What are ideal conditions for my mushroom grow kit? Can it grow outside?

Each Mini-Farm comes with detailed instructions outlining the best conditions for growth. They are designed to be grown indoors and do best at temperatures below 70° Fahrenheit.

How many mushrooms will my mushroom kit produce?

Our Mini-Farms will produce about 1 1/2-2 pounds of mushrooms.

Craft kits are meant to be a learning experience and are not expected to produce high yields. You should expect to grow a few mushrooms on your craft kit, and learn a lot during the process!

Can poisonous mushrooms begin to grow on my mini-farm if their spores come in contact with the growing medium?

No. Our mushroom grow kits are inoculated so that the only mushroom that will grow will be the desired species you have selected.

How long can I store my Mini-Farm before activating?

Our shiitake, lions mane, yellow oyster and blue tree oyster mushroom grow kits will hold well under refrigeration for up to two weeks. Pink oysters are a tropical species and should be kept outside of refrigeration for up to two weeks.

Do I open the bag?

Only if you’re growing shiitake! For the rest of the kits, just pop out the perforated part of the cardboard box, and cut the plastic from there.

What is the white patch? Should I take that off?

The white patch is a filter. The filter patch allows the mushroom to ‘breathe’ (exchange air and gases) while preventing contamination of the inside growing medium.

Is the white growth mold?

Absolutely not! The soft white substance that you see is called mycelium. Mycelium is the vegetative structure of the mushroom. Through the mycelium the mushroom is able to absorb nutrients.

What is a mushroom flush?

A mushroom flush is a harvest. In mushroom farming, this is referred to as a ‘flush’! All of the blocks that we sell will have multiple flushes, if the block is properly cared for.

How many flushes can I expect from my block?

With ideal growing conditions, your block could produce 2-3 and maybe even up to 5 flushes! Make sure that your block doesn’t dry out or reach extreme temperatures to have the best chance of multiple flushes.

When do I harvest?

Typically mushrooms signal when they are ready to be harvested by the shape of their caps. Check out the videos above for specific harvest guidelines for each variety.

What are the ideal growing temperatures?

Ideal growing temperatures are between 50-65 degrees Fahrenheit, and mushrooms can survive and thrive in higher or lower temperatures as well, but for best results we recommend not putting your mushroom block in significantly higher or lower conditions. If you want to delay activating your mushroom mini-farm, you can refrigerate it for up to 30 days, except for the Pink Oyster. Pink Oyster are a tropical strain that prefer warmer temperatures and will not perform well after being refrigerated. 

What should I do with my block after it is done growing?

Your block will make a great addition to an outdoor garden as mulch for fruit trees, or as a soil amendment. You can break up the block and spread it around the base of a tree, or put it in a garden bed. With some moisture and shade it will likely produce more mushrooms!