I just got an e-mail from some PR outfit wondering if I might be interested in covering the mineral-deposits part of the Dodd-Frank financial-reform program.
I gave this matter some extensive thought for -- oh, about two seconds -- and decided to deal with today's question instead:
Are store-bought baby bella mushroom spores viable to start new mushrooms in the proper conditions? If I put some in a food processor and chop them, then broadcast the slurry under the various trees (oak, juniper and pine) in our yard in Star Valley, would the spores have a chance to propagate? I'm thinking one of the various tree environments might be suitable, with the duff under the trees.
Well, I guess you could try that, but I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for your baby bellas to sprout. Of course, I don't really know exactly what kind of mushrooms baby bellas are, but still I have my doubts.
Some of the stuff I read said that by the time it gets to your grocery store, a mushroom's reproductive ability is pretty much shot. I don't know about that.
Other stuff said the way to grow -- actually, clone -- more mushrooms is to use a slice of mushroom tissue, sort of like starting some other kind of plant from a cutting.
I read quite a bit of stuff about raising mushrooms in used coffee grounds, sterilized sawdust, and so on and so forth. It seems to be rather complicated.
I am told that one reliable resource is "Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms" by Paul Stamets. Check the library or Amazon.
