temperature for chestnut mushrooms to promote mycelium growth.
  6. Monitor the culture for signs of contamination and discard if any mold or bacteria growth is observed.
  7. Once the mycelium has fully colonized the liquid culture medium, it is ready to be used for inoculating substrate for mushroom cultivation.

Spawn Instructions

Supplies Needed

  • • Mason Jars or Bags: Containers for sterilizing and inoculating grains.
  • • Modified Lid: Lid should have a filter port for gas exchange. Syringe Port Optional.
  • • Grains: Substrate material for spawn inoculation. (e.g. Rye, Millet)
  • • Clean Environment: Flow Hood is optimal, but a still air box can be used.
  • • Suppliments: Suppliments not required, but can sometimes be added to the grain medium to increase growth rates.
  • • Pressure Cooker: Equipment for sterilizing grain substrate.
  • • Inoculation Tool : Tool for transferring colonized spawn to substrate. (e.g. Scalpel, Syringe)
  • • Alcohol Lamp or Burner: Sterilization tool for flame sterilizing instruments.

Growing Params

Spawn Material: Whole Oats

Temperature Range:65 - 75 °F

Moisture Content:49 - 55 %

Fresh Air Exchange:0 - 1 / Hour

CO2 Range:5000 - 10000 ppm

Growth Duration:10 - 14 Days

Grain Spawn Prep and Innoculation
  1. Prepare your work area by cleaning and sanitizing all surfaces and equipment to prevent contamination.
  2. Gather your materials, including sterilized grain spawn bags, chestnut mushroom spawn, a pressure cooker, and a clean work glove.
  3. Fill the pressure cooker with water and bring it to a boil to create steam for sterilizing the grain spawn bags.
  4. Place the grain spawn bags in the pressure cooker and sterilize them according to the manufacturer's instructions.
  5. Allow the sterilized grain spawn bags to cool to room temperature before proceeding.
  6. Wash your hands and put on the clean work glove to prevent contamination.
  7. Open the chestnut mushroom spawn package and carefully break it up into smaller pieces.
  8. Inoculate the cooled grain spawn bags by evenly distributing the chestnut mushroom spawn pieces throughout the substrate.
  9. Seal the grain spawn bags with a heat sealer or zip ties to prevent contamination.
  10. Incubate the inoculated grain spawn bags in a dark, warm area for the mycelium to colonize the substrate.
  11. Monitor the bags regularly for signs of contamination or growth, and adjust the temperature and humidity as needed.
  12. After the mycelium has fully colonized the substrate, the grain spawn bags are ready to be used for mushroom cultivation.

Substrate Instructions

Supplies Needed

  • • Substrate Mix: Substrate material for mushroom growth. (e.g., Sawdust, Wood Chips, Fast Fruiting Mix, Brown Rice)
  • • Suppliments: Suppliments not required, but can sometimes be added to the grain medium to increase growth rates.
  • • Substrate Container: Polypropylene Bags or Plastic Containers for sterilizing and inoculating substrate.
  • • Mycelial Mass: Typically Colonized Grain Jars or Liquid Culture for inoculation.
  • • Clean Environment: Flow Hood is optimal, but a still air box can be used.
  • • Pressure Cooker or Steam Sterilizer: Equipment for sterilizing substrate.

Growing Params

Substrate: Hardwood Sawdust

Sub to Spawn Ratio: 3:1

Sub to LC Ratio: 4ml/qt

Temperature Range:65 - 75 °F

Humidity Range:90 - 100 RH

Fresh Air Exchange:0 - 1 / Hour

CO2 Range:5000 - 10000 ppm

Growth Duration:14 - 21 Days

Substrate Prep and Innoculation
  1. Prepare the substrate by mixing hardwood sawdust and wheat bran in a large container at a ratio of 5:1.
  2. Add water to the substrate mixture until it reaches a moisture content of around 65-70%.
  3. Sterilize the substrate mixture by placing it in a large pressure cooker or autoclave at 15 psi for 2 hours.
  4. Allow the substrate mixture to cool to room temperature before proceeding to the next step.
  5. Inoculate the cooled substrate mixture with chestnut mushroom spawn. Mix the spawn thoroughly into the substrate to ensure even distribution.
  6. Transfer the inoculated substrate mixture into grow bags or containers, leaving some room for the mushrooms to grow.
  7. Seal the grow bags or containers with a breathable filter patch to allow for gas exchange.
  8. Incubate the inoculated substrate mixture in a dark, warm (75-80°F) environment for 2-3 weeks, or until fully colonized by the mycelium.
  9. Once fully colonized, move the substrate to a fruiting chamber with high humidity (90-95%) and good air circulation.
  10. Maintain the fruiting chamber at a temperature of 60-70°F and mist the substrate regularly to keep it moist.
  11. Harvest the chestnut mushrooms when they reach the desired size, typically within 1-2 weeks of initiating fruiting conditions.

