Pink Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus djamor) kit from North Spore Mushrooms
What better way to beat the winter blues than to grow something colorful? Enter our mushroom grow kits from North Spore Mushrooms. A complete package with exceptionally simple instructions means that everyone can enjoy this product, no matter your skill level. We get a lot of questions about this kit, so we decided to grow one ourselves. We chose the pink oyster kit, but they all contain vibrant and delicious spores waiting to be coaxed into fruiting.
Upon opening your kit, you’ll find a booklet of instructions, a small spray bottle, and a plastic covered block containing your growing substrate already inoculated with mushroom spores. Start by cutting an ‘X’ into your plastic as instructed and start misting! You’ll want to choose a humid spot in your home, away from any direct light source. Keeping your kit inside a plastic bag or container can help keep humidity levels elevated, if you find your home is on the dry side.
Patience will be your friend for several days while you mist and wait. Mist several times a day to keep it consistently moist, but not soggy. It may take up to two weeks for you to see fruiting mushrooms. Even if you don’t see mushrooms, life is happening inside! Open up your box and take a look. A web of white, spongy fungi will start to spread around the substrate. This is called mycelium, the foundational building block of all mushroom growth. The fruit of mycelium reproduction results in the actual part of the mushroom you will harvest and consume.
On day 10, our mycelium started to fruit, and within 3-4 days, a beautiful bouquet of pink oysters appeared! They’re a stunning shade of salmon pink with thin, firm gills running down the underside. You’ll want to harvest your oyster mushrooms while the caps are still slightly curved under. Refer to the picture on your box for an optimal reference of what mature mushrooms look like. Use a knife or your hands, and gently detach the mushroom from the substrate. Eat as soon as possible, and you can also store your mushrooms in a dry, cool container in your fridge. It is especially important to cook all homegrown mushrooms fully before consuming.
Emerging mushrooms, day 10.
Day 11.
Fully mature, ready to harvest Pink Oyster Mushroom, day 14.
This fun and delicious activity is sure to satisfy your urge to grow something in the heart of winter! With some extra effort, you can get a second flush of mushrooms. North Spore has more details on how that is done, linked here.
Ready to eat? Try this recipe to turn your new oysters into a delicious side dish. Not a fan of fungi? Use them for art and make spore prints. Fungi are important partners for plant growth, and this product is a great way to introduce yourself to the basics of mushroom growth and mycelium. Give it a try to feed your mind and your taste buds.