To grow Lion’s Mane mushrooms, you’ll need to prepare a substrate, inoculate it with Lion’s Mane mycelium, and then incubate it in the right conditions. Once the substrate is colonized, you’ll move it to a fruiting chamber for harvesting.
Prepare the Substrate:
- Choose a substrate: Lion’s Mane thrives on hardwood sawdust, but you can also use other options like beechwood chips, straw, or coffee grounds.
- Sanitize the substrate: Sterilize or pasteurize the substrate to kill competing organisms. A pressure cooker is a common method for sterilization.
Inoculate the Substrate:
- Introduce mycelium: Introduce Lion’s Mane mycelium to the prepared substrate. This can be done with mycelium on grains or liquid culture.
- Spread the mycelium: Ensure the mycelium is evenly distributed throughout the substrate.
Incubate the Substrate:
- Create a humid environment: Lion’s Mane prefers high humidity (80-90%) and low airflow.
- Maintain consistent temperature: Keep the temperature between 10-20°C (50-68°F).
- Provide indirect light: Lion’s Mane doesn’t need a lot of light, but indirect light can help with fruiting.
Fruiting and Harvesting:
- Create a fruiting chamber: Once the substrate is well-colonized, move it to a fruiting chamber with the right conditions (temperature, humidity, airflow).
- Watch for pinning: Look for small, white, icicle-like structures (primordia) forming.
- Harvest when mature: Harvest the mushrooms when they are fully developed and shaggy white masses.
Tips for Success:
- Use a grow kit: Grow kits simplify the process and provide pre-inoculated substrate and a fruiting chamber.
- Control humidity: Use a humidifier or create a damp environment to maintain the right humidity levels.
- Maintain air exchange: Provide some fresh air exchange to prevent the build-up of carbon dioxide