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Hi, 1st time I have used the forum. I have just been given 3 industrial bags of pre-spawned mushroom compost and there are no instructions! The compost is straw based. I presume I should keep it in dark, warm moist conditions but - how thick should I lay the straw compost, should I lay it loose or compact it and do I need to put a peat based compost covering over the top??? Any advice would be most welcome...
...D

hiya, porkie, welcome to the site..lucky you, all those mushrooms waiting..sorry, can't help with it but there'll be someone around soon who can  ;D

The little kit that I bought had the mushroom spawn on what looked like shredded bark and leaves.  You had to spread that out in a container and leave it in a warm dark spot for a week or so until the surface was covered in grey mycelium, then you added a layer of sterile compost that had been well watered and squeazed dry (so just a step above soggy), then the container was sealed again and left in a warm dry spot for another week.  Once the mycelium formed on top of the compost layer it was broken up lightly (read with a toothpick) and then the container was left open but still in a warm and relatively dark location until the mushrooms formed.  After that the lid came off and it could stand in a corner of a room in the house, but kept moist/humid at all times.

I am assuming these are agaricus bisporous (button muchrooms) if not then let me know what type they are & I will give you the appropriate instructions.

Pack the staw quite firmly into a box. Keep somewhere dark, warm (70-75F) and very humid to get the mycellium to run, make sure keep the block moist but not wet.

Once you`ve got a light wispy but even covering of the weblike mycellium through the block you have to case it, which is basically a 1.5" thick layer of casing loosely spread on top of the block.
The ideal casing would be a mixture of spagnum moss, peat and granulated chalk but failing that multi purpose compost will work.

With regular light waterings to keep it moist.. after about a week you`ll get a carpet of mushrooms popping up through the casing.

Welcome Porky :D....good luck with the mushrooms ;)

A big welcome here Porky.   ;D ;D ;D