FREE: Growing the Oyster Mushroom kits

Straw

Cereal straw is an excellent substrate for growing oyster mushrooms, and is available at any feed store. The one precondition for growing on straw is that it must be pasteurized first. The easiest method for the home grower is “cold water pasteurization”. Basically, all that is needed is straw, a container (a plastic garbage can works fine), a weight to keep the straw submerged, and water.Break off enough straw to fill about 1/2 of the container, place the weight on top and fill with water so that it covers the straw. After around one week, drain off the water. This is an important step; make sure all excess water is drained out. Once it is well drained, it is ready for spawning. The method for spawning straw and is same as for coffee grounds. A kit will spawn around 40 lbs straw. Totes work well as containers. The photo below is a contractor garbage bag with holes made with a small screw driver; Straw is a bit faster than coffee grounds. It usually takes about one month to the first crop

One Oyster Mushroom Garden should inoculate at least 30 lbs of coffee grounds

Place 5 – 30 lbs of coffee grounds in a clean container. Clean off any undeveloped mushrooms from the block and gently crumble all or part of the block into the coffee grounds. Mix thoroughly. Plastic bags, buckets, and totes all work well as containers for growing and fruiting on coffee grounds. With clear bags you have the advantage of being able to observe the oyster mushroom mycelium colonizing the coffee grounds. Totes and buckets can hold a lot more coffee grounds and can be reused. Whatever container is used must not be sealed tightly unless there are holes to allow gas exchange. At room temperature it should take about six to eight weeks to get the first crop. If you are using a bag; follow the Oyster Mushroom Garden directions. With a bucket or tote there are a few options. Option one; move the lid slightly to leave a small opening where light and fresh air can get in but won’t allow the surface to dry out. The mushrooms will find the opening. Second option for buckets and totes is to drill 10 -20 small holes in the container (I use a 5/16 drill bit). This should be done before adding the coffee grounds. Be sure most of the holes are not above the level of the coffee grounds. A third option is to remove the lid and make a humidity tent out of a large plastic bag. Having tried all of the above methods, I have gotten the best results with the second option. After one or two harvests the colonized coffee grounds can be used to inoculatemore fresh coffee grounds or straw.

coffee grounds

Coffee Grounds

Coffee grounds offer an easy way to grow virtually unlimited amounts of oyster mushrooms. For people living in cities coffee grounds should be easy to find, any coffee shop or espresso stand should have all you need. The coffee grounds should be as fresh as possible. If there is blue mold growing in them they are too old. Espresso grounds tend to be dry so water must be added. French press and drip grounds have higher moisture content and can usually be used without adjusting the moisture. If the coffee grounds are too wet, water will collect at the bottom of the container and the excess must be drained off.

Using the Oyster Mushroom Garden as spawn

The sawdust that makes up the block can be used as spawn to inoculate other materials. Just remove it from the bag, break it into small pieces, and mix with coffee grounds, straw, or fresh hardwood chips.

Instructions

Place your “Oyster Mushroom Garden” where it will get light but not direct sunlight, away from heaters or furnace vents and where it can be observed daily. 60 to 75 degrees is a good temperature range. Leave the bag on. Take a sharp knife or razor blade and cut a 2-4 inch slit in the bag at the center of the block. The mushrooms will emerge through the slit in a few days to two weeks in a few days the mushrooms will be fully expanded. Harvest before the edges curl up. Gently pull the clusters away from the bag and trim a way the stem butts. A second crop should follow in a week to ten days and possibly a very small third crop.

This can be eaten. However, this is not your typical commercial Oyster Mushroom you find in the store. It has much pungent and aromatic favor.

I been wanting one of these type of kits for a long time. Thanks for listing a great item.