King Stropharia

Stropharia rugosoannulata

Alias: Garden Giant; Wine Cap; Burgundy Mushroom

Incubation Temperature: 70 - 80F

Fruiting Temperature: 55 - 70F

Spore Print Color: purple-grey to purple-black

Identification: Red-Burgundy-Maroon top about 2-14 inches in diameter with a 1-2 inch diameter white stout stalk. Caps are convex at maturity, with a full, bell shape early in the growth. Stalks have annulus, which is a ring around the stalk. This ring is thick and wavy. Immature gills are a pale white, but as spore production begins, they deepen in color from purple-grey to purple-black. 

Poisonous Fakes: The burgundy tops and purplish gills are a stand out in nature. There are no know poisonous look-alike. 

Growing Outdoors Pros: 

King Stropharia will cultivate nicely indoors, but really shines outside. They love to break down material and can find a secure home in a wide assortment of substrates. They can tolerate some filtered direct sunlight, but prefer a partial shade environment. In the garden, these powerhouses will create space for root formation for other plants, build soil, and attracting earthworms and other beneficial insects. Also, the mycelium will help control nematode population. Eating them provides fiber, amino acids, protein, iron copper and a bit of calcium. 

Well, this list is short. Growing the garden giants outdoors attracts earthworms to your garden bed because they love that delicious mycelium. Which means it could be an uphill battle to establish a bed. Consider rotating locations from year to year. Also, planting in a rotation will improve soil composition, a long term solution for nutrient rich, soil building. Wine Caps love carbon biomass and will eat it up, taking nutrients from the plants growing with it. Care is needed when choosing a location and companion plants. Consider planting annuals that will add carbon back to the environment and using a mulch layer. I would add they also add to the biomass, but while they are growing they compete with other plants that will too, like strawberry, kale and spinach. Most perennials and our beloved garden giants will sequestered carbon from the air and add it back the soil. 

Growing Indoors:

You can use a host of methods to cultivate the every forgiving King Stropharia, including mono tubs to fruiting in the bag. Really a fun-gi to work with. Try a new technique or perfect an old one for maximum yields. 

Favorite Substrates:

Rye Grain, Straw, Hardwoods, Corn Cobs, Sawdust… Really, try any decaying material in your garden. I would suggest using a sterilized rye grain to rapidly develop your spawn to add to your garden or mono tub.