Here at North Spore, our story began with a simple yet powerful idea: growing a consistent supply of Blue Oyster mushrooms in humble containers. Those early bucket-grown harvests were the roots of our passion and business here in Portland, Maine. Now, we're making this method accessible for everyone with the 'MushBucket' Mushroom Bucket Grow Kit.
Whether you're just starting your fungi adventure or you're a seasoned gardener / grower looking for a reliable method, this kit is designed for simplicity and consistent results. It's built on the very techniques that helped us grow from a small farm to a leading mushroom supply company.
Your MushBucket Kit includes:
Each MushBucket comes with everything you need to grow mushrooms in buckets:
• 1 Pre-Drilled, Food-Grade 5-Gallon Bucket: This is your primary growing vessel, ready to go right out of the box. The pre-drilled holes are perfectly sized for mushroom fruiting and optimal airflow, designed to minimize contamination risks and keep your substrate from drying out too fast.
• 1 Bag of Chopped Straw: This is your mushroom's primary food source, shredded to the ideal size for rapid colonization by the mycelium.
• 1 3lb Bag of Premium Mushroom Grain Spawn: This is the heart of your kit! You can choose from vigorous strains like Blue Oyster, Snow Oyster, Pink Oyster, or Italian Oyster. These varieties are known for their fast growth, consistent yields, and delicious flavors, making them perfect for beginners and trusted by commercial growers.
• 1 Burlap Sack: Ideal for containing your straw during substrate preparation and helping to maintain humidity.
• 1 Bungee Cord: For securing your burlap sack during drainage and hanging.
• Comprehensive Instructions: A detailed guide to walk you through every step of the process
How to set up your MushBucket
This kit simplifies the entire mushroom cultivation process, from preparing your substrate to harvesting your delicious fungi. You'll just need to grab your own stock pot for pasteurization.
Prep your straw
Mushrooms thrive on clean organic material, so the first crucial step is to prepare your straw by pasteurizing it. This process significantly reduces competing molds and bacteria, giving your fungi the upper hand. The kit includes everything needed for two reliable pasteurization methods.
Hot water pasteurization
1. Stuff all the provided chopped straw into the burlap sack and tie it closed.
2. Place the burlap sack into a 16-quart/liter pot.
3. Add a weight (like a cast iron lid or a pot filled with water) on top to keep the sack submerged.
4. Fill the pot with water until the straw is fully covered.
5. Heat the water to about 180°F (82°C) and maintain a low simmer for one hour.
6. Turn off the heat, carefully remove the weight, and very carefully remove the hot burlap bag.
7. Hang the bag using the bungee cord in a clean area to drain and cool for at least two hours (or overnight).
High pH cold water (lime) pasteurization
1. Stuff the straw into the burlap sack and tie it shut.
2. Choose a vessel, like a 16-liter pot, large enough to submerge the straw sack.
3. Fill the container with enough clean, cold water to fully cover the straw sack.
4. Slowly add hydrated lime to the water, stirring as you go, until the pH reaches approximately 12.5. (You'll need a pH meter for this.)
5. Submerge the straw-filled burlap bag, weighing it down with a cinder block or other clean weight.
6. Let the straw soak overnight, for at least 12 hours, to complete the pasteurization process.
7. Remove the bag from the water and hang it to drip dry for 12 to 24 hours. Your straw should be sufficiently hydrated and pasteurized when it feels moist but you can only squeeze out a drop or two of water.
How to inoculate your MushBucket
Once your pasteurized straw has cooled and drained to the ideal moisture level, it's time to introduce your mushroom spawn:
1. Thoroughly clean and sanitize your 5-gallon bucket using warm water and soap, or a 70% isopropyl alcohol solution.
2. Gently break up the grain spawn in its bag by kneading it. Then, cut open the top of the spawn bag.
3. Begin filling your bucket by creating alternating layers: start with approximately 1-2 inches of the pasteurized straw at the bottom, spread it loosely (do not compress tightly).
4. Evenly sprinkle a small portion of your grain spawn over the straw layer.
5. Repeat these layers (straw, then spawn) until the bucket is full. You may need to gently push down the straw to fit it all, but avoid compacting it too much – you want some air pockets.
6. Once full, cap the bucket. If you have any leftover spawned straw, experiment by putting it into smaller containers!
Colonization
Now the mycelium takes over!
• Place your inoculated bucket out of direct sunlight, ideally somewhere cool (between 30-75°F / -1 to 24°C). Check the specific temperature requirements for your chosen mushroom species.
• To prevent drying out, you can drape an opaque trash bag loosely over the bucket or place it in a grow tent. This helps retain humidity while allowing the mycelium to breathe.
• During this stage (10-21 days, or about 2 weeks), the mycelium will colonize the straw, often generating warmth. Ensure proper spacing if stacking multiple buckets to avoid overheating. A sweet, anise-like smell indicates healthy oyster mushroom mycelium.
• You may notice fungus gnats, but they won't kill your mushrooms. Micropore tape over the holes can help if they persist.
