Damon Mcknight
Oyster mushrooms are a delicacy that can be grown in Australia using a variety of methods and substrates. They are one of the easiest mushrooms to grow at home, and they are a popular ingredient in Asian-style cuisines. With their chewy texture and tasty size, oyster mushrooms are also an excellent meat substitute. They are soft, with a bittersweet aroma reminiscent of anise, and a mild, nutty, seafood-like flavour when cooked. This guide will explore the different techniques for cultivating oyster mushrooms in Australia, including the use of grow kits, buckets, and various substrates such as straw, sawdust, and coffee grounds.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Mushroom type | Oyster |
| Mushroom varieties | Blue, Phoenix, Yellow, Pink, White |
| Mushroom flavour | Mild and nutty, seafood-like, umami, bittersweet aroma reminiscent of anise |
| Mushroom texture | Soft and chewy |
| Mushroom spawn | Grain spawn, straw, sugar cane mulch, paper pellets, coffee grounds, hardwood sawdust, wood chips, rice, wheat, barley |
| Mushroom substrate | Straw, sawdust, sugar cane, coffee grounds, wood chips, rice, wheat, barley, agricultural waste |
| Mushroom growing environment | Humid, ambient lighting, no direct sunlight, 14-26°C |
| Mushroom growing kit | Bucket, grow bag, pillowcases, nylon brew bags, food-grade plastic buckets |
| Mushroom harvesting | 6-12 days, pluck the entire mushroom |
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Choosing a growing environment
Oyster mushrooms are one of the easiest varieties of mushrooms to grow at home. They require a humid environment, ambient lighting, and a fairly stable temperature.
When choosing a growing environment for oyster mushrooms, it is important to consider the humidity, lighting, and temperature requirements of the mushrooms. Oyster mushrooms need a humid environment to grow properly. Therefore, it is recommended to choose a growing area that is naturally humid, such as a bathroom, especially if it is used for showers. Additionally, areas with ambient lighting but without heating or cooling systems that remove moisture from the air are ideal.
The growing environment should also provide a fairly stable temperature range. Oyster mushrooms grow best at temperatures between 14-26°C. However, some varieties, such as Pink and Yellow Oysters, can tolerate temperatures up to 30-32°C. It is important to avoid placing the mushrooms in direct sunlight, as this can dry them out. Instead, opt for indirect natural lighting or fluorescent/LED lighting.
The growing structure can be a simple setup, such as a cheap kit greenhouse or a recycled food-grade plastic bucket with holes drilled in the sides, covered with surgical tape to retain moisture. This structure should be placed in an area that meets the humidity and lighting requirements while also providing a good amount of fresh air and daylight.
Additionally, the substrate, or growing medium, should be considered when choosing a growing environment. The substrate is the organic material that the mushrooms feed on and inhabit, providing the necessary living conditions for the growth of mycelium. Common substrates for oyster mushrooms include straw, sugar cane mulch, paper pellets, coffee grounds, and agricultural waste. It is important to ensure that the substrate is compatible with the mushroom variety and provides the proper nutrition and conditions for growth.
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Maintaining humidity
To maintain humidity, misting the mushroom kit with water is a common practice. Mist the kit 2-3 times per day, as this will increase the humidity around the mushrooms as they grow. The misting is not intended to water the mushrooms, as the mushroom block already contains all the water it needs to grow. Instead, misting helps to maintain the necessary humidity. This practice can be done with a simple spray bottle, and it is recommended to continue misting until the mushrooms are ready to be harvested.
Another way to maintain humidity is to use a structure that retains moisture, such as a cheap kit greenhouse or a grow room. In the example of the grow room built by Nick Ritar and Kirsten Bradley, they used recycled food-grade plastic buckets and created a structure that retained humidity while still offering fresh air and daylight. This approach ensures a stable temperature and the necessary humidity for the mushrooms to thrive.
