So, in the UK we have a supermarket called Sainsbury’s. They’re one of the few supermarkets in the UK that regularly stock ‘exotic’ mushrooms. To the UK consumer anything beyond a white mushroom is considered exotic so I think they’re pushing that terminology a bit there. They also happen to be in pretty poor condition having been crammed into the packaging, bruised and bent around each other, it gives a really bad first impression to people who want to try new mushrooms.

A Selection Of Sainsbury's Exotic Mushrooms Presented By Archer's Mushrooms

I’d just set my lab up in my shed and needed to test run my new-ish HEPA filter and all my kit, I’d knocked up some agar from Malt Extract and Agar Powder and shot down to Sainsbury’s.

20 Plates Of Malt Extract Agar | Archer's Mushrooms

The bags were sterilised in my ‘Bubba Barrel’ you can checkout my video by clicking Here or on my YouTube channel that discusses the design behind that. I have done a full write-up on how to build one, but I didn’t take pictures, so I need to build another one and take photos.

Homemade Mushroom Steriliser | Homemade Bubba Barrel | Archer's Mushrooms

I inoculated the plates, put them to grain once colonised then divided between 3 bags of Hardwood Fuel LogsWheat Bran and Gypsum in a ratio of 10% WB and 5% Gypsum.

Hardwood Sterilised Mushroom Bags | Archer's Mushrooms

I inoculated the plates, put them to grain once colonised then divided between 3 bags of Hardwood Fuel LogsWheat Bran and Gypsum in a ratio of 10% WB and 5% Gypsum.

I then transferred the agar to my bags in front of my HEPA and heat sealed 2 and cable-tie sealed the third. I did this because I’m not having much luck with my heat sealer right now, the heat seems to be unevenly distributed along the entire length, meaning it ‘cuts’ half the bag and seals the other half which is irritating.

Inoculated King Oyster Mushroom Bags | Archer's Mushrooms

4 thoughts on “The Sainsbury’s King Oyster Mushroom Clone Project

    • Garf says:

      Hi Moose!

      Success as far as I can remember! It’s a cheap way of getting some high quality genetics! I’d suggest giving it a go!

      All the best!

      Gareth

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