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A large and adaptive edible species best suited for outdoor culture in the home garden. Indoor fruitings are possible but the King Stropharia requires an unsterile casing to stimulate mushroom development and is slow fruit. These difficulties are avoided by simply inoculating a garden compost pile. We have seen good results from a buried straw-based growbag colonized with King Stropharia mycelium. The fully colonized bag was buried in the spring under a lush patch of parsley. Many mushrooms fruited directly above the buried straw throughout the summer. We also noticed mushrooms in a nearby compost pile and last years potato patch. Large strands of mycelium are visibly spreading throughout the rich garden soil. We would consider this mushroom only a fair edible but it makes up for it in its massive size, attractive appearance and ease of cultivation. Only very young mushrooms that do not have darkened gills from spore production should be considered worth eating. |
