FAQ - Grain Spawn / Fresh Mycelium

Is grain spawn the same thing as a growing kit?

No, grain spawn is not a growing kit and cannot be used to grow mushrooms directly from the bag. Grain spawn must be mixed with a production substrate, such as our Iside, Sibilla or Vacuna, before it can be fruited.

If you want to buy kits that are ready to fruit, you can start with a Grow-Your-Own Kit or a Grow Block Kit

 

How do you use grain spawn / fresh mycelium?

Grain spawn can be used in various ways, to grow indoors, outdoors, or to make more grain spawn.

• Indoors, you can mix the grain spawn with production substrate to grow in bags, containers, or to create fruiting cakes
• Outdoors, you can mix the grain spawn with straw or wood chips to create fruiting beds or place them in containers. (Grain spawn cannot be used to inoculate logs; for those, you need to use mycelium logs, which are also inoculated using grain spawn)
• A grain-to-grain transfer, meaning adding grain spawn to other sterilized grain, can extend its shelf life and allow you to make more grain spawn.

 

Can I fruit mushrooms directly from grain spawn?

Unfortunately, mushrooms do not grow well if left to fruit directly from grain spawn. Many mushrooms will fruit from grain spawn, but the yields will be very low. It is far better to use it to inoculate substrates.

Most mushrooms prefer to fruit from substrates based on wood, coconut coir, manure, compost, or straw, mixed with grain spawn. 

If you are looking for an easy way to grow mushrooms indoors, try a Grow-Your-Own Kit or a Grow Block Kit. They are already colonized on substrates and ready to be fruited.

 

What substrate should I use for my grain spawn / fresh mycelium?

It depends on the species you want to grow. The most common substrates are based on sawdust, coconut coir, or straw. Check our guide to choose the most suitable substrate depending on the species!

 

Can I use Growers of Mushroom sterile substrates with Growers of Mushroom Grain Spawn?

Absolutely! Our sterilized substrates are excellent for all types of indoor cultivation and for many outdoor cultivations (which require the use of wood)

How much substrate can I inoculate with a 1.5 kg bag of grain spawn / fresh mycelium?

A 1.5 kg bag can be used to inoculate 30–50 kg of sterilized substrate, and 10–30 kg of pasteurized substrate.

 

How can I store my grain spawn / fresh mycelium, and for how long?

Our grain spawn can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 months. However, we recommend using it within two weeks, because its quality tends to decrease over time, and the likelihood of it starting to fruit increases.

NB. Pink Oyster spawn does not tolerate low temperatures well, so store it at room temperature and use it within 2 weeks.

 

Can I use a little grain spawn / fresh mycelium and store the rest for later?

The best thing to do is use the entire bag of grain spawn once it has been opened. Trying to store it after opening will very likely lead to contamination.

 

My grain spawn / fresh mycelium does not look completely colonized. Can I use it?

All our grain spawn bags are shipped completely colonized. Some available species, such as Lion's Mane, have very fine mycelium, so it often appears to be absent. Don't worry, it is there! Your spawn may appear to be incompletely colonized upon arrival because it has very likely been mixed during transport. In this case, your spawn will still be 100% colonized. If you are still concerned, send us photos by email and we will be happy to assist you!

 

What type of bags do you use for your grain spawn / fresh mycelium?

We use polypropylene bags with a 0.2-micron filter.

 

How do you sterilize your grain before it is inoculated?

All our grain spawn is sterilized in an autoclave at 121°C.

 

What is your grain spawn / fresh mycelium made of?

Our grain spawn is made from a mixture of hydrated whole oats and a small percentage of sawdust.

What kind of yields can I expect from your grain spawn / fresh mycelium?

Unfortunately, it is very difficult to estimate the total yield of any cultivation project. This is because there are many ways to use grain spawn, many types of substrates, and every growing environment is unique. What we can tell you is that it is the same grain spawn we use for our own production, and therefore we have personally selected and prepared it to achieve the highest possible yield.

 

Is my grain spawn / fresh mycelium moldy? What is this white or yellow substance?

Mushroom spawn will develop a white substance similar to mold called mycelium. This branching network of hyphae is the primary body of the mushroom, its vegetative structure. 

Seeing mycelium grow inside the bag is normal and means that your spawn is healthy. However, if your spawn shows green or black, it may be contaminated and should be discarded. You can contact us for confirmation.

 

Did I buy Dried Mycelium? What is it? 

So-called Dried Mycelium, which is very often found online and in various nurseries, is a "scam" product. This type of product is completely unsuitable for growing mushrooms. The only way to grow and expand mycelium on a substrate is Fresh Mycelium, also known as Grain Spawn. This product contains LIVE mycelium free from contamination and competing organisms, which are essential aspects for proper colonization of the production substrate and for obtaining mushroom yields.