Oyster Mushroom Kit Instructions

Oyster Mushroom Kit Instructions

Our mushroom kits come fully colonised with mushroom mycelium and are ready to grow. They must be opened within four weeks of receiving. For best results, open immediately otherwise store the bag in the fridge for up to two months.  Note, pink oyster must not be stored in the fridge and recommended to fruit straight away

 

Snow White Oyster mushrooms ready for harvest

 

GROWING MUSHROOMS:

 

  1. Place the kit indoors in an area with good ventilation and indirect sunlight. Remove the front cardboard panel. Cut an “X” into the plastic bag underneath using a clean, sharp knife. Up to 10cm is ideal or corner to corner of the cardboard cutout. 

  1. Use the included mister to mist the area where you cut a “X’ by gently lifting the plastic flaps of the "X" and spray the area underneath. When misting, give 3 to 4 sprays at a time. Aim to do this at least twice a day. The idea is to keep the area where the mushrooms will grow moist so if it starts to look dry, feel free to water.

  1. Once you see little mushroom pins appearing, you can mist them more often – they love water! As they grow you will even be able to watch how the mushrooms absorb water right in front of your own eyes.

  1. Harvest the mushrooms when their cap edges become thin and wavy by firmly gripping the cluster at its base, twisting and pulling it off. It will pop off. You can also cut it off at the base with a knife.

For the best tasting, quality mushrooms, you can look out for the following signs to tell you that your mushrooms are ready to harvest:

  • They are no longer doubling in size daily.

  • The edges of the caps are still curled down but are becoming wavy and thin.

  • When the caps start curling up the mushroom quality starts declining but do not be discouraged as they will still be fine to harvest and eat. 

Mature mushrooms will release mushroom spores. By harvesting the mushrooms when they are thinning and their caps are becoming wavy, you will avoid mushroom spores being released. If the mushrooms release spores onto the surface underneath, they can be wiped away with a damp cloth.

If you have any doubts as to when to harvest, feel free to message us anytime at hello@kaikaifarm.au

COOK AND ENJOY!

GROWING A SECOND CROP (AND THIRD IF YOUR LUCKY):

  1. Lift the plastic under the “X” and scrape away any remaining mushroom stems left behind after harvesting using a clean knife or fork.

  2. (Optional) Remove the bag from the box and soak overnight. Drain and dry the outside of the bag and place back into the box.

  3. Mist the area with water twice a day or more. You want to keep the area moist but not soaking wet.

  4. The grow kit will need 14 days to “rest and repair” as the mycelium in the bag is stimulated to grow more mushrooms. After this rest period, you should see mushroom pins appearing again but sometimes the mushrooms can take up to 2 to 3 weeks to reappear, especially during the cooler months so keep misting even if you don’t see anything happen. The second crop also may have slightly fewer mushrooms so don’t be discouraged by slightly less growth - it is natural as the nutrients in the bag are being used by previous crops.

COMPOST YOUR SPENT KIT:

 

When the grow kit no longer grows mushrooms, empty the contents of your bag into the garden compost. You can also break up the contents of the grow kit and mix it into a shady spot in your garden and you may see oyster mushrooms grow right out of the ground.  

Back to blog

Oyster Mushroom Kit Frequently Asked Questions

Why Hasn't My Kit Started Growing?

Certain kits may require more time than usual to commence growth. As a living organism, each kit operates on its unique schedule. This delay can occur, especially in cooler environments (below 16C) or if daily misting is overlooked, leading to dehydration.

If no mushrooms appear after 2 weeks, soak the bag with the cut side down in cold water for 2 hours. Return to the box to kickstart growth.

If there is still no sign of life after 3 weeks, then please send us an email to hello@kaikaifarm.au with a photo and we’ll work with you to resolve.

Where Should I Place My Kit?

Put your kit in a shaded spot, away from direct sunlight and heat sources. Somewhere with enough light to read a book is adequate.

Warm, dry air or direct sunlight will dehydrate the mushrooms during growth, so avoid areas near an air conditioner, wood burner, or direct sunlight.

A shaded windowsill or kitchen worktop is an ideal location. Near a sink is typically a naturally humid place for the mushrooms to grow.

Think about cultivating them outside under cover or in a shed with a window when temperatures stay between 10C and 30C.

How And When Should I Harvest?

The growth period from mushroom initiation to harvest usually spans 7 – 14 days, with the pace varying based on temperature (quicker in warmer environment, slower in cool or cold).

Harvest the mushrooms when their cap edges become thin and wavy (but before they start to curl upwards) by firmly gripping the cluster at its base, twisting and pulling it off. It will pop off. You can also cut it off at the base with a knife.

Why Are The Mushrooms Turning Brown?

Low humidity in the environment where the mushrooms grow is a common cause of this.

The mushrooms will look dry and shrivelled up and often have a discolouration to them.

If you think it’s ready to harvest at this point, then go ahead and harvest. The mushrooms will be fine to eat. 

Otherwise to increase humidity try to spray more regularly or consider cutting a few large holes in a plastic bag and placing it over the front of the box to create a ‘humidity tent’ for the mushrooms to develop within. 

How Do I Get A Second (Or Third) Crop?

After harvesting the 1st crop, leave the kit to rest for at least 2 days. Then, remove the grow bag from inside the box and place it with the slit side down in a bowl of clean water for at least 2 hours. This will help enable it to soak up some water and to rehydrate the growing medium ready for another crop.

After 2 hours, drain as much water out of the bag as possible, and return it to the grow kit with the top of the bag folded down – this time with the other (un-cut) side of the bag facing out of the window. Cut another 5-10cm X slit in the bag towards the top of the cut out. Continue misting 2-3 times daily with water. 

A 2nd (smaller) crop should begin to develop approx. 10-20 days later (sometimes it may take a little longer). Follow the same process as for the first crop, misting lightly 2-3 times a day until harvest. You can try repeating this process again for a possible 3rd crop.

What Can I Do With The Kit Once Finished?

Mushroom substrate makes a great compost or soil additive. Empty the contents of the bag into your garden and you might even see some mushrooms growing! The box is also compostable, only the bag should be disposed of in a regular bin.