Whether you’re an experienced or beginning cultivator, you know that mushroom cultivation is a delicate and nuanced process. The entire process is challenging, but the waiting game is one of the most difficult parts. Waiting for the mycelium to colonize the substrate can be arduous and test the patience of even the most experienced cultivator. So how long should you wait for jar colonization before you harvest? Read on below to find out more.
Terms You Should Know
Before we get started, let’s dive into a few terms. As a refresher, mycelium is the body of the mushroom that doesn’t appear on the surface. The mushroom fruiting body is much smaller than the mycelium, which can span acres of land underground. Colonization is the process the mushroom takes when it grows through the substrate, petri dish, or grain jar. A substrate is a medium through which the mycelium grows. Now that we’ve got some of those terms out of the way, it’s time to dive into how long it’ll take for your substrate to colonize.
How Long Will Colonization Take?
Now you know how the colonization process works, but how long should you wait for cultivation? Typically, you need to wait two to four weeks before harvesting your mushrooms from your grow kit. Mushroom growing jars are a great place to grow your mushrooms. Just be patient. You should begin to see mushroom colonization in no time.
How Does Your Jar Look When Fully Colonized?
When your jar is fully colonized, your mycelium—the body of the mushroom—will cover the entire jar. It will likely be white, although the color may vary. Colonization should begin as early as day two of the overall process. This is when you’ll start seeing the pin—think of your pin as a baby mushroom—develop into a fruiting body with the gills and stem you’re likely familiar with. You’ll also start seeing spots of mycelium poking through the surface here and there throughout the substrate until it finally takes it over completely.
How Do You Harvest Them?
Now that you know how the colonization process looks and how long it’ll take, let us talk about what harvesting them will look like. You’ll want to first pick them around the time the cap initially opens, but before the veil breaks and releases its spores. You can use a mushroom knife and cut the stem close to the surface to leave a small stump behind. Overall, the mushroom colonization process is fascinating. You just have to take the time to do it properly.