Description

Cultivation Difficulty: Moderate (outdoor)- Difficult (indoor)
Type: Edible
Substrate: hardwood chips and sawdust, peatmoss  and composts
Colonization/Fruiting Temperatures: 70-75F/40-50F
Available In: 10cc mycelium in solution

This strain of Morchella importuna (Black Landscape Morel) has been successfully fruited in a disturbed garden habitat. However, even with the formation of mycelium and sclerotium there are many factors that will influence the formation of morel fruits. For that reason we make no guarantees beyond the viability of the block. For best results spawn as described in the basic directions.

Basic directions- Place a few handfuls of soaked and drained rye at the bottom of an autoclavable Gusseted Bulk Spawn Bags w/ Self-Healing Injector Site and add a thick layer of moist hardwood sawdust on top.  Seal and sterilize at 15 psi for 2-3 hours.   Inject the culture into the grass seed layer and allow to colonize at 60-65F for a few weeks.   When orange sclerotia are visible plant outdoors. Dig a small hole and sprinkle it heavily with agricultural lime (calcium carbonate) mix into soil. Carefully cut the bag down the side, gingerly remove the top layer of wood only and place it in the hole. Discard the lower layer of grain. Mix the dirt removed from the hole with a ½ cup of lime. Cover the morel mycelium block with the limed soil. Ignore the spot until spring. Check often in the spring especially after a warm rain.

This strain was isolated from what was thought to be a “Morchella elata group” found in Oregon. Recently it was confirmed to be Morchella importuna. Low passage number insures the sclerotia formation necessary for fruiting body development  Areas where morel mushrooms are found locally are more likely to have success growing black morels outdoors from spawn.  Even in good conditions morel spawn might not fruit for years after planting. For best results plant spawn outdoors in fall or early winter. We have yet to develop a reliable method for fruiting the block indoors. Stay tuned!

For additional information on growing morels please check out “Mycelium Running : How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World by Paul Stamets.

**Successful morel cultivation depends on a narrow range environmental conditions for growth, for this reason we cannot guarantee fruit body development from the black morel spawn block.**

Note: Culture supplied as living mycelium in solution in a sterile 10cc syringe with unattached 16 gauge needle. Culture can be stored under refrigeration for several months. Use to directly inoculate Sterilized Substrates and Media.