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How To Grow Nameko at Home

Cultivation Supplies
Welcome to the ultimate resource for growing nameko mushrooms! Are you ready to embark on a journey into the fascinating world of fungi cultivation? Our Nameko Mushroom Growing page is your one-stop destination for all things related to growing, harvesting, and enjoying these versatile mushrooms. Dive into our expert tips and techniques, learn about the health benefits of nameko mushrooms, and discover how incorporating them into your diet can enhance your well-being. Whether you're a novice mushroom enthusiast or a seasoned grower, our comprehensive guide will equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to cultivate a thriving crop of nameko mushrooms in your own home. Get ready to experience the joy of growing your own nutritious and delicious fungi with ShroomSpy!
Nameko Nature

Natural Habitat

• Ecosystem:

Deciduous trees, especially beech and poplar

• Locations:

Japan, China, Korea

• Seasons:

Summer to Fall

• Climate:

Temperate

• Substrate:

Wood

Growing Params

• Difficulty:

Moderate

• Total Time:

75 - 85 Days

• PH Range:

5.5 - 6.5

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:75 - 85 °F

CO2 Range:5000 - 20000 ppm

Growth Duration:38 - 51 Days

Cultivation Notes: Keep in a dark, humid environment for optimal 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:75 - 85 °F

CO2 Range:5000 - 20000 ppm

Growth Duration:12 - 16 Days

Cultivation Notes: Shake the jars once every 2 days to distribute the mycelium evenly.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. In a sterile environment, pour the agar medium into petri dishes or containers, leaving some space at the top.
  4. Using a sterile technique, inoculate the agar medium with a small piece of nameko mushroom tissue or spores.
  5. Seal the petri dishes or containers with parafilm or tape to prevent contamination.
  6. Incubate the agar plates at the optimal temperature for nameko mushroom growth, usually around 25-28°C.
  7. Check the agar plates regularly for signs of contamination or growth of the nameko mycelium.
  8. Once the mycelium has fully colonized the agar plates, you can use them to inoculate your substrate for fruiting.
Liquid Culture Cultivation
  1. Prepare a sterile work area by cleaning all surfaces with a disinfectant and using a laminar flow hood if available.
  2. Gather all necessary materials including a pressure cooker, malt extract agar, petri dishes, and sterilized syringes.
  3. Prepare the malt extract agar according to the manufacturer's instructions and pour it into the petri dishes to create a solid medium for the mushroom mycelium to grow on.
  4. Inoculate the agar plates with a small piece of nameko mushroom tissue or spores using a sterilized syringe in a sterile environment.
  5. Incubate the inoculated agar plates in a dark, warm (around 75-80°F) environment to allow the mycelium to grow and colonize the agar.
  6. Check the agar plates regularly for contamination and growth of the nameko mycelium. Discard any contaminated plates.
  7. Once the mycelium has fully colonized the agar plates, prepare a liquid culture medium by mixing water, malt extract, and other nutrients in a sterile container.
  8. Inoculate the liquid culture medium with a small piece of the colonized agar using a sterilized syringe in a sterile environment.
  9. Incubate the liquid culture at room temperature and shake it gently every day to distribute the mycelium and nutrients.
  10. After a few weeks, the liquid culture should be fully colonized with the nameko mycelium and can be used to inoculate substrate for fruiting.

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:75 - 85 °F

Moisture Content:49 - 55 %

Fresh Air Exchange:0 - 1 / Hour

CO2 Range:5000 - 20000 ppm

Growth Duration:14 - 18 Days

Grain Spawn Prep and Innoculation
  1. Prepare your grain substrate by soaking it in water for 24 hours.
  2. After soaking, drain the water from the grain substrate and fill your jars or bags with the substrate, leaving some space at the top.
  3. Sterilize the grain substrate by pressure cooking it at 15 psi for 90 minutes.
  4. Allow the grain substrate to cool down to room temperature before inoculating.
  5. Inoculate the grain substrate with your nameko mushroom culture using a sterile syringe or agar wedge.
  6. Seal the jars or bags with a breathable filter, such as micropore tape, to allow for gas exchange.
  7. Incubate the inoculated grain substrate in a dark, warm place (around 75-80°F) for 2-4 weeks, or until fully colonized by the mycelium.
  8. Check the jars or bags regularly for contamination and discard any contaminated ones.
  9. Once fully colonized, your nameko grain spawn is ready to be used for inoculating your fruiting substrate.

