We are here to help you with your pioppino growing journey
Instructions and FAQs are below otherwise feel free to reach out to us at hello@kaikaifarm.au at any time.
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.
Pioppino (also known as Swordbelt) mushrooms are slightly more challenging to cultivate than other varieties, requiring greater focus on timing and careful monitoring throughout various growth stages.
Grow, Harvest, Cook and Enjoy!
Step 1
Find a well lit but out of direct sunlight location. Hint, bathroom or kitchens work well.
Cut a slit across the bag and leave the box lid up.
Hint: they love humidity, a bag with holes over the grow kit can help.
Hint: to clean the knife either soak in boiling water or spray with IPA and let dry.
Step 2
Mist with water a few times each day and watch them grow!
Spray until you see the mushrooms moist but not wet.
Your first harvest should be within two to three weeks.
Step 3
Harvest before the caps flatten out by twisting the whole crop off at the base. Clean up any debris and leftover mushrooms.
Rest the bag for a week and you should see more pins (baby mushrooms) starting to form.
Step 4
You should get another one to two crops.
Hint, try taping up the the bag and cut open from the the other side after the second harvest.
You also can try soaking the bag overnight after the second or third crop.
Pioppino (Swordbelt) 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.