Spotting strains for the culture bank

Find the right species

Not every mushroom can be cultivated. Many have an inseparable relationship with trees. The wild species we seek out for our culture bank include:

• Pleurotus sp. (oysters, all types)

• Hericium sp. (bear's head, coral tooth, lion's mane)

• Ganoderma tsugae (hemlock reishi)

• Auricularia sp. (wood ear)

• Stropharia rugusoannulata (wine cap)

Observe heavy production in 2+ consecutive seasons

Mushroom tissue clones normally mimic the characteristics of the parent. Appearance, vigorousness, fruiting cycles, and even flavor to some degree reflect the original wild sample. Here are the superstar qualities we look for:

• Finding a lot of mushrooms at once on a tree (except Hericium sp. which often grow solo)

• Large fruiting bodies

• Exceptional culinary traits including appearance, scent & flavor

• Multiple fruitings per year

• Adaptation to wood other than a normal host tree

• Adaptation to temperatures outside the normal seasonal range

Document your finds

Taking photos of your strain at different stages is a great way to establish a dated journal of its fruiting history. If the strain is cloned, this is important information to potential growers! We're happy to take a look at any photos you send and help you determine whether it's a tree worth watching.

Collect a sample

The best part of a mushroom for cloning (in most cases) is the dense inner stem part close to the base. The mushroom should be fresh with minimal insect damage. Only a few square inches of tissue are needed to take a round of clones, and most of the rest of the mushroom could be eaten or used by the spotter.

• Place the sample in a well-sealed brown paper bag

• Refrigerate as soon as possible

Contact us to arrange pickup or shipping

We are grateful to anyone helping us hunt down northern New England's super strains! We're always happy to answer your questions and check out your finds. If you find a super strain that's worth cloning, we'll make arrangements to get it here to Grafton.