Materials and Space Needed –

– An outdoor garden bed or forest floor, or shallow sanitized tray

– Gloves, isopropyl alcohol, distilled water and spray bottle, scissors, strong adhesive tape or heat sealer

– Good Mushroom Black/White Morel liquid culture syringe

– Optional materials include hair net, face mask, monotube

*Note: Morels are known for being a difficult and inconsistent mushroom to cultivate. They are very sensitive to their environment.

Indoor Grow Steps –

Step 1 – Sanitize all materials using isopropyl alcohol including your work space, liquid culture syringe and needle, and the entirety of the starter grain jar/bag

Step 2 – Shake the liquid culture syringe thoroughly to mix the mycelium. Attach the needle to the syringe, and inject 2 to 3 ml of liquid culture through the self healing port of the starter grain bag in 3 to 4 different locations within the starter bag

Step 3 – Re-sterilize the self healing port with isopropyl alcohol and place the starter grain bag in a dark room temp location and let it be

Step 4 – After 30% to 40% of the grain has been colonized, gently redistribute the mycelium throughout the jar/bag to help increase the rate of growth and coverage. Let it sit until it is 100% colonized

Step 5 – Thoroughly sanitize your gloved hands, the work space, colonized grain jar/bag, substrate grow bag, and scissors

Step 6 – Break up the grain and mycelium (shake jar or massage bag) until all of the spawn is loose

Step 7 – Even add the grain spawn to the top layer of your substrate tray. This tray will be roughly 2 inches deep with a combination of 50% organic compost, 30% potting soil, and 20% sand.

Step 8 – Once the grain spawn has been evenly spread throughout the substrate in the sanitized tray, cover, and place in a dark location at a temperature of 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and 90% humidity for 4 to 6 weeks. Substrate should be moist to the consistency of a wet sponge, but not over-watered, as well as well drained.

Step 9 – It may take 4 to 6 weeks for the morel mycelium or sclerotia to poke out the top of the substrate, creating a white layer on top. When this occurs place the tray in the refrigerator at a temperature of 35 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit for about 2 weeks to stimulate growth

Step 10 – After the 2 weeks have passed, place the tray into your fruiting conditions – available light for 12 hours per day, at 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and 90% humidity. After about a week morel pins will begin to form.

*Note – your growing location will be your controlled location including a sanitized surface, indirect sunlight or grow light 12 hours per day, and a relative humidity of 90%

Step 11 – Harvesting your mushrooms will take place when the fruit is at any size. You can harvest when the fruit is smaller or more mature and still have a wonderful tasting mushroom. Simply pinch the mushroom off of the substrate as close to the dirt as possible to eliminate excess cleaning. Morels should be cooked thoroughly and as soon as possible after harvest. Fruit can be stored between damp paper towels and placed in the refrigerator, but may only remain fresh for a couple of days.