Lion's Mane Fruiting Block Instructions

Key Terms

Primordium (plural: primordia): An organ, structure, or tissue in its earliest stage of development

Pinning: The stage where mushrooms begin to form

Substrate: The natural material on which mushrooms grow

Flush: A 'crop' of mushrooms; mycelium tends to produce fruits in groups, followed by a brief resting period

Use-by Date and Storage

Your fruiting block has been carefully prepared and incubated to produce mushrooms soon after arrival. We recommend using your block immediately for the best quality grow. If you're unable to use it right away, store it in the refrigerator (1-5°C) for a maximum of 14 days.

Preparing Your Block

Fruiting Style: Side Fruiting

Do not remove the fruiting block from the grow bag. Snip the top corners of the bag and gently compress the air out whilst rolling it down. Secure with tape so that the bag is tight against the face of the substrate block.

Using a sterile knife or scissors, cut a horizontal slit on one face of the bag, approximately 10-15 cm in length. This is where your mushrooms will fruit from.

Grow Set-up

For a professional set-up, we recommend using either a Martha tent or monotub and following the cultivation information below. If you don't have access to this equipment, you can make a humidity tent yourself.

DIY Humidity Tent

You will need:

1 baking tray or large plate

1 humidity bag or clear plastic bag

A pair of scissors

4 skewers (wood or metal)

A spray bottle (not previously used for any cleaning agents or chemicals)

Instructions:

Using scissors, cut two holes (approximately 5 cm in diameter) on either side of the humidity bag for airflow.

Place your fruiting block on the tray/plate. Do not remove the block from its grow bag.

Poke a wooden skewer into each corner of the top of the block, 2.5-5 cm deep and at a 45-degree angle.

Place your humidity bag over the fruiting block, using the skewers as a frame structure. The bottom of the humidity bag should rest loosely inside the tray.

Maintain humidity within the tent by spraying the inside lining of the humidity bag with water. Avoid getting any fruiting mushrooms wet.

Cultivation Information

For professional and intermediate growers, this cultivation information provides the optimal fruiting conditions required for maximum mushroom yield.

Important: If you're using a DIY set-up or don't have the equipment to measure CO2 and lux, these figures don't need to be followed exactly. The most important conditions to provide for the fruiting block are the correct humidity level and temperature range.

1. Primordia Induction

These conditions are required to initiate the formation of primordia:

Temperature: 18-24°C

Humidity: 90-95%

CO2 Concentration: 500-1000 ppm

Light: > 500 lux

2. Fruiting

These conditions are required to begin the fruiting process once the mushrooms have started pinning. The timescale from primordia to pins is approximately 1-2 days:

Temperature: 16-21°C

Humidity: 85-95%

CO2 Concentration: 500-1000 ppm

Light: > 500 lux

Flushes: 2, with an interval of approximately 14 days

3. Harvest

Lion's Mane mushrooms are slow growers, taking approximately 10-15 days to reach full maturity. Your mushrooms are ready to harvest when:

The growth rate decreases

The spines begin to lengthen

The fruit begins to turn yellow on top

To harvest, gently grab the mushroom at the base of the clump and twist with one full turn to separate it from the block.

Storage

Once harvested, Lion's Mane mushrooms can be stored in the refrigerator for a maximum of 5 days. Follow these guidelines for best results:

Avoid wrapping your mushrooms in plastic; a paper bag is ideal

Do not wash them before storage

Store them whole rather than sliced