Mushroom Master

All of the steps below need to be done in a clean space without air movement. Use a disinfectant spray on your work surface and the outside of the bags before you start any of the steps below.

This process comes with a much greater risk of contamination than with our other products and we cannot guarantee a successful crop. If you suspect damage or contamination on arrival, please send us a photo right away and we will organise replacements.

What you'll need

Sharp blade

Indoor location

Clear plastic tub

Step 1

Collect fresh mushrooms spores and draw them into the water syringe provided.

There are plenty of fantastic guides on YouTube about how to make a spore syringe, or another great resource is Growing Gourmet & Medicinal by Paul Stamets.

Step 2

Inject the contents of the syringe directly into the grain bag. Cover the hole with a piece of tape immediately after removing the needle.

Having the tape prepped in advance and ready to stick on will greatly reduce the contamination risk.

Step 3

Leave the grain bag in a warm space, out of direct sunlight and let the grains become colonised by mycelium. Standing the bag upright and ensuring the filter patch is not restricted will help this process.

Depending on the variety, it can take anywhere from 2-6 weeks for the grains to be completely colonised by mycelium.

Step 4

Once your grains have been colonised and are ready to use, you can modify your clear plastic tub in preparation for fruiting your mushrooms. 30-50l tubs are best for this amount of substrate. Drill four holes in your tub, one on each side and then attach the filter patches as you can see below.

30mm holes are a great size for the filter patches provided. Using the drill in reverse will help give you a clean hole in the tub without jagged edges.


Step 5

Break up the colonised grains while they are still in the bag so that they can flow freely.

Putting everything in place prior to starting will help you reduce the amount of time the bags and tub are open, lowering the contamination risk.

Step 6

Pour the contents of the bags into the tub in layers. Mix everything well, ensure it is sitting level and press down firmly.

Creating a firm and level surface will help encourage mushrooms to form on top of the substrate versus underneath and the sides.

Step 7

Place the tub in a warm spot, out of direct sunlight and let the mycelium begin to colonise the substrate.

Monitor the tub over this period to ensure it does not get too dry or wet. These can both increase the risk of contamination.

Step 8

Mushrooms will sprout within 2-4 weeks of this point for most varieties.

Please see a quick video demonstration of the tub setup process below.


Mushroom Master: Tawaka (Cyclocybe Parasitica)