RogerRabbit said:

I would recommend quart jars over 1/2 gallons. Most pressure cookers can only hold one or two half gallons, but can hold far more than twice that amount of quarts. In addition, half gallons can be a bitch to get colonized, often having gas exchange problems in the core due to the thickness of the grains. You also have more eggs in one basket, etc.

For the cake haters, here's a reality check. I grew mushrooms for over 30 years before making my first pf cake. They're not bad and have a very high biological effeciency. Done properly, they colonize fast and are great for proving strains. There is no reason to skip cakes because they're a great way to experiment and learn the ropes, and without a pressure cooker, they're the only dependable way to get mushrooms. I'm getting tired of the cake bashing that goes on in this forum, as if they somehow make a person a 'lesser' grower. Take a look at fahtsters or roadkills cakes if you don't believe that. There's always more than one way to skin a cat, and cakes are just one of them.
RR

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elpinoman said:

RogerRabbit said:

I would recommend quart jars over 1/2 gallons.  Most pressure cookers can only hold one or two half gallons, but can hold far more than twice that amount of quarts.  In addition, half gallons can be a bitch to get colonized, often having gas exchange problems in the core due to the thickness of the grains.  You also have more eggs in one basket, etc.

For the cake haters, here's a reality check. I grew mushrooms for over 30 years before making my first pf cake.  They're not bad and have a very high biological efficiency.  Done properly, they colonize fast and are great for proving strains.  There is no reason to skip cakes because they're a great way to experiment and learn the ropes, and without a pressure cooker, they're the only dependable way to get mushrooms.  I'm getting tired of the cake bashing that goes on in this forum, as if they somehow make a person a 'lesser' grower.  Take a look at fahtsters or roadkills cakes if you don't believe that.  There's always more than one way to skin a cat, and cakes are just one of them.
RR

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OK if you'd actually read my posts I said I'm using 1/2 gal jars because they sell them ready to go online. Which means no need to pressure cook them. I already own a PC so no need to mess with cakes. Also I said I would used quart jars after I used the 1/2 cheater jars. Everything I said now has already been said in prior post's of mine in this thread.

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I'm cant say I am familiar with roadkills cakes but I will say that if all cakes grew with the efficiency of Fathsters I would be grinding brown rice as we speak,I am probably the one who bashes cakes the most and am fully aware that it is just a matter of preference,sort of a different strokes for different folks type of situation.It doesn't suit my style of growing,that does not mean it might not suit yours and as mentioned by RR(Who knows his shit in this hobby just as good if not better than anyone else here)they are pretty much your only option without a PC.Try different methods and see what you like I just don't like when it is made to sound that you "Have to" do cakes 1st because if you do have a PC I find grains so much easier to work with and a better and bigger yield in the end for the effort put forth,All in all regardless of what you try,if it fails try something else,you will find your style of growing and than you will enjoy this hobby without pulling your hair out

Good luck to all regardless of what you choose to try,be patient and be persistent and you will go far,with out those two qualities you wont go far at all regardless of what methods you try,Good luck have fun and keep us posted because learning from each other is what this place is all about

Quote:

OK if you'd actually read my posts I said I'm using 1/2 gal jars because they sell them ready to go online. Which means no need to pressure cook them. I already own a PC so no need to mess with cakes.

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elpinoman said:

I'm a first time grower, and don't really want to start with cakes. Wondering if i can skip them and go straight to 1/2gal rye jars for a bigger yield.

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