Grow Kit (sporeless oyster mushroom)

Satohuone's Grow Kit allows you to easily grow your own mushrooms indoors. The package includes a pre-incubated substrate of sporeless oyster mushroom. All you need is a spray bottle for maintaining moisture.

Grow Kits have longer delivery time compared to other products, as they are made upon order and it takes time to finish the product. Usually kits ordered from Monday to Thursday will be sent the next Monday, and kits ordered during the weekend are sent on the Monday after the next week.

Grow Kit package dimensions: 12cm x 10cm x 22cm + handle 6cm. Weight approximately 1.2 kg.

Instructions in a nutshell:

1. Open the window and cut an X-shaped slit through the plastic.

2. Keep the slit moist by spraying it 2-3 times a day.

3. Harvest the mushrooms and enjoy!

4. Compost the spent substrate.

It's that easy! However, for the best results, it is recommended to read the detailed cultivation guide provided below.

Grow Kit Cultivation Guide:

With Satohuone's Grow Kit, you'll get mushrooms as long as you remember to keep it moist at all times. Though by following these instructions, you'll achieve the best possible results. At the end of the guide, you'll find answers to frequently asked questions and instructions in case you don't see any mushrooms even after four weeks.

1. Storage, before starting

The Grow Kit contains a living substrate that doesn't last forever. It's recommended to start cultivation immediately after receiving the package. If you can start within a week of receiving the package, keep it at room temperature until then. Otherwise, store it in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 weeks.

2. Growing environment and placement

Mushrooms need warmth, light, moisture, and oxygen to grow. When grown indoors, you don't need to worry too much about warmth and light; normal room temperature and ambient light in the apartment are sufficient (avoid direct sunlight). A slightly cooler porch is also suitable; the optimal temperature is 15-18 degrees Celsius. Oxygen is also sufficient as long as the Grow Kit is placed in an open area, such as on a kitchen counter (avoid heat sources such as ovens or dishwashers). Don't enclose it in a cabinet or shelf. Moisture is the variable that requires the most attention because mushrooms need continuous hight moisture to grow. Satohuone's oyster mushroom is a sporeless strain, so nothing is released into the air from it.

3. Starting cultivation

To start the cultivation, tear open the cardboard box window along the dashed lines. Underneath, you'll see the substrate covered with white mycelium. If there are cracks in the substrate from transportation, let the substrate rest at room temperature for a few days before starting. Use a sharp knife to make a large (5-10cm) X-shaped cut through the plastic into the substrate. Make sure the flaps of the X are separate. Sometimes, the substrate may be tightly stuck to the plastic, in which case, use the tip of the knife to separate the flaps from the substrate. However, always leave the flaps down to better retain moisture in the cut.

4. Moisturizing

Once the X is cut, all you need to do is maintain moisture until the mushrooms are ready to be harvested. A regular spray bottle works for this purpose (the finer the mist, the better). Spray clean water onto the cut at least 2-3 times a day. You'll get the best results by spraying more often, especially in winter when indoor air humidity is very low, you may need to spray every few hours. The most common reason for failing is inadequate moisture maintenance. You can spray the substrate, for example, first thing in the morning, after work, and last thing in the evening, plus whenever you remember or walk by it. However, avoid spraying too much water at once because excess water will just drain and accumulate at the bottom of the plastic bag or cardboard box. A few precise sprays from the spray bottle are enough, depending on the spray bottle. Protect the surface below if necessary.

If spraying multiple times a day seems challenging, you can create a moisture-retaining hood. Make small (about 2cm) holes all over a regular empty plastic bag and place it over the Grow Kit as a hood. Spray the inside walls of the bag with water at least twice a day. If you use a transparent bag, you can easily observe the formation of mushrooms and the moisture level inside the bag. You can also leave the top of the tear window intact and place the hood on it. When the mushroom pins start to grow larger, remove the hood so that the mushrooms receive enough oxygen, and continue spraying directly onto the mushrooms. Signs of lack of oxygen are long stems and small caps, as well as deformed mushrooms.

5. Waiting

Mushrooms usually start forming about 7-20 days after starting, assuming that moisture has been maintained throughout this time. Sometimes it happens faster or slower. It's important to continue moisturizing patiently. If you suspect that the substrate has dried out during the process, continue spraying. In this case, you may have to wait a little longer. Once the mushrooms start to grow, it only takes about 4-5 days until they are fully grown. They still need plenty of moisture until they are harvested. If you don't see any mushrooms after four weeks of starting, and you've been maintaining moisture well throughout that time, see the advice at the end of the guide.

6. The Reward

The wait is rewarded when you see the tiny pins growing into large and delicious mushrooms within a few days, and you get to harvest your very own mushroom crop. You can recognize mature mushrooms by their initially curved caps straightening out. Oyster mushrooms often grow in clusters. Harvest the entire cluster at once by gently twisting it off the substrate. Cut off any remaining substrate, and the mushrooms are ready to be used. You can slice and fry the mushrooms in oil, seasoning with salt and pepper, or use them in various dishes such as risotto, ramen soups, or stir-fries. Note that the stem of the oyster mushroom is firmer than the cap, so it may not be suitable for the same dish. Mushrooms can be stored in the refrigerator in a paper bag for about a week. After harvesting or even before, white "fluff" may form on the mushrooms, which is natural growth and completely harmless. Growing conditions significantly affect the yield of the Grow Kit, but the typical yield (for the first harvest) is 150-300g of fresh mushrooms.

7. After the harvest

Once the mushroom crop has been harvested, you can try for another flush by just keeping on moisturizing. A second crop typically takes 3-4 weeks and is smaller than the first crop (unless the first crop was very small due to unoptimal conditions). A second crop may be more successful if you rehydrate the substrate after the first harvest (instructions at the end). If you don't want to attempt a second flush, you can compost the used substrate, use it as a soil conditioner or mulch in the garden, or try inoculating it into bulk substrate material such as straw pellets and try your luck with outdoor cultivation (from spring to autumn).

What if the mushrooms just don't appear?

Oyster mushroom mycelium is very robust and will find its way to mushroom formation as long as the conditions are right. The importance of maintaining moisture cannot be overstated; the most likely reason you don't see any mushrooms is the surface of the substrate drying out. So, read the guide carefully and follow the instructions. If the substrate dries out in between, don't give up. Continue moisturizing and wait patiently. Patience is key.

If, however, you still don't see any mushrooms growing after four weeks (with successful moisture maintenance), you can try rehydrating the substrate. Remove the substrate from the cardboard box and submerge it in water with the cut facing downwards for 20 minutes. Let any excess water drain from the bag, then put it back into the cardboard box. Continue spraying according to the instructions from the beginning, even though the substrate has just been rehydrated. Follow the guide as usual. If you don't see any mushrooms 4 weeks after rehydration, please contact antti@satohuone.fi, and we'll look into it together.

Enjoy and best of success with your cultivation!