I recently got a huge drop of wood chips, and I'm using most of it as mulch around my fruit trees. I've got some piles left over, and I've heard that wine cap mushrooms are easy to grow, but I'm not sure how they taste. Are there any vegetables or other crops I can successfully grow in just wood chips or by mixing them with a different substrate?
2 Answers
It really depends on the type of trees that the chips came from. For example, black walnut isn’t great since it contains a substance that can prevent other plants from growing. If you verify that the wood chips are from beneficial trees, like maple or locust, then you can definitely grow veggies with them as mulch. Just keep in mind that mixing wood chips with soil can deplete nutrients during decomposition. It’s better to use them as a long-lasting mulch instead.
I’ll make sure to check. The chips are mainly a mix of maple and locust. I was thinking of adding a nitrogen source for crops like peas that don’t require a lot of nutrients.
Wine caps are fantastic! Here’s a tip: pick them when they’re small, about the size of a ping-pong ball. I like to slice, roast, and freeze them in bulk to add to soups and stews. Just remember, don’t eat them raw since they can be tough! They grow well in any kind of wood chips, so don’t worry too much about the mix—just lay down some packing paper when you spread the inoculated sawdust to help them get established.
Thanks! I’ll order from North Spore. Should I go for oysters too? I heard they can be a bit tricky with substrates.
You might also consider composting the chips first before using them, just to ensure you get the best results!