Morel Bed Cultivation - Updated Landscape Morel Method

Several Morel species are new to the cultivation scene after responding to a successful cultivation strategy in outdoor beds. This method was first developed in China and has been experimented with throughout the USA in hopes to expand cultivation opportunity for outdoor farms and hobbyists. The Landscape Morel is one of several species that can be successfully cultivated using outdoor bed methods with the use of exogenous nutrient bags (aka "exo" bags). These are nutrient heavy, sterilized substrate bags, placed externally (on top) of the bed, that encourage mushroom fruiting in the spring.

Abbreviated steps for Building a Morel Mushroom Bed

These abbreviated steps will serve as a guideline. For more extensive instructions, read full instruction page.

1. Locate, prepare and water the site where you will install the bed.

2. Work the soil until weed free and loose, 10 ft long and 2-3 ft wide, trenches on the long sides

3. Plant the spawn.

4. Install drip tape of soaker hose down the length of the bed.

5. Install tunnel or add mulch

6. Wait 10-15 days, watching for conidial mats

7. Place exo bags on surface

8. Wait until spring, fill trenches with water and keep the bed moist with the soaker hose

9. Watch for morels!

Detailed Instructions for Building a Morel Mushroom Bed

When to build your morel bed:

In the fall, (usually Sept - Oct, when daytime temps are consistently below 68°F). Spring and summer inoculation is acceptable if provided with significant shade and regular watering.

Where to build your morel bed:

Fully shaded area, constructing a bed approximately 10 ft long and 24-36 inch wide. If natural shade is not available, you can install a shade house structure over the top of the bed. 80% shade cloth is acceptable.

Preparing the bed:

1. Upon selecting the location of your bed, water the area very well so the soil is moist.

2. Till or loosen soil to make a plant free soil row, approx. 10 ft long x 24-36" inches wide.

3. Pull soil away from the sides of the row to create a slight mound in the row's center and slight trenches surrounding the bed.

Plant the Morel spawn:

With a hoe, make a 3-4 inch wide and deep furrow in the center, down the length of the row. Crumble the spawn into egg sized size pieces and fill the furrow with the pieces, equally spaced. Use one 5 lb bag for the 10 ft of furrow. This is a heavier inoculation rate than usually recommended, but we believe that when starting any new cultivation method it's best to use a high inoculation rate to boost possibility of success. Pull soil over the top of the furrow to cover the spawn; 2-3 inches on top.

Monitoring the bed:

1. Keep the bed moist (50-70% moisture) with regular watering. This is the most crucial element for success. As a simple field evaluation, grab a handful of soil and squeeze it. It should form a ball and keep its form when you squeeze and release your grip. It is helpful to use soaker hose or drip tape down the length of the bed after the bed is inoculated.

2. Create a low tunnel over the bed with plastic approximately 8 -10 inches above the soil surface. This option may be the most effective way to keep even moisture throughout the bed. To create the structure, use ~3 ft pieces of PVC bowed to an arch, or 9-gauge chain-link fence tension wire placed every 2-3 feet down the length of the row. Pull heavy duty plastic (clear or black) over the supports. Cut 1-2 inch diameter holes or X- cuts every 24-36 inches down the center run of the plastic at the apex of the tunnel to allow some airflow underneath the plastic. Secure the sides with logs, soil, earth staples or rocks.

Additional ideas for maintaining moisture: Mulch the bed with a 3 inch layer of straw.

Watch for Conidial Mats:

Whitish powdery looking growth should appear on the surface of the bed after 10-15 days, depending on environmental conditions. Growth may be patchy, that is okay! This is the first stage of Morel growth!

Placement of exo bags:

1. Once the powdery looking growth appears, prepare your exo bags for placement.

2. The exo bags are taped so the filter patch is obstructed from air exchange so leave the top of the bag taped. Using a sharp knife point or skewer, frequently dipping the poker into your alcohol to keep everything sterile. Poke holes through the plastic on the bottom of the bag. Poke holes every 1/2" to 1 inch apart from one another. Make sure the holes within a two inch border from the 4 sides of the bag bottom, you don't want the grains and nutrients inside the bag to dry out by exposing them to outside air.

3. Place the exo bags on the surface of the bed where the bottom of the bag can come in contact with the bed surface. Only place the bags on top of areas with the powdery mats - they will likely not be equally placed along the length of the bed. These bags will stay on the bed through winter to the following spring season. The morel mycelium will grow up from the soil and through the holes into the exo bag to access the nutrition and draw the nutrients back down into the bed.

Maintaining the bed:

Maintain high soil moisture. Continue watering as necessary. If you are in a snow area and are using a shade structure, remove the shade for the snow months. Keep the plastic in place.

Encourage Morel fruiting in spring:

When daytime temperatures reach 40-45°F, increase humidity and soil moisture. Flood the trenches at the sides of the bed if possible once or twice during this temperature period, or make sure to water with your soaker hose. The fluctuating spring temperatures plus water will encourage pinning and mushroom development. Aim to keep day temps under 68°F by reconstructing your shade structure. Good luck!

NOTE: The method provided is not a guarantee that it will be successful in your landscape. We will continue to update guidelines for morel cultivation patterns that have seen success as we trial them or as they are reported.