Lucy’s top tips
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Inoculated oyster mushroom kits can yield quickly (between three and four weeks), whereas logs will take many months to bear a harvest.
If using logs, avoid spring-cut wood or logs with no bark. Different tree species vary in their success; oak and birch are often used.
■ Best ways to grow fabulous fungi ■
Veg seed merchants will often sell kits, but you should look to specialist suppliers such as annforfungi.co.uk for the most extensive ranges.
Most often, kits will supply inoculated substrate, but some offer liquid cultures injected via a needle and syringe.
Ensure substrates are initially sterile; most kits do this for you. Microwaves or boiling water are frequently used.
Less-common fungi like lion’s mane, chicken of the woods, stropharia and morels can be grown, but require time and skill.
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