I was lucky enough to get 2
oyster mushroom kits for Christmas, now I say lucky but I must point out I have
in the past had terrible luck with mushroom kits (from a garden centres) so my
expectations weren’t high. I was really
impressed with the ethos of the company that provided the kits, they’re a
social enterprise based in the West Country and they recycle tonnes of coffee
grounds and waste cardboard to make the kits, they collect used grounds from
cafes in Plymouth thus keeping them out of landfill. The company is also keen
to pass on its knowledge and offers training advice and equipment to other
people wanting to emulate their operation.
The kit was simple to use, it
consists of a plastic bag inside a box with an aperture. The mushroom spawn and the substrate are in
the bag and have been part grown ready for fruiting; you just open the box, cut
a hole in the bag, spray with water each day and watch them grow!
We got the
first crop about two weeks later; there were 7 mushrooms about the size of a
saucer weighing 20 ounces. The kit is then turned around and you begin again,
we got 4 mushrooms in the second crop weighing ten ounces. After the second crop the kit can be
composted but I am conducting an experiment, I have mixed the spent substrate
with sterile coffee grounds, straw and cardboard kept it
damp and the mycelium appears to be spreading to the new material once it is
fully colonised I hope it will produce more mushrooms. If the experiment works I should theoretically
be able to continually divide the substrate add new material and produce fresh
flushes of delicious mushrooms, I will report back my findings
You can purchase a kit here:
If this experiment works (and I see no reason why it shouldn't) you would be able to get a continual supply of mushrooms for a minimal investment (even better in your case as this was a gift).
ReplyDeleteSounds like a brilliant plan. I look forward to seeing how you get on with the next batches.
Sue xx
The mycellium is running(spreading) to the new material so fingers crossed
DeleteThey taste fantastic too very meaty and hold their shape well would make an excellent mushroom strogonoff
ReplyDeleteI was interested to read this; I love oyster mushrooms and we've grown some with mushroom dowels and logs. Like you, I've not been impressed with the garden centre kits, but these ones you have (and the company) sound very good.
ReplyDeleteapparently spawn only has a shelf life of 14 days if not kept in a fridge so it would seem garden centre kits are pretty much dead before you buy them
DeleteI'd be interested in this too.
ReplyDeleteHow do you get sterile coffee grounds? We generate a coffee ground mountain and it would be great to be able to use them for something productive.
If they go through a professional machine or percolator they are sterilised with the boiling water/steam used in the coffee making process. I have got my local shop save me a couple of days worth of grounds which filled a big trug type bucket!
DeleteWow, what a great idea. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteRecommend you do your homework and read books by David Aurora and Paul Stamets. Contamination issues can be avoided but sterilization protacols must be followed. You don't want to take ANY chances with your liver.
ReplyDelete