Mushroom Network Countertop Fruiting Chamber Kit - Terracotta Base, Grey Oyster

Description

The Mushroom Network Countertop Fruiting Chamber Kit - Terracotta Base, Grey Oyster 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 Grey Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) are the most common type of oyster mushroom and can be found across the world. This species is very forgiving to cultivate, and a great option for beginner home growers. When the mushrooms first start pinning, they're a lovely dark grey-blue colour that then fades to a light grey as they mature. These mushrooms like a lot of air exchange and will grow large caps under the right conditions. When starved of fresh air, they stretch and produce longer stems rather than big fan-like caps (you want to avoid this as the stems tend to be quite tough).

They are found either in clusters of smaller mushrooms, or as individual larger mushrooms, with broad, thin, fan shaped caps and crowded gills underneath that run most of the way down the stem. Grey Oyster mushrooms have a slightly sweet taste, with a woodsy characteristic. Compared to the shiitake mushroom, they have a milder and more tender flavour profile. They are versatile and can substitute well into many mushroom recipes. They are a fantastic meat replacement in stir-fries. In preparation, the stems of these mushrooms should be cut away, as they are tough even when cooked. Grey Oyster mushrooms go particularly well in egg dishes like omelettes or quiches and are a delicacy often used in Japanese, Korean and Chinese cuisine.

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 is 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!


Grey Oyster Harvesting Instructions:


Like the other oyster mushroom species, these mushrooms should be harvested just before the edges of the caps start to curl up. A good sign to watch for is for the curling up of the cap edges on the largest mushrooms in the cluster, as soon as they do this, harvest straight away.

- Grey oysters should be harvested all at once in their clusters.
- 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

Grey Oyster

• Easy to use and harvest
• Thicker and softer stem
• Meat substitute
• Mushroom is versatile

Specifications

Package Content

• 1 x Terracotta base
• 1 x Grow stick, grey oyster
• 1 x 50g Bag of Perlite