Pink Oyster Mushroom Mycelium, 10 g

One of the most delicious edible mushrooms. Cap 3–5 (up to 10) cm in diameter, tongue-shaped or rounded, initially deep pink, slightly depressed or convex, fibrous, with a thin rolled edge; later whitish-pinkish, with yellowish speckles, lobed, thin, slightly pubescent, with a thin drooping edge. Gills are frequent, descending onto the stem. Stem 1–5 cm long and 0.5–1 cm in diameter, lateral, curved, tapering, whitish-pinkish. Initially reddish-pink, later whitish-pinkish, yellow-orange. Flesh is thin, tender, white, pinkish, and odorless. Oyster mushroom dishes retain their beneficial properties and distinct mushroom flavor and aroma regardless of the cooking method. The pink oyster mushroom is an excellent remedy for stomach ailments, including its ability to heal wounds and ulcers. They are easily cultivated on straw, cotton, and corn waste, growing in overlapping clusters and clusters of shoots.

Growing mushrooms on wood.
Oyster mushrooms are grown on logs in greenhouses or basements, or in shady spots on a home garden plot. Freshly cut trunks of aspen, poplar, or oak are sawn into logs 30–40 cm long and 15–25 cm in diameter. Holes 4–5 cm deep and 2 cm in diameter are drilled into the prepared logs, or notches are cut across the entire surface, or cuts are made with an axe. A small amount of mycelium is placed into these holes, then covered with pieces of bark, wood chips, sawdust, or moss to prevent the mycelium from falling out. The air in the room should have a relative humidity of 90%. If the humidity is lower, you can spray water. After 2–3 months, the mushroom mycelium will have permeated all the logs. Later, the logs can be taken out of the room and each log buried 10–15 cm deep in a shaded spot where direct sunlight does not reach. Alternatively, they can be planted directly in the garden at any time of year, even in winter. The mycelium is not affected by frost. During this period, the logs must be watered. Mushrooms planted on wood grow for 5–6 years.

Usage rate: one package of mycelium is sufficient for 50 kg of wood.

Growing mushrooms on plant residues
Straw or sunflower husks are used as the substrate. The straw and husks must be of good quality, with no signs of rot or mold. Before processing, it is advisable to chop the straw into 3–7 cm pieces. Chopping makes the straw more compact and more accessible to the mycelium’s enzymes. For home use, simple pasteurization methods can be used, such as boiling water. The substrate is poured over with water at a temperature of 80–90 °C and left to stand for 3–4 hours for husks or 7–8 hours for straw. Then the water is drained, and the substrate must cool to a temperature of 20–30 °C. Before inoculating the mycelium, determine the substrate’s moisture content: if you squeeze the substrate in your hand, droplets of water should appear between your fingers, which corresponds to the optimal substrate moisture content—70%. Then mix the substrate with the mycelium. Place the prepared compost in a transparent plastic bag. Tie it closed. To allow for air exchange, make several 3–5 cm cuts across the entire surface of the bag. The mushroom block is now ready.

Fruiting. Mycelium growth takes 15–18 days at a temperature of 14–28 °C. Natural and active ventilation is used during fruiting. Substrate blocks should only be illuminated during fruiting; in open areas and rooms with windows, a day-night cycle is considered normal. In areas where fruiting bodies have begun to form, carefully make incisions in the film. Fruiting occurs in waves of 2–3 weeks, with 5–7 days between waves. The first three waves yield the highest harvest. Yield is 35–40% of the substrate weight.

Application rate: 2% mycelium of the total mass of the moistened, steamed substrate.