top of page

Easy Guide to Growing Your Own Gourmet Margate Mushrooms

Darryn de la Soul

Updated: Dec 17, 2023

Materials Needed:

Mushroom grow bag(s)

A pair of scissors

Spray bottle filled with clean water




Step 1 - Getting ready

When you purchase your GREY OYSTER MUSHROOM grow bag, you should see white, thread-like mycelium growing and spreading through the substrate. This process is called colonisation.

Your bag will already be fully colonised and be ready to fruit – however, IF YOU WISH TO DELAY FRUITING (for example, if you’ve bought it as a gift that is not needed for some time) you can take the inner bag out of the coffee sack and refrigerate it for up to five weeks. DO NOT FREEZE IT.


When you purchase a PINK OYSTER MUSHROOM grow bag, they do not turn white like the grey ones do. They will have a pink hue throughout the straw and there may be some pink bumps that indicate the mushrooms are pinning and ready to fruit.


Step 2 - Initiating fruiting

​When you’re ready, it's time to initiate fruiting.

Choose where to put your bag – contrary to popular belief, our mushrooms enjoy daylight, so we recommend a kitchen counter-top. Just keep it away from direct sunlight and preferably not too close to a radiator. Their optimal temperatures are 16-24 degrees C.

Next, cut a rectangle out of one side of the coffee sack (this should be about a quarter of the whole side, it doesn’t need to be measured!)

Then cut a big X in the plastic bag underneath – you want to be able to access the substrate, and then lower the flaps over it again to keep the moisture inside.

Mist the inside gently with water beneath the X, using the spray bottle. This will help initiate fruiting and provide the necessary moisture for mushroom development.

Continue to mist the bag morning and evening - another good reason to keep it in the kitchen; you can’t forget this way!


Step 3 - Harvesting

Soon, you'll notice small pins (baby mushrooms) forming in the X you created. As they grow, they'll develop into mature mushrooms. You’ll be able to see them grow on a daily basis!

Keep an eye on the caps – they’ll start off curled over, but flatten out as they mature. This could take anywhere from 5 to 10 days depending on your environment. If you want to see what this looks like, please watch the timelapse above!

Harvest the mushrooms by gently twisting them at the base or cutting them close to the substrate when they reach the desired size. Avoid damaging the mycelium during harvesting.

Admire, eat and enjoy!

After your first flush, you can still get more mushrooms from your grow bag! You can soak the whole inner bag again, then cut a new X somewhere else. Allow obvious liquid water to drain so you don’t get mould growing, then keep misting twice a day until you get another flush. Sometimes you can get a third, and even when you chuck it in the compost you may get more, if the weather outside is right. Mushrooms just love to grow!


Step 4 - Disposal

The coffee sack can be composted

The substrate, which is just straw and mycelium, can be composted, used as mulch, or just thrown into a corner of your garden and let nature take care of it. The worms will love you.

Unfortunately we haven’t yet worked out how to create these without the inner plastic bag. Please dispose of it in the most responsible way you know how.

Enjoy your mushroom growing journey, and may it yield a bountiful harvest!

304 views0 comments

Comments


Margate Mushrooms 

By choosing to support Margate Mushrooms, you're not just savouring exceptional local flavours; you're also strengthening the heart of our community, uplifting local businesses, and fostering a vibrant, sustainable Margate.

Support Local

Our Mission

Cultivating local mushrooms to nourish our community, reduce carbon footprint, and transform Margate into a global Mushroom Mecca

Get the Latest News & Updates from Margate Mushrooms

Thanks for submitting!

© 2024 by Margate Mushrooms.

bottom of page