Lion’s Mane Mushroom Cultivation.
Spawn Run & Incubation
Temperature: 70-75°F (21-24°C)
Relative Humidity: 60-70%
Duration: 10-14 days
CO₂: 5000-20000ppm
Fresh Air: Minimal
Key Points: Lion's Mane, mycelium is incredibly thin and transparent. It's so fine that it can colonize an entire agar plate before we can even see it with our naked eyes. This characteristic makes it really challenging to monitor growth in the early stages. One thing that always impresses us about Lion's Mane is how fast it colonizes. By the time we start seeing white filaments clearly, the mycelium is already maturing. It's an incredibly quick grower compared to some other mushroom species we've worked with. A useful trick to observe growth is to shine a phone light across the bags and jars, it becomes easier to spot the mycelium.
Primordia Formation
Temperature: 65-70°F (18-21°C)
Relative Humidity: 85-90%
Duration: 5-7 days
CO₂: 1000-1500ppm
Fresh Air: Increase gradually
Key Points: Primodia will form with time automatically without a large increase in fresh air exchange, often lions mane will start fruiting in the most unlikely places (like a grain spawn jar left for too long). A small pocket of air in the top of a jar or bag can trigger primodia, so it is important to prevent this. I do this by allowing the mushroom to grow on sawdust for 10 days then folding the bags over, securing with rubber bands to cut off air pockets the moment I see white mycelium form.
Fruiting Body Development
Temperature: 60-65°F (15-18°C)
Relative Humidity: 85-90%
Duration: 4-7 days
CO₂: <1000ppm
Fresh Air: Frequent exchanges
Key Points: Trigger fruiting by cutting a X or cut a line through the bag where the bag is tight against the substrate. It is possible to get heat tolerant Lion's Mane strains which fruit in temperatures upwards of 24°C.
Substrate
Hardwood Sawdust with 55-65% hydration levels, supplemented with 20% wheat bran works well.
Sawdust Block Hydration Calculator.
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Step 1: Assemble Your Supplies
Materials Needed:
- Lion's mane mushroom spawn.
- Hardwood Fuel pellets.
- Wheat bran (optional).
- Water.
- Growing bags or bucket.
Equipment Needed:
- Measuring cup.
- Scale.
- Mixing bucket or bowl.
- Pressure cooker.
Step 2: Preparing the Substrate
The substrate provides necessary nutrients and moisture for your mushrooms. Use the calculator above to get the correct substrate mix by weight.
- Weight out hardwood pellets into a bucket.
- Add hot water to the bucket and let the fuel pellets soak for 30 minutes until they break down into sawdust.
- Add bran to the hydrated sawdust, mixing thoroughly.
- Place mixture into a grow bags.
- Push out as much air as possible from the grow back and fold the excess around the block.
- Sterilize the substrate in a pressure cooker for 3.5 hours at 15 PSI.
- Allow to cool for at least 8 hours before inoculation.
Tips:
- Supplemented substrates should be sterilized, non-supplmented substrates can be pastuerized.
- If you don't have a Still Air Box you will need to pasteurize your substrate to perform an open air innoculation. Learn how to do this in the post on pasteurizing substrate blocks.
Step 3: Inoculating the Substrate
- Prepare a still air box for inoculation.
- Sanitize your hands and work area thoroughly.
- Add lion's mane spawn to the substrate.
- Mix the spawn evenly into the substrate.
- Seal the grow bag using impulse sealer or re-useable zip ties.
Step 4: Incubation
- Place the blocks into incubation conditions and leave them undisturbed.
- After a 10-14 days of Incubation cut off the oxygen at the top of the bag by folding it down and securing it with rubber bands, to stop pinning in the top of the bag.
Step 5: Fruiting the Mushrooms
Fruiting Conditions:
- Temperature: 15-24°C (59-75°F)
- Humidity: 85-90% RH
Procedure:
- Cut two 2-3 cm X in the bag, small lits make the fruit easier to harvest.
- Maintain required temperature, humidity, and light conditions.
- Expect pinheads (primordia) within 5-7 days.
- Mushrooms will mature in another 5-10 days.
Step 6: Harvesting
Harvest when fully developed but before they start to turn brown. Gently twist or cut the mushrooms at the base to remove them from the substrate.
This is best done while the spines of the mushroom are still in good, tight nodule, and white in colour. Avoid getting to the stage when the fungus turns beige-brown; this will either be too old, water-logged, or have been damaged or bruised. All of these factors will adversely affect the taste of the mushroom. The optimum growing period before harvesting is around 2 to 3 weeks, with younger Lion's Mane Mushrooms having a firmer, denser consistency.
Below is an example of a Lions Mane mushroom ready for harvest.
Additional Cultivation Tips for Lion's Mane
- Fresh Air: Lion's Mane man will tolerate growing indoors producing a less tightly packed fruiting body but still plenty of fruit. Cracking a window once a day in the room should suffice.
- Growing Vessles: Shotgun Fruiting Chamber, Martha Tents, Buckets and Jars.
Yield of Lion's Mane Mushrooms.
Lion's Mane Mushrooms typically offer a high yield, with some individual fruits weighing over one pound. A single 5lb fruiting body can produce more than 2lbs of mushroom over multiple harvests, although this harvest will depend on whether the body is being grown indoors or outdoors (this is due to the difference in fresh air exchange, more fresh air will result in larger yields).
Why Is My Lion's Mane Mushroom Turning Pink?
Normally this is a sign Lions Mane Mushroom has been grown in cooler temperatures my outdoor grows often come out with a lovely pink hue but still taste great!
What Do Lion's Mane Mushrooms Taste Like?
Lions Mane Mushrooms are a popular substitute for meat, with a spongy texture perfect for soaking up and holding flavor. Their taste is often said to resemble lobster, and there are numerous ways of preparing them, either as an appetising side-dish or as your main meal. One of the most delicious methods is to roast and sauté; in butter until golden brown, but they are delicious added to broths as dumplins.
