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Post by ncgarden on Feb 8, 2015 15:56:27 GMT -5
Do any of you grow mushrooms?
I have fooled around with a few kits this year, because I love mushrooms and don't like what they do to them commercially. I am kind of disappointed in the yields from the kits, although maybe I will have better luck with plugs. It is QUITE satisfying however to watch them grow!
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Post by desertwoman on Feb 8, 2015 16:29:15 GMT -5
I've been intrigued with growing mushrooms, but haven't ever tried it. I'm not a mushroom eater, but hubby is. I'll keep an eye out on your experiences with them.
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canadiyank
Blooming
Central WA, Zone 6B
Posts: 125
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Post by canadiyank on Feb 8, 2015 17:22:16 GMT -5
My FIL did some mushroom plugs but I never did hear how it worked out. I like looking at the kits, too!
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Post by breezygardener on Feb 8, 2015 18:27:55 GMT -5
While I've yet to dip into it, I've also been intrigued with the idea of growing mushrooms. We have a fair number of mushroom growers in our area who sell at the local farmers markets - one Shitake grower who is just a couple of miles down the road from us. In addition, I've heard that some folks have had some luck sowing morel spore, & apparently our mature woodlot is possibly a prime spot for that, so I'm definitely thinking of giving that a try, even if we don't see anything for a few years.
I've shied away from trying the indoor kits because of our gourmet cats, who are willing to try ANYTHING.
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Post by OregonRed on Feb 9, 2015 14:32:23 GMT -5
I thought about it too for a while when I lived in so. cal. up here, this is mushroom capital of the U.S. (not really - one of maybe-) so if I want a mushroom, I go to farmers market... not cheap tho $7 to $10 per pound, they grow them in 'sawdust' they tell us :~\
oooh, here's a pic of a mushroom in the huge neighborhood park 10 min away:
this is the tip view
bottom view
the tree it's on -- on the R there. the tree is at least 7' across!
I touched it - the mushroom, it's HARD - what's up with that?
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Post by breezygardener on Feb 9, 2015 15:57:49 GMT -5
That's a Shelf or Bracket Fungus. Some varieties, like the bright orange "Chicken of the Woods" are edible, but most of the others aren't. Not so much due to any toxicity, but because, as you noticed, their texture & basic unpalatability.
I don't know if it's still done, but decades ago tourist shops used to sell thicker types of shelf fungus that had pictures etched onto their undersurfaces.
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Post by James on Feb 9, 2015 16:23:56 GMT -5
Fungi are interesting, but I never had any inclination to eat one.
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Post by desertwoman on Feb 9, 2015 16:36:40 GMT -5
I'm with you James! Just not interested in eating one ;)
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Post by OregonRed on Feb 9, 2015 17:43:12 GMT -5
I figured as much -not edible-
my body goes thru stages of 'no mushrooms/fungus' thank you very much
and other times, gimmy some mushroom ragu!
I like mushroom in: meatloaf spaghetti sauce vegetable quiche Asian stir fry....
they're: medicinal poisonous both!
wacky!
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Post by tendingmygarden on Feb 10, 2015 8:14:29 GMT -5
Had a friend living right down the road a few miles from us, who raised mushrooms. I think he used plugs. And a mature woodlot on his property is exactly where he had great success with them. He and his wife shared a few one time and they were GREAT!
My favorite and one that I'll never be able to get enough of is the Chicken of the Woods that Breezy mentioned. That's just the BEST of the BEST! Our friend shared some with us one time after an afternoon of searching the woods for them. Wish I had access to them where we live. Really delicious.
Theresa
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Post by lisaann on Feb 10, 2015 17:49:59 GMT -5
First off,
NC GARDEN! Oh my goodness! I am so GLAD TO SEE YOU! It has been waaayyy toooo long!
I love your thread about mushrooms! And pics!
I am enjoying your chicken posts and pics too!
Where else are you chatting these days? It has been so long since I saw a post from you.
Do you still have your SHEEP babies? Do You have the knack of shearing down pat by now?
Welcome back.
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Post by ncgarden on Feb 10, 2015 18:38:15 GMT -5
BrownRexx hit me up and lured me back into the forum with promises of chicken chat - you know what a hussy I am for hens!!
Sheeps are good - we lost my littlest ewe (Grace of Will and Grace, the twins). She was never very healthy, and we just found her dead one morning, no warning. the other sheep do not seem to miss her at all. I have come to my senses and pay for a professional shearer. The guys stop by our house on their way through their shearing circuit and spend the night with us. They are wonderful men, and it is well worth it to have them do the shearing for me!!
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Mushrooms
Feb 11, 2015 1:11:20 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by pepperhead212 on Feb 11, 2015 1:11:20 GMT -5
I grew some shitake mjshrooms years ago, and had great success using impregnated dowels in oak logs. I tried some other varieties, using kits with sawdust, but was not impressed with those. I still have that block of beeswax (used for sealing up the dowels once in the holes in the log) that I got back then!
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Post by breezygardener on Feb 11, 2015 9:30:34 GMT -5
That's how one of our locals grows his Shitakes (which he sells at farmers' markets). He does the local fall farm tour so we've gotten to tour his spread several times, which includes bees, the Shitakes, Christmas trees, & a few other sundries. Has a large setup of tubs for soaking the oak logs (they do have to be well waterlogged) & then rows & rows of sawhorse-type stands to lean the Shitake-spore-impregnated logs up against while they sprout their crop. Interesting stuff & definitely shows why specialty mushrooms can be pricey in the marketplace.
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Post by ecsoehng on Feb 11, 2015 12:09:43 GMT -5
So I have a King Stropharia mushroom kit. I mis read the directions and didn't do it right last week so I re did it this week and hopefully it will still be OK. I got it because these mushrooms can also be grown outside in the veggie garden. It sounds a bit tricky though.
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