Comments on: Growing Gourmet Mushrooms

By: Kenny Point

Kenny Point — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 02:47:21 +0000

Hi Derek, I’m not sure how suitable Osage Orange is for making mushroom logs and have never heard them mentioned as a good choice but you could always test it out on a small scale if you have lots of that particular wood on hand. Don’t use dead prunings for mushrooms… it’s best to use live cut wood partly to ensure that other mushroom spores haven’t already colonized the wood. The spot that you have picked out sounds like a good location to me.

By: Derek

Derek — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 00:44:30 +0000

Hey Kenny,
I am thinking about growing my own mushrooms from logs. Do you know if Osage Orange logs would work, & if they are dead in the tree (Getting read to prune some large limbs out of the tree in my yard.) Will the Osage Orange logs produce mushrooms? Would you bother with the dead ones even if they are not in any state of decomposition.

I have a place in my backyard that does not receive direct sunlight. It is under a large tree that prevents me from having a regular garden. It is where I keep my compost pile, and occasionally I get plants that grow from my cold compost pile with the indirect reflective ambient light. Is this a good place to grow the mushrooms, or should I build some sort of canopy? How much light is too much?

I like your website. I found it by watching your Youtube video. I am bookmarking this site so I can read the rest of your posts. Looks like you have been doing this for a while. Thank you for sharing your information with everybody!

Derek

By: Kenny Point

Kenny Point — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 14:44:19 +0000

Hi Rick, once a particular strain of fungi takes hold it usually prevents other varieties from colonizing the same log. You should always be able to positively identify any mushroom before you eat it!

By: Rick Gausling

Rick Gausling — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 23:19:13 +0000

Hi,
I watched the video and read your article. I am curious once you have innoculated the log and it is left outside, how do you prevent other mushrooms from spawning and growing on the log? I am concerned about wild muchrooms which may or may not be safe to eat.

By: Moses Kimani

Moses Kimani — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 09:52:03 +0000

Hi Ron! I’m reading your blog from Kenya, East Africa. Thanks for the great work!!! Got a two major questions that I need help with…

1. You said at the beginning, “The best time to cut the trees is during late winter or spring before leaf growth begins.” The trees where I live are leafy all year through but I figure they probably grow new leaves in seasons, perhaps once or twice annually. I wonder, should I be looking for the time of the year just before leafing begins?

2. I’m really interested in indoor shroom growing but would like to use an approach that last longer than what the conventional indoor growing kits provide for. Do you think log growing can be done indoors?

By: Randy Caran

Randy Caran — Fri, 13 May 2011 19:11:35 +0000

I’ve also read that wood from locust trees and black walnut trees must be avoided due to toxins in the wood that are absorbed by the mushrooms. These toxins aren’t lethal, but they will make you sick to your stomach.

By: Vegetable Perennials to Save the Gardener Time and Money — Veggie Gardening Tips

Vegetable Perennials to Save the Gardener Time and Money — Veggie Gardening Tips — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 12:23:59 +0000

[...] – While not as long lasting as true edible perennials, gourmet mushrooms are pretty care free and productive over many seasons once they are established and will reward you [...]

By: Anne Bidez

Anne Bidez — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 02:29:15 +0000

Can you tell me how to pick them, how does one wait? And does one place them in a container when picked or cut off and placed in refrigerator? Ours are beginning to pop up and we hope to sell at Farmers Markets but I’m wondering about sanitation. So many unanswered questions.

Thank you.