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This year we are thinking of trying a selection kit of Shiitaki,Oyster and Lion's Mane mushrooms which are spawned onto wooden dowels and drilled into logs. The only mushrooms we have grown before were the button mushroom kits indoors so this is very new to us.
I see that 'Acorn' has an oyster kit and wondered if you found it straight forward to set up? Anyone else done mushrooms like this?

I hope some one answers this as we where just takling about doing the same last night.

Who are Acorn?

acorn is a member and posted a reply to mushrooms on 29/11?
Good to hear you're interested too. We probably have similar weather too so it's where to leave them -aspect- and maintenance could do with knowing. I'm sure they come with instructions but I'd still like to know a little more about them before ordering.

Nicos
I have no personal knowledge of growing mushrooms either from dry spawn or impregnated dowels but you try looking at a US website called mushroomadventures.com. They sell dowel kits but sem to have quite a bit of info onthe kits and how to use them on their site. Hope this is of some use.
Cheers
Rat

Nicos
You could also try the RHS site. Go into their publication section, then "The Garden" magazine. There was an article about growing mushrooms, including dowel kits.
Rat

Thanks - will do!

Nicos and Alan Y
Just wondering if you went ahead with your mushroom kits - would be interested in your results if you did.
Cheers
Rat

I would be interested in the results too Sewer Rat. I want to know if there is much damage from insects - ants, woodlice etc. You can't normally buy fresh porcini mushrooms because they often contain maggots. I think it's porcini - you can buy them dried as ceps.

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Yes- have ordered mine ....should be interesting- we'll probably grow something poisonous too. Must look up a picture of Lion's mane on google so we know what we're supposed to be eating. Know what the other two look like! will keep you posted. Thanks for your help.

I'm intrigued by growing mushrooms and will follow this to see the results.

Has anyone ordered any truffle-trees?
I know of a place that supplies them really cheap: www.PlantationSystems.com/Tshop.htm (currently on sale!!)

Also, I really want to try and grow morels. I saw kits available a while ago but can't seem to trace them down, can anyone help out?

Cheers

I thought a truffle tree would look like a spagetti tree!!
Have visions of a pig trying to climb a tree!
What a great idea! Unfortunately we have very acidic soil on the allotment but could well be tempted to try them out at home.
No idea about morels/porcini. We just go to the chestnut forests north of Lucca in the autumn by easyjet or ryanair and pig out on fresh ones( bought from the roadside) for the week! Would never buy dried ones again as the taste is so different. I had my 1st truffle there too..so expensive! (A truffle tree is looking even more interesting.) Would like to know if you find the details about the morels.

Nicos- the trip to Lucca sounds fantastic! We find a lot of porcini in Northern England and last year even found quite a few chanterelles just outside of London!

I think with the truffle trees, if you are just planting a couple, you can easily raise the pH of the soil to a suitable level with garden lime. Then you need to wait at least 3 years, but for those of us who have tried truffles the wait is well worth it!!

Still trying to track down info on the Morels.....it appears that the kits didn’t work very well so most places have discontinued them. I would still love to try this though......

Truffle and Nicos
I think that the morel growing kits are easily available - so long as you live in US of A. You might try looking at www.humungus-fungus.co.uk or www.gourmetmushrooms.co.uk or finally, try http://fungi.org.uk.
Good Luck
Rat

Hi tuckers do them dowel kits 20 quid already impregnated in the log differant types as well says they last about 4 years or sumat just got keep log damp have not progressed to them yet still trying to grow them garden centre types also looked on thomas morgan website dowel kits on there hope this help s

this info is second hand, have not tried dowel kits personally.

Tried by colleagues of mine a couple of years ago. Verdict - a very expensive, stressful, way of obtaining/not, mushrooms.
Belive Gardening Which did an article on GYO mushroom kits last year.

Tried the dowels (2 varieties but cannot remember which). All I got was one 'shroom! Very expensive mistake which I will not be repeating

thanks!! well they are on order anyway. Any tips on what not to do with them then??

Well- I tried growing oyster mushrooms on toilet rolls a couple of years ago and they worked really well!

I've also just traded some seed with a friend for a couple of the dowls, so now I have two cherry logs impregnated with Shitake and Oyster mushrooms. I'm not expecting much as everyone I have spoken too has never got them to work------- I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Our dowels arrived this morning!

Had a bit of a shock cos as we have a huge log pile growing it's own toxic mushrooms we thought we'd set a few to one side and grow something edible aswell, but it looks like we have to go hunting for specific logs instead!!

They recommend oak, beech or birch which must be complete logs (not split) and no more than 6 weeks old with a diameter of 4-6 ins so it doesn't dry out too quickly (larger diameters take too long to impegnate). So not too fussy then Maple,aspen,ash,alder,willow and poplar can also be used. Could this be the reason people haven't had much sucess with them (aswell as keeping them damp,shaded and warm!!)?
A very helpful leaflet came with them - 2 pages of A4 - so I hope to get it right. They came from ann@annforfungi.co.uk if you are interested.

Doh!

Our instructions said that any deciduous tree species could be used!!! – Oh well, fingers crossed.
I currently have them wrapped in bin bags in one of our cool room so I can keep an eye on them until the mycelia is ready for fruiting- a whopping 6-10 months..

Greetings from Truffle Tree. We have a truffière in SW France where truffle oaks are offered for adoption but we also ship 'impregnated' seedlings to the UK and are cheaper than anyone else I have come across. Our trees are prepared by a family-owned truffle company now in its fifth generation. They are available now and planting can be carried out up to the end of April and later if you can water them easily. Website is www.truffle-tree.com or e-mail dick@truffle-tree.com for a price list if you want trees shipped to the UK.

Dick. Welcome to the vine. A Truffle Tree expert is just what we need as there seems to be a fair few people interested in fungi and growing their own truffles.
Is it just Truffle Trees that you deal in or other types of fungi too?
Jax

I can't believe I missed this post! As I explained in another post, I got myself some oyster mushroom dowels. I happened to knock down one of the conker trees in the garden the previous week, so I used a couple of logs for the wooden plugs. The instructions I got with the kit said that you needed freshly cut logs (max 3 weeks) of decidious trees with a diametre of 10cm to 50cm. I drilled the holes, stuck the dowels in, put the logs in a black bin bag and in they went under the stairs cupboard. It says it should take between 6 and 10 months for the stems to be covered with white mycelium. This was last October and I've just been downstairs checking progress and the only change was a puddle of some sticky stuff under the bin liner It's only been 5 months, but it doesn't look like anything is going to happen there... I'll be patient and see. Will keep everyone posted!

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Acorn

Acorn
Exactly how did you come to "knock down" a horse chestnut tree
Rat

It was only a baby one (the trunk was about 6in thick)... There were hundreds of them in the garden. The previous owner of the house I bought thought that having a cottage garden meant you left absolutely everything to grow on its own...

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Acorn