Emma Wilson
Oyster mushrooms are a favourite among beginner growers for their resilience, fast growth, and ability to grow almost anywhere. They are also one of the easiest species to grow and can be cultivated in bottles. The number of oyster mushrooms that can be grown from a single bottle depends on various factors, including the type of substrate, spawn rate, and growing conditions. Typically, a bottle can hold around 1 kg of substrate, yielding about 2.2 lbs of oyster mushrooms in a single flush. However, there may not be enough nutrients for a second flush in bottles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Oyster mushroom yield per bottle | 2.2 lbs (1 kg) of substrate |
| Oyster mushroom yield per bag | 2.5 kg (5.5 lb) |
| Optimal growing room conditions | 25 °C and 70% relative humidity under dark conditions |
| Optimal growing temperature | 18°C-30°C (or 64-86 Fahrenheit) |
| Optimal humidity | 70% |
| Optimal lighting | No direct sunlight, but light is a pinning trigger |
| Optimal moisture | Mist your growing environment twice a day |
| Substrate preparation | Add plant-based materials high in nitrogen, such as legume straw or hay |
| Substrate weight | 10 kg (22 pounds) |
| Spawn rate | 300–350 g (0.7 lb or 10 oz) of grain spawn |
| Number of flushes | 2-3 |
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What You'll Learn
Oyster mushrooms are easy to grow
Prepare the substrate: Oyster mushrooms can grow on various substrates, such as straw, sawdust, or even coffee grounds. The substrate provides the nutrients for the mushrooms to grow. You can improve the nutritional value of your substrate by adding plant-based materials high in nitrogen, such as legume straw or soybean hulls.
Sterilize your equipment: Before you begin, it's important to sterilize your bottles or containers to prevent contamination. Boil your bottles in water for about 10 minutes, and make sure your work surface and hands are clean. Allow the bottles to cool to room temperature before adding the substrate.
Inoculate the substrate: Purchase fresh mushroom spawn, which can be mixed with the substrate. For bottles, you can quickly open the bottle in front of a flow hood and add the spawn. Make sure to pack the substrate tightly into the bottles.
Maintain optimal conditions: Oyster mushrooms require proper moisture, humidity, and lighting conditions. Mist your growing environment twice a day with sterilized water to maintain moisture. Avoid direct sunlight, as it can dry out the mushrooms. Provide indirect lighting to signal to the mycelium that it's time to fruit.
Harvest and flush: With proper care, you can expect to harvest around 2.5 kg (5.5 lbs) of oyster mushrooms from a 10 kg (22 lbs) bag after two flushes. The first flush typically yields 60-70% of the harvest, while the second flush yields 30-40%.
By following these steps, you can successfully grow your own oyster mushrooms. Remember to experiment and adjust your techniques based on your specific conditions and substrate choices. Happy growing!
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Optimal growing conditions
Oyster mushrooms are one of the easiest varieties of mushrooms to grow and are known for their resilience, fast growth, and ability to grow almost anywhere on just about anything. They are also one of the most common edible mushrooms in the world.
- Oyster mushrooms require a ton of fresh air. It is recommended to double and even quadruple the amount of fresh air you think they need.
- Oyster mushrooms love oxygen-rich fresh air. In their natural habitat, they are found decomposing logs or organic matter in open deciduous spaces.
- Oyster mushrooms thrive in a warm and humid environment.
- High humidity, around 85% or more, is required for oyster mushrooms to grow. This can be achieved through a humidifier, a fan, or a simple spray bottle.
- The specific temperature at which you will keep your mushroom-growing environment will depend on the species of oyster mushroom you are growing. For example, the blue oyster mushroom grows in cooler temperatures of 45-65 F (12-18 C), while the golden oyster mushroom prefers warmer temperatures of 64-86 F (18-30 C).
- Lighting is important to help signal to your mycelium that it is time to fruit. However, you should avoid placing your mushrooms in direct sunlight as this can prevent optimal growth and even dry the mushrooms out.
- Oyster mushrooms grow on a variety of substrates, including straw, sawdust, cardboard, coffee grounds, and other byproducts of agriculture.
- Oyster mushrooms grow in the wild in response to stress, such as running out of food, or changes in their environment. You can replicate this process by providing optimal conditions for the mushrooms to develop.
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Using coffee grounds as a substrate
Oyster mushrooms are extremely versatile and can be grown on more than 200 different agricultural waste materials, including coffee grounds. Coffee grounds are a great, free source of substrate, especially if you live in a large town or city where waste coffee is abundant. Most cafes will be happy to give you their grounds if you provide them with a bucket and arrange a collection time.
