Turkey Tail is a multicolored, fan-shaped polypore and one of the most widely studied functional mushrooms. It colonizes grain and bulk substrate fast, and as a natural wood decomposer it does well on blocks and logs.
- T. versicolorSpecies
- ~5 lbColonized grain
- 55–75°FFruiting temp
- BeginnerSkill level
- 12–13Master's Mix bags
Why grow Turkey Tail from our spawn
Fast colonizer
Aggressive mycelium that's easy to get going.
Wood lover
Runs on Master's Mix, supplemented hardwood sawdust or hardwood logs.
Patience at fruiting
The thin, layered conks take their time to develop.
From bag to block
1Break it up
Squeeze and massage the sealed bag until the grain separates into loose kernels.
2Set up clean
For a simple Master's Mix spawn, a clean room with still air works. For grain-to-grain or other open work, use a flow hood.
3Spawn about 1:3
Roughly one part spawn to three parts substrate, or about 2 cups per 5 lb bag of sterilized Master’s Mix. One bag covers 12–13.
4Seal and wait
Seal the bags, mix thoroughly and let them colonize at 65–75°F before moving to fruiting conditions.
Turkey Tail grain spawn specs
| Spec | Detail |
|---|
| Scientific name | Trametes versicolor |
| Mycelium | White, fast and aggressive |
| Grain | Mostly white and red millet with a little milo |
| Bag | Unicorn 3T, 3-mil, 0.22-micron filter patch |
| Sterilization | 3-hour autoclave cycle |
| Weight | 5 lb net; bags usually fill to about 5.5 lb |
| Spawn rate | About 1:3; one bag spawns 12–13 bags of 5 lb Master's Mix |
| Best substrates | Master's Mix, supplemented hardwood sawdust, hardwood logs |
| Fruiting temperature | 55–75°F |
| Skill level | Beginner to colonize; patience to fruit |
| Type | Functional |
| Shelf life | Best within about 90 days; up to 120 days refrigerated at 35–40°F |
| Ships | Same or next business day |
Where our genetics come from
Our master culture collection is the product of years of isolation work in our Illinois lab. We've added to it through a partnership with a leading commercial culture supplier in Canada and with select strains from the UK and Asia. Every culture is kept as first-generation commercial genetics and chosen for clean, vigorous colonization and fruit that's true to type.
Common questions
Can I use Turkey Tail spawn on logs?
Yes. Turkey Tail is a hardwood decomposer, so it works on hardwood logs as well as blocks and bulk beds.
What is Turkey Tail used for?
It's valued in traditional wellness practices and studied for compounds such as PSK, PSP and beta-glucans.
How long will the spawn keep?
Use it within about 90 days for the best results. Refrigerated at 35–40°F, it can last around 120 days.
Do I need a flow hood?
Not for a basic Master's Mix spawn in a clean, still room. For grain-to-grain expansion or other open work, use a flow hood or clean room.
What if the bag arrives damaged or contaminated?
Every bag ships fully colonized and is inspected first. If something's wrong, contact us within 5 days of delivery with a photo and we'll send a free replacement.
Made fresh, shipped fast
Each bag is sterilized for 3 hours in an autoclave, inoculated under HEPA-filtered laminar flow and left to colonize completely in a dedicated clean room, then inspected before it ships. Millet's small kernels mean more inoculation points per pound, so the spawn spreads quickly and evenly through your substrate.
We produce on a rolling schedule instead of stockpiling, so your spawn is fresh. It usually ships the same or next business day in padded packaging, with a free cold pack from May through September or for hot destinations.
Turkey Tail spawn, fully colonized
Broken up and ready to spawn
When it arrives: Break up the grain and spawn it soon. If you can't use it right away, refrigerate it at 35–40°F.
Sold as live mushroom spawn for cultivation. Turkey Tail is the subject of ongoing scientific study, but nothing on this page is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.