• Success is signaled by the appearance of "pins" – small clusters of mushroom-shaped structures poking through the holes. Fruiting has begun!
Fruiting
Once pinning begins, provide the right environment for your mushrooms to mature:
• For outdoor fruiting, place your bucket in a well-shaded, low-wind area like a deck corner or open shed.
• Crucially, prevent the pins from drying out – mist them a few times daily. A loose plastic bag draped over the bucket can help if it's too windy.
• Full-sized mushrooms can appear in less than ten days after pinning. Optimal fruiting for most oysters occurs between 50-80°F (10-27°C).
Harvesting
Harvest your mushrooms when the caps begin to curl upwards, just before they release spores. For outdoor grows, harvesting early also helps prevent bugs.
• Harvest whole clusters by slicing them clean against the bucket with a sharp knife.
• Cook them right away, or store them in a paper bag in the fridge for 5-7 days for best freshness.
• Don't throw out your bucket after the first harvest! You can expect 2-4 flushes from your kit.
• Continue to care for it in a suitable shady, humid spot.
• Once your bucket is done producing, the spent straw is a fantastic addition to your garden as mulch, a soil inoculant, or simply to your compost pile.
• You can grab a MushBucket refill kit when you're ready to start again!
Seasonality and growing indoors
The MushBucket's versatility lets you adapt to both indoor and outdoor cultivation. When growing outside, success hinges on knowing your oyster mushroom strain's preferred temperature to match it with your local climate and weather conditions. Depending on your situation, you can bring your MushBucket indoors as long as you maintain consistent humidity and fresh air exchange to ensure healthy mushroom development in a controlled environment like a BoomRoom II tent.
Seasonality
• Spring & Fall (Ideal): Across much of the United States, Spring and Fall offer the perfect balance of moderate temperatures and natural humidity, which many oyster varieties love. If growing your MushBucket outdoors during the “shoulder” seasons, place in a well-shaded, low-wind area like a deck corner or inside an open shed.
• Summer (Warm-Weather Strains): Some oyster varieties, like Pink Oysters, thrive in warmer conditions. For other strains during hot spells, prioritize deep shade and consistent moisture. You might need to mist your bucket more frequently or drape a loose plastic bag over it to maintain humidity and prevent pins from drying out. If temperatures get extreme, consider moving your bucket to a cooler, shadier spot, or even temporarily indoors. Across the South and Southwest, summers are often too hot for most oyster species and consideration should be given to growing indoors during periods of extreme heat.
• Winter (Dormant Period): In colder climates, including much of the northern United States, outdoor fruiting will likely cease in winter. You can overwinter your colonized bucket by burying it in mulch or moving it to a sheltered, unheated garage or shed. While fruiting pauses, the mycelium can often survive the cold and re-emerge for new flushes in the spring. In warmer climates, including the South, Southwest and Pacific Northwest, winters are mild and are an ideal time to grow and fruit oyster mushrooms outdoors.
Growing indoors with the MushBucket
The MushBucket's design makes it great for indoor cultivation as well, allowing you to enjoy fresh mushrooms regardless of the weather outside. Using a grow chamber such as the BoomRoom II tent can help maintain adequate humidity and air exchange.
Choosing the Right Spot: Look for a cool, dark place initially for colonization, then move to a spot with indirect light for fruiting. Basements, closets, or even a quiet corner of a heated garage can work well. Avoid direct sunlight, which can dry out your mushrooms.
Humidity is Key: This is often the biggest challenge indoors. Mist your bucket regularly (a few times daily) with a spray bottle. For more consistent humidity, you can loosely drape a clear plastic bag over the bucket, or place it near a humidifier.
Fresh Air Exchange: Ensure your indoor space has enough airflow to prevent CO2 buildup around the growing oyster mushrooms, which can lead to shriveled fruits showing stunted cap growth. Simply opening a nearby window, or having a gentle fan nearby (but not blowing directly on the mushrooms), can help. North Spore's BoomRoom is a self-contained, automated solution for year-round fruiting, controlling humidity, CO2 levels, and fresh air exchange.
Light Requirements: While mushrooms don't need bright light for photosynthesis, some ambient or indirect light is beneficial for proper cap formation and growth direction. A nearby window with indirect light or a low-intensity LED light on a timer works perfectly.
Key benefits of using a MushBucket
Super Simple: With pre-drilled holes and everything included, setup is a breeze – no special tools needed!
Fast & Reliable: See pins in just 7-10 days, leading to quick and consistent harvests.
Versatile: Designed for success indoors or out, whether in small spaces or when stacked and scaled.
Healthy Mushrooms: The shredded straw promotes even colonization and robust growth.
Final thoughts
Growing Oyster mushrooms quickly and reliably is simplified with the MushBucket. Enjoy consistent, substantial harvests like we did in the old days of North Spore, growing Blue Oyster mushrooms from 5-gallon buckets. Whether indoors or out, consider cultivating in a MushBucket for consistent and delicious results!