Mushrooms!!

[opiate69]

Weekend before last was the local mushroom festival.. I bought myself a Lemon Cap Oyster kit and a Shiitake kit.. the Oysters are going freaking nuts! Woohoo! Omelettes coming soon! The shiitake is starting to fruit too, but not as impressive yet as the oysters.

[kathysart_decoration]

1. Impressive - questions I have

I would love to be a successful grower of mushrooms. I did have some success a couple of years ago with a blue oyster mushroom, which was out-of-this-world delicious. It was difficult to get them to finally grow, however, and I wonder if you would mind answering a few questions which might help me in the future effort.
How did you prepare your straw? Were you growing these outdoors or indoors and in what temperature? This is clearly not a kit you used, so how did you purchase your spores, and from whom did you purchase them? Is there a website you could list?
That's a good start. I love the very small success I have had with mushrooms, but it has been very inconsistent and I need to change what I am doing, I just don't know exactly what I need to do. I can live with my failures, which outnumber my successes. I just keep trying and hope to grow enough eventually to sell at local farmer's markets. Thanks for any info you can give me and I am quite envious of your fabulous mushrooms. Would also be curious about any success you might have with the shitake mushrooms. I know they are more difficult, though I do want to try growing them. I love a challenge. Thanks so much for any info you are willing to share.

[opiate69]

2. I wish I could answer more informatively but, I bought the kits pre-made.

The farmer I got them from might have some answers for you though..
http://www.dietzfarm.com/

[Curmudgeoness]

3. Wow! You just got those kits!

I am impressed. I would never have believed this without the photo. It sounds too easy!

Before you do that omelet, just try some sautéed in butter with just salt and pepper to get the real favor of them. Sauté until they start to brown a little. Wish I was there to taste them!

[opiate69]

4. I know, crazy isn't it?!?!

Farmer Dietz says we can expect 4.5 - 5 pounds of fruit over as many as 4 or 5 cycles... I was a little skeptical but damn! I'm a believer now.. you should check out the link I posted upthread, I'm pretty sure he'll ship the kits anywhere... and yeah I usually do the simple sautee and taste before I add my eggs.. might throw a pinch if tarragon in if I want a little more depth of flavor too...
on a side note, my buddy and I went out to the coast Sunday to scout.. ended up finding about 5 saffron milkcaps, but they were buggy and past their prime.. managed to get one good slippery jack.. also saw a bunch of inedible russilas (sp?) Also took a drive into the coastal hills on an old forest service road.. looked like it could be a prime spot once the rainy season hits.

[Curmudgeoness]

5. I hate when I am too late for mushrooms

and the bugs have beat me to it. But since mushrooms are so short-lived, it happens more often than finding the prime ones.

[opiate69]

6. Yup.. it's kinda what makes it like a treasure hunt...

Or like when we wind up catching 70 or more crabs trying to get 6 good keepers. I guess if it was easy, it just wouldn't be as fun lol