Hen of the Woods (Maitake) Plate Culture

NSGF1 - Birdie (Grifola frondosa)
$74.99
Species & Strain

Processing times

Plate cultures are ideal for growers looking to make master bags, inoculate grain, make liquid culture, or make more plates.

Hen of the woods (maitake) plate cultures are made to order and have a shelf life of approximately 6 months. They should be stored in the refrigerator to maintain viability. Note that plate cultures require basic lab skills. Handle using sterile technique to prevent contamination.

See full description of each hen of the woods (maitake) strain available below.

NSGF1 - Birdie Hen of the Woods

Grifola frondosa. Commercial strain from the West Coast for indoor cultivation on sawdust blocks. Hen of the Woods or "maitake" is slow and difficult to grow but prized both for its distinct taste and medicinal properties.

NSGF2 - WI Hen of the Woods

Grifola frondosa. A log strain of hen of the woods from Wisconsin. As G. frondosa is prone to being out-competed by other fungi, we recommend sterilizing sections of log and then incubating them in filter patch bags for several months after inoculation.

NSGF4 - ME Hen of the Woods

Grifola frondosa. A local wild strain of hen of the woods found growing with birch. Cultured in the fall of 2019, a particularly robust year for this species.

NSGF5 - Butternut Hen of the Woods

Grifola frondosa. A local wild strain of hen of the woods found growing with butternut. Cultured in 2019.

NSGF6 - Belgium Hen of the Woods

Grifola frondosa. A commercial hen of the woods strain from Belgium.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Absolutely! Mushroom cultivation is a great activity to do with the whole family, whether you'd like to grow indoors or outdoors. If you're new to mushrooms, we recommend starting with a Spray & Grow Kit or a Plant & Grow Kit – both make it easy to grow fresh, organic mushrooms at home.

We are vertically integrated — from culture work all the way to spawn and substrate production — ensuring a quality end product. And our staff mycologists keep up to date on all best practices in our field. Additionally, we have a dedicated QAQC team that tests every batch of grain and substrate before it’s inoculated.

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Whether you’re growing mushrooms at home, in your garden, or at a commercial scale, we offer everything you need to cultivate success. We start with the highest-quality OMRI-listed ingredients, mix them in our state-of-the-art facility, and inoculate them in our custom-built lab, so you can rest easy knowing your product will yield the best results.

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