Psilocybe azurescens (Hammond) Submitted by Anonymous

Azurescens Propagation Data Sheet

1. Geographic location of patch

Southwest Ohio, USA

2. Date of planting

Spring of 1999

3. Materials used for bulk of patch

Mixed hardwood chips - maple, oak, some pine

4. Patch making method description

A number of differnet methods were attempted to colonize the chips. Direct inoculation with liquid media and crumbled PF cakes failed. Growth through the chips innoculated with rye spawn was very rapid. The beds where spawned outdoors in the early spring after the last expected frost. The bed is about 4-5 inches deep and about 10 x 5 feet. These where planted under some evergreen shrubs (dont know what kind). The beds where not covered with any casing. I watered heavily in the spring when it wasne raining. During the summer I let the bed get dryer but always kept it damp. In the fall I began heavy watering 2x per day. The bed began to fruit in november after leaves fell on it creating a type of casing the prevented pins from drying and water drop damage.

Tips: Dont make the bed as wide as I did - it is to hard to reach the back If you can plant with some grass to grow up through it. A 1 inch casing would be a good idea. Spray foliage of surrounding plants to raise local humidity. Surround your bed early with slug bait -these guys are horrible especially when fruiting begins Watch out for squirrels - they love to dig in your beds. I would recommend spawning a bag of chips in the winter and using the colonized chips to expand the substrate mass in order to minimize the amount of rye that may be attracting the evil squirrels. Watch out for sub freezing temps. Cover the patch with boxes to prevent crushing the fruits while maintaining insulation. The dark blue-green color on some of the caps is the "bluing reaction" due to frost damage.

5. Watering schedule.

Heavy in spring Light in summer Heavy 2x per day in fall

6. Date of first flush.

Early November. Temps where in the 50s and 60s for about 2 weeks. There was almost no natural rainfall.

7 Date of end of last flush.

Dont know yet

8. Total number of flushes.

Dont know yet

9. Maximum size and/or weight of largest mushroom.

It is very supprising when you grow these yourself just how small they really are. My largest's cap was not much bigger than a quarter.

10. Total yield. Unknown

Psilocybe azurescens growing in Ohio.

The greenish coloration is the result of frost damage.