Blue oyster mushrooms are a popular option among home growers. These mushrooms are known for their beautiful blue-gray color and robust flavor. In this guide, we’ll take you through the steps needed to grow these fascinating fungi for yourself.
Practical Information on Blue Oyster Mushrooms
Let’s start with some basic information about blue oyster mushrooms and how they’re grown.
What is a substrate?
A substrate is the material that mushrooms grow on. It is to the mushroom world what soil is to the plant world. Mushrooms grow from a fungal network known as a mycelium. The substrate provides nutrients and physical support to this network.
What is the best substrate for blue oysters?
One of the things that make blue oyster mushrooms such a common choice for home cultivation is that they’re adaptable and can grow on many substrates. However, they perform best on hardwood-based materials. Some commonly chosen substrates are:
- Hardwood sawdust (oak or maple) supplemented with wheat bran
- Straw (wheat or rye) that has been pasteurized
- A mixture of hardwood pellets and soybean hulls
Do blue oyster mushrooms need light to grow?
Mushrooms don’t use photosynthesis like plants do and get by without direct light. However, blue oysters do need indirect light to trigger the formation of baby mushrooms (known as pinning) and as part of the process that gives them their unique color.
How long does it take for blue oyster mushrooms to grow?
The blue oyster mushroom growth cycle is typically 4-6 weeks, broken down into several phases:
- Colonization period: 2-3 weeks
- Pinning initiation: 3-5 days
- Fruit body development: 5-7 days
What is the natural habitat of blue oyster mushrooms?
Blue oyster mushrooms find their natural home in temperate and subtropical forests around the world. They like dead or dying trees and are particularly fond of hardwood trees, like beech and oak.
Benefits Unique to Blue Oyster Mushrooms
The blue oyster is a unique mushroom that offers several benefits to cultivators.
Characteristics of Blue Oyster Mushrooms
The mushrooms get their name from the blue-gray caps that they have when young. As the mushroom matures, the blue fades to a more neutral gray. The broad, fan-shaped caps have a delicate, seafood-like aroma when they’re fresh. They have a meaty yet tender texture that makes them an excellent meat substitute.
Benefits
These mushrooms offer a number of health and culinary advantages:
- High in protein (up to 25% by dry weight)
- Rich in B vitamins, particularly B1, B2, and B3
- Contain immune-boosting beta-glucans
- Provide significant amounts of antioxidants
- Offer natural cholesterol-lowering compounds
- Have potential anti-inflammatory properties
Growing Blue Oyster Mushrooms
Growing kits make it easy for beginners. They provide you with a substrate block that’s ideal for growing mushrooms and a grain layer that gets the mycelium started. You simply need to add mushroom spores. The growing process itself is just a few steps:
- Unpack the grow bag and place it in a clean environment. The bag should be in a cool area with access to indirect light.
- Sanitize your hands and the needle containing the spores or liquid culture and carefully inject it into the spot marked on the substrate bag.
- When the mycelium covers around 60% of the grain layer, gently break it up and mix it with the substrate so fruiting can begin.
- As the mushrooms grow, pay attention to the caps. When they begin to flatten out, the mushrooms are ready for harvest.
- To harvest your blue oyster mushrooms, simply twist the cap and pull the entire cluster off the base.
Growing Savory Mushrooms Starts Here
You can get the supplies you need to grow delicious and savory blue oyster mushrooms at the Monster Mushroom Company store. You’ll find grow kits, spores, and all the supplies you need to get started or to continue your hobby.