White Elm Oyster Kit
Growing Guide.

Everything you need to get started with your kit

QUICK LINKS

Introduction History What You'll Need Instructions Videos How to Use Your Mushrooms FAQs Demonstration Images

Introduction

Congratulations! You have reached the first step of starting your venture into fungi culture and supporting sustainable food production! 

We are excited to welcome you into the wonderful world of urban farming. Your white elm oyster mushroom growing kit is unlike any other because it provides the living grain spawn separately to the substrate. 

This is great and a valuable learning curve because you are able to carry out inoculation yourself. You can fully immerse yourself into the mushroom growing experience. This also ensures freshness and vigorous growth. Whether you consider yourself green-fingered or not, having a go at this kit is the first big step towards becoming a fully-fledged Urban Farmer. Once you start, it will quickly become a lifestyle and passion!

THE HISTORY OF WHITE OYSTER MUSHROOMS

The taxonomic variant Pleurotus ostreatus var. florida, better known as the white oyster mushroom, is a member of the expansive Pleurotaceae family of fungi. These fascinating mushrooms have been a part of our natural world for centuries, their crisp, white caps a captivating sight within diverse ecosystems.

White oyster mushrooms are truly international, flourishing in numerous habitats across the world. They are found thriving in the temperate zones of North America, Europe, and various parts of Asia. The cooler regions of Australia, New Zealand, and even certain areas in South America also host these robust fungi.

From wild forest clearings to log-laden backyards, and even in specially prepared mushroom farms, the white oyster mushroom has proven to be a resilient and versatile species. As it continues to sprout across the globe, its creamy color and distinctive flavor continue to charm mushroom aficionados and gastronomes alike.

Included in the box:

  • White liner - To waterproof your box and create a great growing environment

  • Black substrate bag - A heat resistant bag containing the material that the mushrooms breakdown and use for food

  • Information pack with instructions


You'll also need:

  • 3 litres of boiling water – This is for pasteurising the substrate.

  • Clothes peg or sticky tape - This is to secure your substrate bag.

  • A sharp knife – You need this to cut grow holes in the substrate bag.

  • Mist sprayer – This is for keeping your young mushrooms well-watered. Please note this must be new with no contaminants.

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. After receiving the spawn, it should be used immediately to ensure maximum results. But if you cannot start right away, store at 1-5°C (no lower).
  2. Remove the black substrate bag and stand it upright in a kitchen sink or similar and open it at the top.
  3. In order to pasteurise the substrate, add 3 litres of boiling water, be careful to avoid scalding yourself. Carefully, fold the bag closed and peg/tape it shut in order to retain the heat. Leave to stand for at least 8 hours or until properly cooled. This is extremely important as temperatures above 30oC could kill the spawn.
  4. Once cooled, cut off each bottom corner just enough to let the water drain. Leave for 30 minutes or until no further liquid drains out.
  5. Thoroughly wash your hands and forearms with soap to remove the risk of contamination. Take the bag of mushroom spawn and crumble it into small pieces. Open the black bag at the top and add the spawn to the substrate. Using your hands mix the spawn evenly throughout the whole of the substrate. An even mixture is critical for fast growth.
  6. Double/triple fold the top of the bag shut and compress the substrate bag to remove trapped air, then secure using the peg or tape. Taking a knife, cut 5-6 X shaped cuts of approximately 3cm across on each face of the bag (or just one face if you plan to grow with the bag in the horizontal position) try to ensure even spacing. In time the mushrooms will grow from these cuts.
  7. Lay the black bag inside the mushroom box and liner. Fold the box liner over to help retain moisture. Close the flaps of the box and weigh them down shut. Store in a warm place, with a constant temperature of 20oC-24oC for 13-16 days (It is critical for maximum productivity that incubation is fully complete before starting the next stage). The kit will require no further care during this period. Incubation is complete once the developing thick white cotton wool-like mycelium has occupied ALL of the substrate.
  8. When ready, move the box to an airy but not draughty location, with plenty of natural daylight but not in direct sunlight. Ideally 18oC-25oC. Open the flaps of the box so that the mushrooms are able to breathe. Leave the flaps pointing up and pull the edge of the liner over them. The decrease in temperature and increased aeration stimulates the mushrooms to fruit. If free from drought, you can place the black bag in a vertical position, in the centre of the box to create more natural shaped oyster mushrooms.
  9. Once the box is opened it is critical that the mushrooms do not dry out. Spray into the holes with water twice a day, but not excessively (this may encourage unwanted mould growth). It is also good practice to spray the growing environment created by the white liner. This maintains air humidity, something that mushrooms love! When the young mushrooms (known as pins) begin to force their way through the bag, increase this to watering three times a day, but do not spray the mushroom directly.
  10. In 10-30 days you will be enjoying your first flush! The growth rate will vary depending on environmental conditions, but they may double in size every 24hrs. When fully mature, they will curl up at the edges, trying to harvest just before this stage.