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:75 - 85 °F

Humidity Range:95 - 100 RH

Fresh Air Exchange:0 - 1 / Hour

CO2 Range:5000 - 20000 ppm

Growth Duration:10 - 14 Days

Substrate Prep and Innoculation
  1. Prepare the substrate by mixing hardwood sawdust with wheat bran in a ratio of 5:1.
  2. Moisten the substrate mixture until it reaches a field capacity moisture level.
  3. Fill sterilized bags or containers with the substrate mixture, leaving some space at the top for expansion.
  4. Inoculate the substrate with nameko mushroom spawn by evenly distributing it throughout the substrate.
  5. Mix the spawn into the substrate using a clean utensil to ensure even distribution.
  6. Seal the bags or containers with a breathable filter patch to allow for gas exchange.
  7. Incubate the inoculated substrate at a temperature of around 75-80°F in a dark, humid environment.
  8. Monitor the substrate for signs of mycelium growth, which should start to appear within 1-2 weeks.
  9. Once the substrate is fully colonized with mycelium, introduce fresh air and lower the temperature to around 55-60°F to induce fruiting.
  10. Maintain humidity levels around 90% and provide indirect light to promote mushroom formation.
  11. Harvest the nameko mushrooms when they reach the desired size, typically within 2-3 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:50 - 60 °F

Humidity Range:98 - 100 RH

Light Wave Length:395 - 480 nm

Light Intensity:500 - 1000 Lux

Light Duration: 12 Hours/Day

Fresh Air Exchange:3 - 4 / Hour

CO2 Range:800 - 1200 ppm

Growth Duration:7 - 10 Days

Cultivation Notes: This is a critical phase. Mist regularly and provide adequate light and fresh air.

Primordia Initiation
  1. Prepare a clean and sanitized growing area with proper humidity and temperature control.
  2. Inoculate the substrate with nameko mushroom spawn, ensuring even distribution.
  3. Cover the substrate with a layer of casing material, such as peat moss or vermiculite, to promote primordia formation.
  4. Maintain high humidity levels (around 90%) and temperatures between 75-80°F to encourage primordia initiation.
  5. Monitor the substrate for signs of primordia formation, which will appear as small pin-like structures.
  6. Continue to mist the growing area regularly to keep humidity levels high and promote primordia development.
  7. Once primordia have formed, reduce misting to prevent excessive moisture and allow the mushrooms to grow and mature.
  8. Harvest the nameko mushrooms when they reach the desired size, typically within 1-2 weeks of primordia initiation.

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:55 - 65 °F

Humidity Range:90 - 95 RH

Light Wave Length:395 - 480 nm

Light Intensity:500 - 1000 lux

Light Duration: 12 Hours/Day

Fresh Air Exchange:3 - 4 / Hour

CO2 Range:800 - 1200 ppm

Growth Duration:5 - 8 Days

Flushes:1 - 2

Flushing Schedule:10 - 14 Days

Cultivation Notes: Ensure adequate light, fresh air, and humidity for fruiting.

Fruiting Preparation and Conditions
  1. Prepare a fruiting chamber by thoroughly cleaning and sanitizing it to prevent contamination.
  2. Fill the fruiting chamber with a substrate suitable for nameko mushrooms, such as a mixture of hardwood sawdust and bran.
  3. Moisten the substrate to achieve the proper moisture content, which should be around 65-75%.
  4. Inoculate the substrate with nameko mushroom spawn, ensuring even distribution throughout the substrate.
  5. Cover the substrate with a layer of damp newspaper or plastic to maintain high humidity levels.
  6. Maintain the fruiting chamber at a temperature of around 55-65°F with high humidity levels of 85-95%.
  7. Provide indirect light to simulate natural daylight conditions, but avoid direct sunlight to prevent overheating.
  8. Monitor the substrate for signs of mycelium growth and adjust conditions as needed to promote healthy fruiting.
  9. Harvest the nameko mushrooms when they reach the desired size and appearance, typically within 2-3 weeks after inoculation.