Wine Cap Mushroom Spawn
Wine Cap Mushrooms (Stropharia rugosoannulata), also known as Garden Giants, are excellent for companion planting and are known to trap parasitic nematodes. They are a culinary delight with a mild, earthy and a mild asparagus-like flavor. Wine Cap spawn is easy to spread and fruits in both Spring and Fall, producing its first harvest in as little as two months. Once the threat of frost has passed, you can layer the area with cardboard, straw, wood chips, or a mix of these materials. Adding fresh woody material, like hardwood chips, will promote continued production in the same bed for several years.
We recommend choosing a heavily shaded area to retain moisture. This will help the mushrooms maintain their stunning wine color, making them easier to identify. One 5+ pound bag is ideal for a 25 square foot or 5' x 5' bed.
Both nutritious and beneficial to the environment. Wine Caps packed with protein, fiber, and vitamin D and research suggests they may have anti-cancer and antioxidant properties. Their mycelium improves soil, suppresses plant diseases, and supports growth, making them a great addition to gardens.
How to start your Mushroom Garden
Ensure that your Spawn / Mycelium stays completely covered and keep moist, but not saturated with water.
When to start your Mushroom Garden
General recommendation: Plant Wine Cap after last frost in the spring. Soil temperature may be the better guideline because Wine Cap can easily tolerate frost and freezing, and the mycelium itself establishes into a bed rather than be effected by air temperatures. Using planting guidelines for cool season crops (soil temperature of 40F-60F) in winter/early spring may be the best advice.
Wine cap spawn can be planted in spring and throughout the growing season, up until freeze up in the fall. Planting a deep bed in the fall of the year is helpful to protect the spawn from drying out during the cold dry months of winter.