Additionally, the substrate, or the organic medium that the mushrooms inhabit and feed on, plays a role in maintaining humidity. Common substrates for oyster mushrooms include straw, sawdust, and agricultural waste. When using straw, it is important to avoid substrates full of viable seeds as they may sprout. Alternatively, paper pellets or zip-loc bags can be used for indoor cultivation, providing a mess-free option that still allows for the necessary humidity.
Overall, maintaining high humidity through misting, creating humid environments, and choosing suitable substrates are key practices in successfully growing oyster mushrooms.
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Lighting
Oyster mushrooms require light to grow properly. While some mushrooms can grow without light, most require some form of light. Ambient natural lighting is best, but fluorescent or LED lighting also works well. Avoid placing the mushrooms in direct sunlight as this will dry them out. An ideal location is hidden among some trees, low to the ground, and with diffused natural light.
Oyster mushrooms require a good amount of fresh air to produce normal-looking fruits. If they don't get enough, they will form long, chewy stems and small caps. They want to be in open air so that releasing their spores will have the greatest dispersal potential. If they sense that CO2 levels are high, they will put more energy into growing long stems to escape into the open air. It can be difficult to get enough fresh air in an indoor grow room while maintaining adequate humidity.
Oyster mushrooms grow best at temperatures between 14-26°C, while varieties such as the pink and yellow oyster can grow at temperatures up to 30-32°C. Lower temperatures overnight may produce thicker, meatier mushrooms. Growing outdoors produces nicer clusters, but the mushrooms are more susceptible to bugs.
To maintain humidity, mist the mushrooms 2-3 times per day with a spray bottle. The goal is to increase the humidity around the mushrooms as they grow. Different varieties grow at different speeds, and the average temperature the block is exposed to will affect the speed.
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Substrates
The substrate is the organic medium that oyster mushrooms feed on and inhabit. It must provide the right nutrition and living conditions for the growth of mycelium. Common substrates include straw, sawdust, and agricultural waste. When choosing a substrate, it is important to consider the specific needs of the mushroom variety being grown. For example, certain mushrooms may be picky about the type of substrate they prefer.
One popular substrate for growing oyster mushrooms is straw. It is a good option for those who want to avoid the itchiness and mess of handling straw. Sugar cane mulch is another option that is cheap and accessible in some areas. However, it is important to avoid substrates full of viable seeds as they may sprout.
Coffee grounds can also be used as a substrate for oyster mushrooms. They are highly nutritious when prepared correctly and can be reused, allowing you to turn waste into food.
For those looking for a more challenging option, hardwood substrates such as lion's mane, reishi, and turkey tail are suitable for growing oyster mushrooms. These substrates require pasteurisation and sterilisation, and the amount of grain spawn needed to inoculate them must be carefully considered.
Grain spawn is another option for growing oyster mushrooms. It is made from sterilised grains that have been inoculated with a live mycelium culture. Grain spawn provides a lot of energy for mycelium to consume and can be a successful option in a controlled environment.
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Harvesting
Oyster mushrooms can be grown in recycled food-grade plastic buckets, gleaned from local cafes, or in ready-made mushroom grow bags, or buckets. The substrate, or growing medium, can be straw, sawdust blocks, lime, and water. The substrate must provide the right nutrition and living conditions for the growth of mycelium.
Once the mushrooms are ready to be harvested, it is recommended to pluck the entire mushroom directly from the mushroom kit. The mushrooms should be misted 2-3 times per day until they are ready to harvest. Different varieties grow at different speeds, and there is no exact timeframe as the average temperature the block has been exposed to will affect the speed.
Oyster mushrooms can be grown all year round and are considered one of the easiest varieties of mushrooms to grow. They can be cultivated on straw or agricultural waste, and even freshly used coffee grounds.
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Frequently asked questions
Oyster mushrooms require a humid environment with ambient lighting and temperatures between 14-26°C. Choose somewhere without heating or cooling systems that remove moisture from the air.
Oyster mushrooms can be grown on straw, sugar cane mulch, paper pellets, or recycled Australian hardwood sawdust.
The best time to harvest oyster mushrooms is right before the margin of the cap begins to lift.
Mist the mushrooms with water 2-3 times per day to increase humidity.