    In order to harvest, twist the clump one complete turn, rather than pulling. Do not cut the mushroom as the remaining stump may encourage rot.

    12) You will find that many pins are produced, but some will abort. Harvest only healthy and fresh looking mushrooms. Do not eat aborted or old mushrooms as they are inedible.
  11. After harvest, continue care as described in steps 8-12. Your next flush should occur 10-20 days later. The kit should produce 4 or even 5 flushes, but they are likely to get progressively weaker. If your flushes do not occur, see point 4 in troubleshooting.
  12. Once the kit is exhausted, add it to your compost pile and you may be rewarded with an extra flush!

CHECK OUT THE TUTORIAL

Mushroom Cooking Guide

How To Use Your Mushrooms

Prior to cooking, oyster mushrooms should be prepared by removing the tough stem ends as these are extremely chewy. However, these are great for making mushroom stock!

Oyster mushrooms are best eaten fresh. However, you can store them in the fridge for several days. If you would like to store long term, then drying is best!

They are best cooked either low and slow for a texture similar to chicken or in a hot pan with oil or butter until crispy. Some top rated dishes include; Pink Oyster Mushroom Pasta, Pink Oyster Mushroom Rolls and Pink Oyster Mushroom Stir Fry.

When you think they are done, cook them some more!

FAQs

During the fruiting stage, Insufficient air circulation will result in misshaped mushrooms with long stems and thin caps. If this occurs, remove the deformed mushrooms and move to a better ventilated location.

Lack of light in the fruiting stage can cause coral-like growths instead of mushrooms. The light intensity and temperature will directly impact the colour intensity of the mushrooms. We recommend placing them in indirect sunlight such as on top of a high bookshelf.

Be careful not to overwater your mushrooms. We recommend spraying them once or twice a day to make sure they have moisture but ensure they aren’t sitting in standing water – this will encourage mould and rot.

If 30 days after opening the box (step 8) your kit hasn’t produced mushrooms, it may be because your ambient temperature is too high. In this situation, we recommend placing your kit in the fridge for 24hrs to provide cold shock and trigger fruiting.

Oyster mushrooms produce a lot of spores. These have been known to cause allergies in some people. Picking mushrooms before they mature minimises the risk of a reaction. Do not consume if a different species has grown or the mushroom fruit has gone bad. Please take sterilisation and cleanliness seriously to avoid contamination. This is the most likely cause of the failure of your kit. If you see mould or unrecognisable growth, do not consume.

For extra support, hints and tips. You can register for free to the Urban Farmer members’ area of the website.

DEMONSTRATION IMAGES

Healthy Mycelium development. Ready for fruiting.

Healthy mycelium development. Ready for fruiting.

Healthy spawn at different stages of development.

Suitable orientation for incubation.

Suitable orientation for fruiting.

Contamination with mould.

Contamination with another mushroom variety. DO NOT EAT!