Good luck with this^^^^
. I'm going to try to get a gallon from Loch Ness this August and grow a sea monster in the basement for release in spring.
Might try something like this this spring, if I get time... Had AI write up some instructions
Here’s a clear, step-by-step guide to preparing your outdoor morel beds near Bismarck, ND, using exactly what you already have access to (aged wood chips as the main substrate, a bit of aged horse manure, wood ashes, and fresh local morels for the spore slurry). This is the low-tech DIY spore-slurry method that matches your setup and local conditions.Best timing
- Prep the beds now or anytime before spring (late March–early April is perfect).
- Make the slurry and inoculate in late April–May when you can collect fresh local morels (soil temps around 48–56 °F).
Start with 3–4 small beds (3×3 ft or 4×4 ft each) spaced apart for better odds.
Materials You’ll Need (per 4×4 ft bed)
- Aged wood chips: ~10–15 gallons (main bulk—use as much as possible; mix in ≤20–30% fresh chips only if needed).
- Aged horse manure (well-composted, odor-free, crumbly): 1–2 gallons (10–20% by volume).
- Wood ashes (clean hardwood fire ash): 2–5 cups (or more—morels love it).
- Optional but recommended: garden gypsum or agricultural lime (½–1 cup for calcium and pH boost), sphagnum peat moss or leaf mold (2–3 gallons for moisture), plain cardboard/newspaper (for base layer).
- Tools: shovel, rake, wheelbarrow, 5-gallon bucket, blender (or knife + bag).
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Choose and mark your sites
Pick shady, well-drained spots under or near deciduous trees (cottonwood, elm, ash, boxelder are ideal in ND). North-facing edges, under buildings, or wooded borders work great. Avoid full sun, low wet spots, or heavy clay. Mark out 3–4 separate 3×3 or 4×4 ft areas.
- Clear and loosen the ground
Remove grass, weeds, and sod from each bed area. Dig or loosen the top 4–8 inches of native soil with a shovel or rake. This mixes your local soil biology with the new substrate.
- Optional base layer (helps a lot)
Soak plain cardboard or several layers of newspaper in water and lay it flat on the loosened soil. This smothers weeds and holds moisture while the mycelium gets established.
- Mix and build the substrate layer
In a wheelbarrow or on a tarp, combine:
- 70–80% aged wood chips (your main ingredient).
- 10–20% aged horse manure (this adds nutrients and microbes without burning the mycelium).
- 10–15% native soil or peat/leaf mold (for structure and moisture retention).
Sprinkle in wood ashes generously (2–5 cups per bed) + gypsum/lime if you have it.
Mix everything thoroughly. The bed should be loose and wood-chip heavy. Spread the mix 6–8 inches deep over the cardboard/soil. Tamp lightly so it’s firm but not packed. Rake the surface level.
- Make the spore slurry (do this only when you have fresh morels—usually late April–May)
- Chop or blend 3–5 fresh morels (caps + stems) with 1–2 Tbsp unsulfured molasses or honey and a little water until chunky. Let sit covered overnight.
- In a 5-gallon bucket, add the blended morels + several more gallons of dechlorinated water + 2–3 cups wood ashes + a tiny pinch of salt. Stir well and let steep loosely covered another 12–24 hours. Stir again before use.
- Inoculate the beds
Pour the slurry evenly over each prepared bed (about 1–2 gallons per 4×4 ft patch—thorough coverage is key). Lightly rake or mix it into the top 1–2 inches of substrate. Top with a thin 1–2 inch layer of plain aged wood chips (or aged chips mixed with a little manure) as mulch to hold moisture and protect the spores.
- Water and protect
Soak the entire bed deeply right after inoculating (until water runs out the bottom). Cover with chicken wire if animals are a problem. Label the beds so you remember where they are.
After Prep (First 2 Months)
- Keep the beds consistently moist (water weekly or after rain—ND summers can be dry).
- Do not disturb them. Mycelium will colonize through summer and form sclerotia over winter.
Your beds are now fully prepared and inoculated. In spring Year 1 (or more likely Year 2–3), check daily during good fruiting weather (60–70 °F days, cool nights, after rains). Harvest by cutting at the base.This method stacks everything you have (aged chips + aged manure + ashes) in the proportions that successful DIY growers use. It’s still experimental—morels can be picky—but using aged materials and generous ash gives you the best shot with what’s on your land. Once established, the patches can produce for years with minimal care. Good luck—let me know when you inoculate and I’ll help with any tweaks!
