Oyster Mushroom Spawn To Substrate Pe4centage And Yield

Question

Hello, It is recommended to plant oyster mushroom spawn between 5% to 20% relative to the substrate. I am not sure whether this ratio is with respect to dry substrate or pasteurized substrate (from my experience pasteurized substrate expands significantly) and would like your input on that. I have used about 1 kg of spawn with 2.5 kg of dry substrate which was enough to fill a 25 litre bucket when pasteurized. Secondly, how much yield should I expect from the above ratio and how do I increase the yield? Thanks, Salik

Answer 1

Hello again.

This can be a complex subject, but you can make it easier on yourself. Think of everything in terms of pasteurized, ready to use substrate. Typically, I will spawn anywhere between 10 and 25 percent.

As far as yields go-

At best, you will yield about half of the original weight of your substrate. This is given that you have amended it with extra nutrients, like soy hulls, wheat bran, oat bran, manures, soil, or otherwise nutrient rich substrate.

If this is wood, alone, then you can expect what you would see in nature, which is rather poor when speaking in relative terms.

My personal mix for oyster mushrooms is as follows, for a 3 lb bag:

1 3/4 cup amended wood substrate (Mixed hardwood pellets but oak alone will do, soy hulls, wheat bran)

1/4 cup pelletized wheat straw

1, literal, handful of coco coir

2 cups boiling water

Once pasteurized, this will be a high yield mix. It is my standard, but I do deviate depending on what mushroom I am working with. If done with perfection, and 100 percent colonization is reached, you can expect a yield of half of the starting weight of your wet and ready substrate. This will not be the case, some of the time, but yield will be pretty consistent if your parameters are spot on.