KING STROPHARIA growth sequence in a shade house.
Background
Stropharia growth in a saturated (83%) sawdust substrate during mid winter.
Daily temperatures 7-13 C.
Sawdust depth 3-5cm on woven textile weed cloth.
Culture age approx. 10 months old, having migrated from adjacent outdoor beds.
First 2 days white button 3-4 cm across.
Day 4 cap changes colour and stem evident.
Days 5/6 stem elongates.
Day 9 fruitbody falls over due to cap weight and shallow substrate with no casing layer. Stem length is 14cm, cap diameter 12cm
Length of the rhyzomorphs is quite impressive. They lead from the end of the stem, branching to smaller mycelia and eventually a mass of fine threads in the saturated sawdust.
Once stropharia culture is mature it can withstand very wet conditions and will fruit after frosts and saturated ground in winter, as well as after rain in summer. It is a good choice for the garden enthusiast who wants a fungus that can look after itself.