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!
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