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shakezoola
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Registered: 05/07/18
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Questions on Cultivating Wild Oyster Mushroom
#28619281 - 01/12/24 11:51 PM (15 days, 17 hours ago) |
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Greetings,
I am currently in the process of experimenting with a wild oyster mushroom and plan to try fruiting it outside. I have some questions and curious to anyone’s input or similar experience.
Backstory: in mid December 2022 I discovered a huge surprise of some oyster mushrooms growing on a very large maple or oak log on family’s property in the greater Chicago area. They had already been through a snow and freezes by that time and the mushrooms showed some freeze damage but were pretty clean overall. Cooked em up and what awesome intense flavor. Much more flavorful than grocery store ones or blues I grew indoors in a tent.
Went back again in September 2023 and nothing growing. Went back again thanksgiving time and bingo, nice couple of clusters. I took a sample back home to Texas with me. Went back again Christmas time and there were monster clusters but were growing from the base of the log and under a bit of leaves, thus moldy and past prime.
Since then I have been transferring mycelium to agar dishes and have now transferred to wheat grain jars. I was thinking of getting some straw, filling a laundry basket, and layering with the spawn.
What are the implications of using straw that’s possibly been sprayed at some point with herbicides or pesticides? Seems like that’s almost totally unavoidable. Would soaking and rinsing a couple times make a difference?
Being a cold hardy specimen, would it make sense that it colonizes well at lower temps or should I let it colonize the straw indoors? It does seem slower on grain than blue oysters I grew.
Also just curious if anyone has tried something similar with a wild oyster and how it turned out. Does it retain some of the original characteristics? These I have didn’t shrink much when cooked and have very strong flavor so I’m wondering how much of that is genetics or environmental. Hopefully I’ll find out soon!

Frostbit ones from 2022

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wtfcrazymofo
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Registered: 07/26/15
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Re: Questions on Cultivating Wild Oyster Mushroom [Re: shakezoola]
#28619367 - 01/13/24 04:49 AM (15 days, 12 hours ago) |
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wow nice! If that part of Chicago is so great why can't you source clean straw? Is there any ma and pop farm stores around? They will know about what's sprayed. Only antifungal sprays will mess with it. Oyster mycelium eats bad chemicals and brings them down to simpler compounds. Leeching might help a little.
That wild log oyster tasted good because it grew on a tree. IF you grow it on a pile of straw it will taste a little different. To replicate the heady flavor, try some oak pellet dust/chip blocks, probably still won't taste the same though.
Fully colonize indoors for sure.
-------------------- If you want to eat->https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/8553541 Bag sealers are to bulky (my hood isn't that big) https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/28622922
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taku
° shapeshifter ∆



Registered: 12/05/20
Posts: 731
Loc: Canada
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Re: Questions on Cultivating Wild Oyster Mushroom [Re: wtfcrazymofo]
#28619692 - 01/13/24 11:56 AM (15 days, 5 hours ago) |
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you can most likely find organic bales or non-sprayed straw somewhere in your vicinity. it will be more costly.
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shakezoola
Stranger


Registered: 05/07/18
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Re: Questions on Cultivating Wild Oyster Mushroom [Re: taku]
#28619721 - 01/13/24 12:20 PM (15 days, 4 hours ago) |
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Thanks guys! I’ll see if I can find some clean straw near me soon. I also have some leftover oak pellets from my previous grows I can incorporate into the straw bale.
Does a laundry basket seem like a proper container for this project? I also have a SGFC from my actives grows that could work too. Laundry basket would be more open and exposed to FAE so I’m leaning towards that. Shotgun chamber would retain more moisture tho…
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taku
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Registered: 12/05/20
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Re: Questions on Cultivating Wild Oyster Mushroom [Re: shakezoola]
#28619756 - 01/13/24 01:01 PM (15 days, 3 hours ago) |
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laundry basket with straw outdoors has been a proven method for sure. could also do it in 5gal buckets with holes drilled into the bucket for mushrooms to grow out of and air exchange.
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shakezoola
Stranger


Registered: 05/07/18
Posts: 51
Last seen: 13 days, 21 hours
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Re: Questions on Cultivating Wild Oyster Mushroom [Re: taku]
#28621447 - 01/14/24 07:53 PM (13 days, 21 hours ago) |
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Quote:
taku said: laundry basket with straw outdoors has been a proven method for sure. could also do it in 5gal buckets with holes drilled into the bucket for mushrooms to grow out of and air exchange.
Awesome thanks, I’ll do the laundry basket. I have 3 quart jars 3/4 full with grain. Should be enough for a small basket I’d think. If it’s a success I’ll update this thread!
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