Oyster Mushroom Grow Kit
The Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) is arguably the best beginner-friendly mushroom for aspiring home cultivators. Vigorous and adaptable, it allows first-time growers to experiment with various techniques, substrates, and growing conditions—often with great success. It’s also among the highest-yielding gourmet mushroom species, rich in vitamin D, a natural source of lovastatin and most importantly an excellent source of ergothiamine.
Our Grow Kit offers a quick and simple way to cultivate Oyster Mushrooms at home. The substrate—straw pellets—only needs hydration. There’s no need for pasteurisation or sterilisation. This is also the only reusable grow kit on the market that features a 3L cropping container (see below for reuse instructions).
These detailed instructions are organised into three main stages. Inoculation; Incubation and Fruiting/Harvest. You’ll also find links to other pages on this website for additional techniques and methods. If you still have questions after checking our FAQs, feel free to contact us directly.
— Video coming soon… —
Your Oyster Mushroom Grow Kit includes:
- 100g of mushroom spawn (cultured mycelium on grain) in a grip-seal bag
- Straw pellets (substrate)
- 3L cropping container with four holes
- 10L compostable bag
You’ll also need
1 litre of clean water.
Clean utensil (spoon)
Follow these detailed instructions to get the best results from to Oyster Mushroom Grow Kit.
Innoculation
Step 1:
Start with clean hands—wash thoroughly and use hand sanitiser if available. Remove all kit contents and pour the straw pellets into the 3L cropping container.
Step 2:
Break up the 100g of spawn (while still in the bag), then gently mix it into the straw pellets using your clean hands or ideally a sterile utensil (e.g. a spoon). You are trying to minimise the spawn’s exposure to contaminants during this step so also consider carrying this out in a clean environment.
Step 3:
Slowly pour in 500ml of water. Pause for a minute or so to let it absorb, then add the remaining 500ml. This prevents water from spilling out through the holes in the container. This is just a precaution, so you can add water up to the level of the holes let it absorb then add the remaining water. Once you have added all the water, secure the lid.
Incubation
Now it’s time for the mycelium to colonise the substrate. This stage is called the incubation phase or spawn run.
Step 4:
Place the container into the compostable bag and loosely fasten the top with the elastic band. Don’t seal it —passive gas exchange is essential. The bag protects against contaminants and moisture loss.
Step 5:
Store the kit in a dark, warm place with a steady temperature between 18–24°C. A clean, dry airing cupboard is ideal. Avoid temperature fluctuations as they can cause condensation and invite contamination. A good alternative is the top-rear of a fridge, where gentle warmth is consistent.
Fruiting and Harvest
Step 6:
After 2–3 weeks, remove the compostable bag and move the kit to a cooler, more humid space out of direct sunlight. This is the trickiest part for home growers, as typical indoor environments aren’t ideal for fruiting.
Humidity is key to prevent mushrooms from drying out. Misting daily with a hand spray bottle is the simplest method for beginner home growers but not the best practice. For improved results, consider using a Shotgun Fruiting Chamber. They are easy to make and here is our guide to making one: Shotgun Fruiting Chamber.
Step 7:
Within a few days, small pins (baby mushrooms) will appear. These rapidly grow into full-sized mushrooms. Harvest just before the edges of the caps flatten or curl up. Gently twist to remove, taking some substrate with them if necessary.
Second Flush (and Beyond)
After harvesting, the block will rest and fruit again for a second flush. However, after your first flush the substrate will likely shrink and begin pinning inside the container. This isn’t ideal as the fruit bodies will not have space to fully develop. At this point, you can remove it from the bucket (it should come out like a cake) and place it on a tray, plate, or the container lid. Continue misting. However, as the whole surface of the substrate is exposed it really is best to place it into a humid environment. A Shotgun Fruiting Chamber works especially well for this method of obtaining second flushes with your Grow Kit. They are easy to make and here our guide to making one: Shotgun Fruiting Chamber.
Culturing
You can propagate a culture of this Oyster Mushrooom strain very easily by creating **cardboard spawn from the base of harvested stems. This can then be used to inoculate more substrate, either more straw pellets or you could use spent coffee grounds and keep your growing cycle going. Here is our guide to making cardboard spawn: Cardboard Spawn
Reusing Your Grow Kit
We’re committed to reducing single-use plastics, which is why our grow kit uses a reusable cropping container.
Before reusing:
- Clean the container thoroughly with hot soapy water
- Wipe it down with alcohol or antibacterial spray
You can use straw pellets, or try chopped straw (pasteurised or lime-treated), you can grow oysters on cardbaord or if you a re a coffee drinker then why not use you spent coffee grounds? You’ll need new spawn (you can’t use the spent substrate from your grow kit). You can purchase more spawn from us or other suppliers or use your own cardboard spawn.
Coffee drinkers might try our coffee digester technique, which uses cardboard spawn to inoculate spent coffee grounds. Here is our guide for using spent coffee grounds.
We hope this kit serves as your gateway into the world of mushroom cultivation. Explore our website for more guides, methods, and mushroom varieties. We also run Introduction to Mushroom Cultivation weekends in a secluded woodland setting with an off-grid lab, processing unit, and grow rooms.
Final Tips for Success
- Use clean hands and inoculate in a clean indoor space when handling the substrate and spawn to avoid contamination.
- Be patient—mushrooms take time, but the results are worth it!
- Keep the environment stable— constant temperature is best during incubation and avoid moving the kit too much during incubation.
If you still have questions checkout our FAQs page or get in touch with us by email.
And of course enjoy your homegrown mushrooms! Let’s not forget to eat the Oyster Mushrooms you grow!
Eating
Freshly harvested mushrooms are best enjoyed right away, though they store in the fridge for 2–3 days. You can also dry them in a dehydrator and store them in an airtight container.
Our favourite, basic cooking method for oyster mushrooms:
- Slice the mushrooms and place them in a hot pan without oil. Add a pinch of salt and, optionally, a splash of hot water to prevent sticking. Cook until the water evaporates and the mushrooms begin to brown.
- Remove mushrooms from the pan. Add butter and heat until it browns, or oil, just be sure it is heated to optimum temperature for the type of oil.
- Return mushrooms to the pan. Add seasoning, garlic, or herbs—rosemary or thyme is particularly good. When sizzling, splash in soy sauce or tamari. Serve immediately.
You can then add this to any appropriate dish.
Here’s a couple of other good recipes:
Vegan Fried Chicken
Vegan Schwarma
