Your Source for Superior Mycology Supplies
At Hull Creek Homestead, we excel at providing top-tier mycology supplies designed for both enthusiasts and professionals. Our extensive offerings feature a range of agar, sterilized grain bags, edible mushroom species, and substrate blocks, all vital for successful mushroom cultivation. With a steadfast commitment to excellence, we guarantee that you will receive only the finest products to elevate your mycology journey.
Exploring Mushroom Varieties and Cultivation Methods
Lion's Mane
Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus) is renowned for its stunning, softball-sized clusters and cascading spines. Esteemed for its neurotrophic properties, this extraordinary mushroom is known for its potential to enhance cognitive health, particularly for individuals facing challenges such as Alzheimer's and dementia.
Cultivation Guidelines
- Growing Method: Cultivated on natural logs using techniques similar to Shiitake cultivation.
- Growth Characteristics: A slower-growing, less aggressive fungus; doubling the inoculation rate can enhance colonization and fruiting.
Preferred Wood:
- Best on Beech, Sugar Maple, and ironwood.
- Other suitable soft hardwoods include Tulip Poplar, Aspen, Sweet Gum, and soft maples.
Inoculation Techniques:
- Drill-and-Fill: Traditional inoculation method.
- Totem-Style: Effective with sawdust spawn and hardwood rounds.
Shiitake Mushroom
Lentinula edodes, or Shiitake, is a prized mushroom celebrated for its rich flavor.
Growth and Fruiting Conditions
- Optimal Temperature for Establishment: All Shiitake strains thrive at 75°F during the inoculation and spawn run phases.
- Fruiting Ranges: Each strain fruits within specific temperature ranges, reliably producing mushrooms in spring and fall.
- Cultivation Strategy: To maximize production, we recommend an 80:10:10 ratio when inoculating logs, using a wide range of warm and cool strains, respectively.
Additional Considerations
- Fruiting Response: Not all Shiitake varieties respond to force-fruiting techniques.
- Indoor Cultivation Preference: Indoor growers typically favor strains from the wide range category for consistent results.
Oyster Varieties
We offer 6 distinct Oyster varieties from our strain library. These varieties primarily differ in color and fruiting temperature. For optimal results, we recommend cultivating multiple Oyster strains to enhance the visual appeal of your crop and extend harvesting periods.
Indoor Cultivation
Mushrooms can be cultivated indoors year-round, catering to hobbyists, experimenters, and commercial producers alike. To grow mushrooms successfully indoors, it's essential to maintain controlled conditions, including temperature, humidity, light, and fresh air exchange. Refer to our comprehensive guide for setting up an optimal indoor fruiting area.
Preparation Methods
Oyster mushrooms thrive on prepared straw, which can be processed using one of three methods: heat pasteurization, hydrated lime soak, or fermentation. After preparation, the straw is mixed with oyster spawn—typically grain, although sawdust can also be used.
Incubation and Fruiting
The inoculated straw is packed into plastic sleeves or buckets with air exchange holes. Incubation time before fruiting varies by temperature and strain, usually taking 1.5 to 3 weeks. Once incubated, bags are moved to a fruiting room where they can produce multiple flushes over a span of 2 to 5 months. For detailed instructions, consult our Oysters on the Straw Guide.
TP Rolls
Oyster mushrooms can also be grown on innovative substrates, such as toilet paper rolls. Using our TeePee™ Kit, this method serves as an engaging educational project, although it is not designed for high productivity.
Coffee Grounds
While coffee grounds are a popular byproduct, they are not typically a preferred substrate due to excess moisture and contamination risks. However, our Pink and PoHu™ Oyster varieties are suitable candidates for experimentation with coffee grounds.
Blocks
Many mushroom types can be easily cultivated on sawdust-based blocks, making them an ideal starting point for newcomers. Our Table Top Farms come with humidity tents for straightforward indoor growing and gifting, while 8-block sets are designed for controlled indoor fruiting environments.
DIY Kits and Commercial Options
For those interested in DIY cultivation, we offer low-tech block kits with everything needed to begin. On a commercial scale, grain spawns and grain masters for block varieties are available for inoculating self-prepared substrates. Connect with us to learn about different types of mushrooms and buy our products today.