Primordia Instructions

Supplies Needed

  • • Fruiting Chamber: Controlled environment chamber for pinning and fruiting.
  • • Control Automation: Optional. Controller and sensors for maintaining temperature, humidity, lighting ext.
  • • Casing Layer: Optional. Species Dependant. Humidification material for maintaining humidity in the fruiting chamber.
  • • Hygrometer: Instrument for measuring humidity levels.
  • • Humidifier: Optional. Could be spray bottle or humidifer. Tool for misting and humidifying the fruiting chamber.

Growing Params

Casing Layer: None

Temperature Range:60 - 65 °F

Humidity Range:90 - 100 RH

Light Wave Length:395 - 480 nm

Light Intensity:100 - 300 Lux

Light Duration: 12 Hours/Day

Fresh Air Exchange:2 - 3 / Hour

CO2 Range:500 - 2000 ppm

Growth Duration:8 - 12 Days

Cultivation Notes: none

Primordia Initiation
  1. Prepare a clean and sanitized growing area with proper ventilation and humidity control.
  2. Mix the substrate ingredients thoroughly, ensuring proper moisture content and pH levels.
  3. Fill the growing containers with the substrate mixture, leaving some space at the top for the mushrooms to grow.
  4. Inoculate the substrate with chestnut mushroom spawn, distributing it evenly throughout the container.
  5. Cover the containers with a breathable lid or plastic wrap to maintain humidity levels.
  6. Place the containers in a dark, warm location (around 75-80°F) to encourage primordia formation.
  7. Monitor the humidity levels regularly and mist the containers if necessary to maintain optimal conditions.
  8. After 10-14 days, small pinheads should start to form, indicating the initiation of primordia formation.
  9. Continue to monitor and adjust the growing conditions as needed to support healthy primordia development.

Fruiting Instructions

Supplies Needed

  • • Fruiting Chamber: Controlled environment chamber for fruiting.
  • • Temperature Control System: Equipment for maintaining optimal fruiting temperatures.
  • • Fresh Air Exchange System: System to provide adequate fresh air exchange in the fruiting chamber.
  • • Light Source: Light source to provide required illumination for fruiting. (e.g., LED Grow Light)
  • • Harvesting Tools: Tools for harvesting mushrooms without damaging the mycelium. (e.g., Knife, Scissors)

Growing Params

Temperature Range:60 - 70 °F

Humidity Range:85 - 90 RH

Light Wave Length:395 - 480 nm

Light Intensity:100 - 300 lux

Light Duration: 12 Hours/Day

Fresh Air Exchange:2 - 3 / Hour

CO2 Range:500 - 2000 ppm

Growth Duration:8 - 12 Days

Flushes:2 - 3

Flushing Schedule:5 - 8 Days

Cultivation Notes: none

Fruiting Preparation and Conditions
  1. Prepare a fruiting chamber by cleaning and sanitizing it thoroughly to prevent contamination.
  2. Fill the fruiting chamber with a substrate such as pasteurized straw or sawdust that has been inoculated with chestnut mushroom spawn.
  3. Maintain the fruiting chamber at a temperature of around 65-75°F with high humidity levels (around 90%).
  4. Provide fresh air exchange by fanning or using an air pump to ensure proper oxygen levels for mushroom growth.
  5. Keep the substrate moist but not waterlogged by misting regularly with clean water.
  6. Monitor the growth of the chestnut mushrooms, they should start to appear within 1-2 weeks after initiating the fruiting conditions.
  7. Harvest the chestnut mushrooms when they reach the desired size by twisting them gently to detach from the substrate.
  8. Repeat the fruiting process with new substrate and spawn to continue growing chestnut mushrooms.