Wine Cap (Stropharia rugosoannulata) Cultivation

This grow kit is designed to give you a fun scientific experience in addition to delicious edible mushrooms. I’s made up of living mycelium, substrate, and water. It’s intended to be used for outside cultivation.

The Wine Cap Stropharia (Stropharia rugosoannulata) is a good edible with a delicate taste of root vegetable. Its burgundy cap has a diameter of 5 to 15 cm. Its white foot has a ring and can measure up to 25 cm. The gills under the cap are grayish, turning purple when mature. It is a secondary decomposer that benefits from the presence of microorganisms in its environment.

Instructions

Before starting, wait until the substrate is fully colonized; the white mycelium should be close to reaching the bottom of the bag.

1. Choose the location

The culture kit contains enough mycelium to cover an area of 1m² to a depth of 15-30 cm. Choose an accessible, humid, well-drained and partially sunny place. Vegetable gardens, flower beds and areas under shrubs and trees are suitable. Propagate from May to October.

2. Propagate

Wine Cap Stropharia grows on a substrate of hardwood shavings, ramial chipped wood (RCW) or straw. Place a layer of newspaper on the chosen plot. Then alternate layers of substrate and mycelium from the culture kit to reach a thickness of 30 cm, ending with a layer of substrate. This can be done in the garden or around plants.

3. Care

Water regularly as you would a vegetable garden.  After 4 weeks or when the white mycelium becomes visible on the substrate, spread an even layer of 5 cm of garden soil over the mycelium. This will protect the mycelium from dehydration and provide a suitable environment for fruiting.

4. Harvest

Wine Cap Stropharia fruits from late summer to late fall at temperatures between 16 and 21°C. If the conditions are favorable, the first mushrooms will be harvested after a few months, or even a few weeks, especially if the propagation is done in the spring. If it is done in the fall, it will be necessary to wait until the following year for the first harvest.

Mushrooms grow in clusters after rain or heavy watering. The mushrooms are picked by turning the stem. The additionof 10 cm of substrate in the spring and fall will promote recurrent fruitings.

Be certain of the identity of the mushrooms you are consuming. As a general rule, mushrooms should be cooked before eating.

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