December 30, 3020 – Mushroom Kit

 

         This Christmas I ordered a Mushroom Kit from Willow Mushroom Mushrooms.  It is a white button mushroom kit and it arrived on December 10, 2020.

 

         This is not my first Mushroom Kit – I have had several over the last 16 or so years.

 

         However, this one had the most complete instructions with the Kit and this had the best mycelium I’d witnessed upon arrival.

 

         Mycelium is pronounced: [mīˈsēlēəm]

 

         which is a fine white weblike structure from which the mushrooms grow.

 

         Today I picked my first mushrooms – several big ones and I immediately sliced them, sautéed them in olive oil and butter and used them for the base of a Mushroom and onion Quiche.

 

         You receive the kit and scarf up a giant handful from the top of the colonized agaricus substrate block which has the white mycelium running through it.  You mix that with casing soil that you’ve saturated.  Then you spread that on top of the block.  Then you pull up the plastic growing bag and fold the top over clipping it to the top of the carton edges so that the humidity builds in the bag along with CO2 building.  That process is 5 days.

 

         One thing about this project, it teaches you patience.  Of course you look in on the box every day to make certain the bag is still upright and clipped.  You spray it daily.  It is a great gift idea for the gardener during the winter. 

 

         At the end of the five-day period you “Flush” it.  Open up the plastic bag and pull it up and over the edges of the box and spritz the whole top with COLD water.

 

         This shocks the mycelium into fruiting – making mushrooms.

 

         Trust me, it is a fascinating process.  Visit www.willowmushrooms.com for more details.

 

         It has kept me entertained from December 10^th until now and will for several weeks.  I will be picking more tomorrow – they are getting bigger and bigger.

         I apologize that the pictures are in reverse order - but you get the idea - this is a fun project.

 

My first Box in 2007

Trimmed and ready for the kitchen

This one was three together

Two big ones

Big enough to pick - went after the big three

Few days ago - starting to look good

About a week after arrival of box

What the box looked like when it arrived

        

March 8, 2018 – My mushroom box has arrived

         Back in 2006, I ordered my first mushroom box kit from a seed and nursery catalog.  It was the year I started picking items on my “bucket-list” and it quenched my overwhelming curiosity on raising mushrooms.  It was a great success and somewhere I have a picture of me in my turquoise satin pajamas holding a box of mushrooms tipped toward the camera showing a fine crop and me with a genuine smile. [Someday, when I get my photo images organized, I might be able to find something!]

         That first mushroom box was a fabulous experience.  I watched little white dots the size of the head of a pin turn into the size of a quarter by the next day ready for harvest.  I cooked mushrooms every-which-way I could; sautéed in olive oil and butter, in omelets, in stir-fry and, I even made homemade mushroom soup.  I sprinkled freshly sliced fresh mushrooms over homegrown spinach salad and I smacked my lips at every incredible fresh crunch of the white button mushrooms.  For several weeks I and my husband were amazed at the entire process.

But, the one drawback, now that I knew what a really “fresh” mushroom tasted like – the store bought little boxes just weren’t fresh enough for me, and I got very picky about buying mushrooms in the grocery store.  You rarely get that “crunch” from a grocery store bought mushroom unless they are in season or unless they haven’t been damaged by heat or cold in shipping. 

This time, instead of the white button mushrooms I ordered the cremini/baby bella mushrooms.  I feel like a little kid waiting for Christmas in March.

         The supplier only ships them at certain times of the year and they are not available from May 1 through September 14.  My box was delivered today, and they have already mixed the mycelium [mushroom spawn] with the compost medium and it is sealed in plastic.  The box has to remain unopened until March 21^st and then I can proceed as instructed on the box.  By then, the mycelium should have run through the medium creating a web of white fibers.

         I have two weeks to wait.  Last time, I opened up the box, clipped the box top flaps upright and I misted it every day in the morning and at night [when I brushed my teeth] and kept it covered to keep out the light.  I have the perfect environment.  My master bathroom closet on the north end of my house is extra cool.  I’ll pick up an inexpensive thermometer to make certain I have the right temperature.  Right temperature and right moisture – I think that is the key to success.

However, I must caution you, my second box of mushrooms wasn’t a success.  Maybe it was the supplier, or how they were shipped, or the weather when I received it.  And if you can’t keep them watered correctly or in the dark maybe that makes for easy failure.  It could have been my second box was damaged by heat or cold during shipment.  It did produce a handful of mushrooms – but not the bumper crop I got the first time.  It was a disappointment, but I am looking forward to this new attempt.

When my mushroom box arrived today, the UPS lady was most curious as she could clearly see the mushroom growing directions on the outside of the box and special handling instructions were required by UPS.  We chatted about it on the front steps and the box was cool in my hands. That is a good sign.  It should stay between 65 and 75 while it is working making all that lovely mycelium.  I’ve stashed it in the cool closet and I am marking my calendar to the March 21st to open it.

Stay tuned – I will give you an update and I’ll get my camera out and take pictures for you – I promise.