Background

How To Grow Velvet Pioppino at Home

Embark on a journey of culinary and health discovery as you delve into the world of growing Velvet Pioppini mushrooms. These exquisite fungi are not only a gourmet delight but also offer a plethora of health benefits, from immune-boosting properties to antioxidant-rich nutrients. With our expert guidance, you can unlock the secrets to cultivating Velvet Pioppini mushrooms in your own home, transforming your kitchen into a gourmet paradise. Elevate your dishes with the earthy, nutty flavor of these unique mushrooms and reap the rewards of growing your own nutritious and delicious Velvet Pioppini harvest.

Velvet Pioppino

Natural Habitat

Ecosystem:

Broadleaf hardwood stumps and logs. Especially deciduous oaks and beech

Locations:

China, Japan, Taiwan

Seasons:

Summer to Fall

Climate:

Cool Temperate Highlands

Substrate:

Hardwood

Growing Params

Difficulty:

Moderate

Total Time:

38 - 51 Days

PH Range:

5.5 - 6.5

Pref Suppl's:

Wheat Bran

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:12 - 16 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:75 - 85 °F

CO2 Range:5000 - 20000 ppm

Growth Duration:16 - 20 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. In a sterile environment, pour the agar medium into petri dishes to create a solid surface for the velvet-pioppini mushroom mycelium to grow on.
  4. Using a sterile technique, transfer a small piece of velvet-pioppini mushroom tissue onto the agar medium in each petri dish.
  5. Seal the petri dishes with parafilm or tape to prevent contamination and store them in a dark, warm place to allow the mycelium to colonize the agar medium.
  6. Check the petri dishes regularly for signs of contamination or growth of the velvet-pioppini mycelium.
  7. Once the mycelium has fully colonized the agar medium, you can use it to inoculate your substrate for fruiting the velvet-pioppini mushrooms.

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 liquid culture syringe, sterilized liquid culture medium, and a sterile syringe for inoculation.
  3. Heat the liquid culture medium in a pressure cooker or autoclave to sterilize it and kill any contaminants.
  4. Allow the liquid culture medium to cool to room temperature before proceeding to the next step.
  5. Inject the liquid culture syringe into the sterilized liquid culture medium using aseptic techniques to prevent contamination.
  6. Incubate the liquid culture at the optimal temperature and humidity for velvet-pioppini mushrooms to allow the mycelium to grow and colonize the medium.
  7. Monitor the liquid culture for signs of contamination such as mold growth or off smells, and discard any contaminated cultures.
  8. Once the liquid culture is fully colonized with mycelium, 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:75 - 85 °F

Moisture Content:49 - 55 %

Fresh Air Exchange:0 - 1 / Hour

CO2 Range:5000 - 20000 ppm

Growth Duration:14 - 20 Days

Grain Spawn Prep and Innoculation

  1. Prepare your grain spawn by soaking your chosen grain (such as rye or millet) in water for 24 hours.
  2. After soaking, drain the grain and fill your jars or bags with the grain, leaving some space at the top for shaking.
  3. Sterilize the grain by pressure cooking at 15 psi for 90 minutes.
  4. Allow the grain to cool completely before inoculating with your velvet-pioppini mushroom culture.
  5. Using a sterile syringe or inoculation loop, transfer a small amount of the culture to each jar or bag of grain spawn.
  6. Seal the jars or bags with a breathable filter, such as micropore tape, to allow for gas exchange.
  7. Incubate the inoculated grain spawn at the optimal temperature for velvet-pioppini mushrooms (around 75-80°F) in a dark, humid environment.
  8. Monitor the progress of colonization by looking for white mycelium growth throughout the grain spawn.
  9. Once fully colonized, your grain spawn is ready to be used to inoculate your fruiting substrate for growing velvet-pioppini mushrooms.

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:14 - 18 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 autoclavable bags with the substrate mixture, leaving some space at the top for inoculation.
  4. Sterilize the bags in a pressure cooker or autoclave at 15 psi for 2 hours to kill any competing organisms.
  5. Allow the bags to cool down to room temperature before inoculation.
  6. Prepare the mushroom spawn by breaking it up into small pieces.
  7. Open the bags and evenly distribute the mushroom spawn throughout the substrate.
  8. Seal the bags with a filter patch or micropore tape to allow for gas exchange.
  9. Incubate the bags in a dark, warm (75-80°F) environment for 2-3 weeks until fully colonized.
  10. Check the bags regularly for contamination and discard any bags that show signs of mold or bacteria.
  11. Once fully colonized, move the bags to a fruiting chamber with high humidity and indirect light to induce fruiting.
  12. Harvest the velvet-pioppini 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: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:4 - 8 / Hour

CO2 Range:800 - 1200 ppm

Growth Duration:7 - 10 Days

Cultivation Notes: none

Primordia Initiation

  1. Prepare a clean and sanitized growing area with proper humidity and temperature control.
  2. Inoculate the substrate with the velvet-pioppini mushroom spawn, ensuring even distribution.
  3. Cover the substrate with a casing layer to promote primordia formation.
  4. Maintain high humidity levels (around 90%) and optimal temperature (around 70-75°F) to encourage primordia initiation.
  5. Monitor the growing environment closely for any signs of contamination or issues, and address them promptly.
  6. Provide adequate air circulation to prevent CO2 buildup and promote healthy primordia development.
  7. Continue to monitor and adjust humidity, temperature, and other growing conditions as needed until primordia formation is observed.

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:4 - 8 / Hour

CO2 Range:800 - 1200 ppm

Growth Duration:5 - 8 Days

Flushes:1 - 2

Flushing Schedule:10 - 14 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 suitable for velvet-pioppini mushrooms, such as a mix of hardwood sawdust and wheat bran.
  3. Moisten the substrate to achieve the proper moisture content, which should be around 65-75%.
  4. Inoculate the substrate with velvet-pioppini mushroom spawn, ensuring even distribution throughout the substrate.
  5. Cover the substrate with a layer of casing material, such as peat moss or vermiculite, to help maintain moisture levels and provide a microclimate for mushroom growth.
  6. Place the fruiting chamber in a well-ventilated area with indirect light and maintain a temperature of around 60-70°F.
  7. Monitor the humidity levels in the fruiting chamber and mist as needed to keep the substrate moist but not waterlogged.
  8. Continue to monitor the growth of the mushrooms, ensuring proper air circulation and humidity levels throughout the fruiting process.
  9. Harvest the velvet-pioppini mushrooms when they reach the desired size, typically within 2-3 weeks of initiating the fruiting phase.