Cultivating Oyster Mushrooms in Buckets Successfully

Oyster mushrooms can be cultivated on straw in buckets without the need for any special equipment or technique. This method is suitable for mushroom cultivation in your own home or garden.

Materials & Tools:

–         Straw
–         Mushroom spawn
–         Plastic bucket with lid
–         Drill & drill bit

Steps:

1. Soak the straw for at least one day in a tub or barrel.

2. Drill several holes with a diameter of 8 – 12 mm along the sides of the bucket.

3. Thoroughly clean the inside of the bucket. High-percentage alcohol or a disinfectant is suitable for this. It is also important to clean the lid and the holes – all areas that will come into contact with the substrate and spawn.

4. Now, place the soaked straw on a surface to drain. It is essential to ensure that the surface is clean to minimise contamination risk.

5. Alternately layer a 5 – 10 cm thick layer of straw and a thin layer of mushroom spawn into the bucket until it is full. It is important to pack the straw as tightly as possible into the bucket. The mushroom spawn should be pre-broken into individual grains by kneading. For a 30-litre bucket, approximately 1 kg of mushroom spawn is needed.

6. Place the lid on the bucket and set it up in a damp, preferably dark place for incubation. Make sure that the straw around the drill holes of the bucket does not dry out, but still gets enough fresh air. You can stick a plastic flap over the hole or use breathable tape. Alternatively, a moist rubbish bag can be placed over the bucket from the inside.

7. After 3 – 4 weeks, the bucket should be well-colonised with mycelium and can be moved to a fruiting location. To do this, remove the cover from the drill holes and place the bucket in a shaded and damp location. If no damp location is available, water can be sprayed onto the holes daily.

Oyster mushrooms usually fruit for the first time when the substrate is fully colonised, and multiple fruiting events may occur depending on the season or temperature.

For more mushroom cultivation methods, you can learn in our workshops.