Mushroom Network Countertop Fruiting Chamber Kit - Terracotta Base, Chestnut Mushroom

Description

The Mushroom Network Countertop Fruiting Chamber Kit - Terracotta Base, Chestnut Mushroom is a kit consisting of a mushroom grow stick, terracotta base. A great kit that is both a functional and attractive piece of home decor.

The Chestnut Mushroom, a close cousin of the slimy capped Nameko Mushroom (Pholiota microspora), is a wonderful clustering, wood loving mushroom. They form dense clusters of beautiful shaggy-capped mushrooms with dark orange gills. They are a saprophytic and weak parasitic species that grow on living and dead stems of European beech trees in their natural range. As they prefer cooler temperatures, they take a little longer to mature once they have started pinning. Expect to harvest 7 to 10 days after primordial (pins) have formed.

With Chestnut mushrooms, both the stem and the cap are great for cooking with, although the very tip of the stem can be quite tough. Once you've harvested the chestnuts in their clusters, break them up into smaller clusters of 4 or 5 mushrooms each, and then slice off the very tips of the stems all at once. These mushrooms have a wonderful nutty flavour, similar to the Shiitake mushroom, only milder and with a slightly peppery finish. They are particularly known to keep their texture quite well after cooking, retaining some of their snap, resulting in a satisfying texture for whatever dish you put them in.

Terracotta Base is a ready-to-fruit mushroom grow stick rests on the central pillar of the unglazed base so that it doesn't touch the soaked perlite which sits securely in the surrounding moat. This positioning prevents contamination and maximises the space available for fruiting. The perlite and the absorbent, unglazed ceramic allow for a slower evaporation rate between daily misting. All these factors contribute to maintaining an ideal environment for mushrooms to thrive with minimal care.


Kit Instructions:

Step 1: Soak the 50g of perlite with 150ml tap water. After about 10 minutes, drain off any excess water.

Step 2: Fill the outer ring of the ceramic base with the soaked perlite. Leave the inner circle empty as this where your grow stick will stand.

Step 3: Hang the macrame from the desired place in your home, using the wooden circle at the top as an anchor. Avoid direct sunlight and strong breezes.

Step 4: Place the ceramic base inside the macrame making sure the knots are evenly spaced, and the base is level.

Step 5: Place the grow stick on the ceramic stand as demonstrated in the picture. Remember to position it so that the place where the fruits will come out is closest to the perlite.

Step 6: Before you make slits in the plastic to initiate fruiting, refer to the instructions for how to best fruit your specific variety of mushrooms!


Chestnut Mushroom Harvesting Instructions:

Chestnut mushrooms should be harvested before the cap flattens out, any longer and the harvests' shelf life will be significantly shorter. Harvest them in their clusters, gently twist and pull them, being cautious to not pull out too much substrate. Your next flush of fruits will come straight from the previous fruiting site.

-Wash your hands with soap and water before harvesting
-Lightly grip the base of the cluster and with a twisting and pulling motion carefully separate the mushrooms from the substrate of the grow stick.
-Try not to take too much substrate off of the grow stick.
-Tape up your hole with some clear packaging tape as neatly as possible, with as little chance for air to enter the gaps.

Features

Terracotta Base

• Easy fruiting
• Attractive stand
• Unglazed base
• Ceramic stand designed to provide adequate moisture

Chestnut Mushroom

• Delicate nutty flavour
• Great for pasta, soups and stir fries
• Popular in Japan

Specifications

Package Content

• 1 x Terracotta base
• 1 x Grow stick, Chestnut Mushroom
• 1 x 50g Bag of Perlite