One of the benefits of using coffee grounds as a substrate is that you can avoid the pasteurisation or sterilisation step that is usually required when growing mushrooms in straw or sawdust. The brewing process pasteurises coffee grounds, so you can save time and energy by using them as a substrate.
To get started, leave a bucket with your local cafe and collect the grounds the next day, within 24 hours of brewing. Espresso grounds are best, as filter or cafetière coffee grounds may be too wet. You can then mix the grounds with your grain spawn and place them into growing bags. Note that it can be difficult to mix the grain spawn with the substrate by shaking, so you may need to find an alternative method.
Within one to two weeks, you should be able to harvest your oyster mushrooms. Most of the harvest will come in the first flush, with the second flush providing a smaller yield.
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How to prepare bottles for growing
While many types of mushrooms can be grown in bottles, oyster mushrooms are particularly well-suited due to their robust nature and adaptability to various growing mediums. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to prepare bottles for growing oyster mushrooms:
Choose the Right Bottles
Select clear, 1-2 litre soda bottles made of plastic. Make sure the bottles are clean and free of any labels. The number of bottles you need will depend on the scale of your operation. For a larger operation, you may require a steam sterilizer to fit and sterilize multiple bottles at once.
Sterilize the Bottles
Proper bottle sterilization is crucial for successful mushroom growth. Steam your plastic bottles for up to nine hours at 212 degrees Fahrenheit (100 degrees Celsius) in a steam sterilizer. Ensure that the sterilizer has a temperature gauge to monitor the process.
Prepare the Substrate
Common substrates for oyster mushrooms include straw, sawdust, or a mix of both. It is important to pasteurize or sterilize the substrate to kill off any unwanted organisms. If using straw, cut it into 4 cm lengths and soak it in water overnight before mixing it with other ingredients. You can also supplement the substrate with cotton seed hulls, wheat bran, sucrose, plaster stone, and calcium superphosphate, as per a specific recipe.
Add the Mushroom Spawn
Oyster mushroom spawn is readily available and ideal for beginners. Each bottle should be filled to about 75% with substrate, leaving space for the spawn and to prevent it from being too far down in the bottle. After adding the spawn, tightly pack the substrate around it.
Create Air Exchange Holes
Use a drill or hole punch to create small holes in the bottles, ensuring proper air exchange. These holes will also allow you to quickly add grain spawn to the bottles if needed.
Maintain Optimal Conditions
Place the bottles in a well-insulated room with high humidity (around 80%) and indirect light. You may need a humidifier to achieve the desired humidity level. Maintain the temperature between 55-75°F (13-24°C) for oyster mushrooms. Keep the bottles away from direct heat sources or drafts that could affect the humidity and temperature.
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How to harvest and reuse bottles
Oyster mushrooms can be grown in bottles using a substrate and spawn. The yield from a bottle will depend on the weight of the substrate and the quality of the substrate, spawn rate, and growing conditions. A typical yield is around 2.5 kg (5.5 lbs) of mushrooms from 10 kg (22 lbs) of substrate.
To harvest oyster mushrooms from bottles, you should wait until the mushrooms are mature. Mist the substrate to keep it damp, and fan the mushrooms 1-2 times per day if they are in an area with little airflow. Once the mushrooms are ready, simply pull the cluster off by hand or cut them at the base with a sharp knife.
After harvesting, the mushrooms can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container with a moist paper towel. They will last for about two weeks in good condition. Alternatively, they can be dried and stored in mason jars. To dry the mushrooms, first, clean them with a dry soft brush and then tear them into strips along the gills. The strips can then be dried on racks or in a dehydrator before being stored in jars.
The bottles and substrate can be reused to grow more mushrooms. After harvesting, the substrate bag should be soaked in a bowl of cold water for 12-24 hours to rehydrate it and prepare it for a second harvest. Signs of the second harvest should appear in around four weeks. To extend the life of the kit even further, you can place it in your garden or buy new substrate.
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Frequently asked questions
Bottles hold around 1kg of substrate, which usually yields 2.2 lbs (or 1kg) of oyster mushrooms.
Growers generally only get one good crop of mushrooms from a bottle, as there aren't usually enough nutrients for a second flush.
First, sterilise your bottle and filter lid by submerging them in boiling water for 10 minutes. Clean your hands and work surface with alcohol to prevent contamination. Allow the bottle to cool to room temperature.
Use a sterilised spray water bottle with clean water to mist your growing environment twice a day. Avoid spraying the mushrooms directly and try to keep the container moist.
It is difficult to mix the spawn by shaking the bottle. Instead, you can quickly open the bottle in front of a flow hood and dump the grain in.
