The Black Trumpet Blog

CVG substrate (coco coir, vermiculite, and gypsum) is a beginner-friendly, pre-sterilized mix ideal for growing a variety of mushrooms, including gourmet and medicinal species. It offers excellent water retention, aeration, and nutrient support, with a simple preparation process that minimizes contamination risks.

This holiday season, give the gift of wellness with our curated collection of mushroom-based products, perfect for wellness enthusiasts. From potent tinctures and capsules to beginner-friendly grow kits, each item is crafted to support immunity, brain health, focus, energy, and overall well-being.

Delight chefs with a dried wild mushrooms with rich flavors, or functional chocolate infused with wellness-boosting mushrooms. For hands-on fun, try the BlocksBox Mushroom Kit Subscription or Lion’s Mane ‘Spray & Grow’ Kit. Pair with the Wild Mushrooms Cookbook to inspire culinary creativity!

For the seasoned mushroom grower, this guide offers five top-tier gifts to enhance their cultivation setup. From the high-tech BoomRoom II Grow Tent and compact Boomr Bin to the portable NocBox Lab Set, each item provides expert-level control and convenience for healthy, abundant harvests. With options like the BlocksBox Subscription delivering fresh fruiting blocks year-round, these gifts are designed to elevate their mushroom-growing experience.

Give the gift of mushroom-growing with these unique kits perfect for beginners! From easy Spray & Grow countertop kits to long-lasting outdoor log setups, these gifts offer delicious mushrooms and a rewarding experience. Options like the Boomr Bin Monotub Kit provide automated indoor growing, while the Lion’s Mane Lover Set adds a wellness twist. These fun, hands-on gifts make it simple to grow gourmet mushrooms year-round.

Let’s explore the top mushrooms to grow on oak logs, including shiitake, reishi, and lion's mane, all of which thrive on this nutrient-rich hardwood. Oak's slow decay and high nutrient density make it an ideal substrate for long-term mushroom cultivation. With practical tips on fall inoculation and spawn selection, growers can look forward to abundant mushroom harvests year after year!

Fruiting block kits provide a convenient way to grow mushrooms at home, requiring minimal preparation and setup. These pre-colonized blocks can be fruited using side- or top-fruiting techniques, depending on the mushroom species. With proper care, they offer multiple harvests, making them ideal for beginners and experienced growers alike!

Here we discuss a number of simple preservation techniques for keeping mushrooms edible for the long term, covering best practices and simple recipes to enjoy the fruits of your labor for longer while expanding your culinary opportunities throughout the year.

Here, we'll discuss the differences between sawdust, grain, and plug spawn for mushroom cultivation and outline how to choose the best option for your project.

We outline 5 of the best mushrooms to grow on logs, including their preferred method of cultivation, substrate, flavor profile and interesting facts about each species

Wine cap, oyster, blewit, almond agaricus, and nameko mushrooms are 5 mushrooms you can grow in beds in your yard or garden this year, diversifying your ecosystem, improving the health of your soil, and expanding your home menu!

Discover the fascinating process of how mushrooms grow, including where and when they grow, and how you can grow your own mushrooms at home.

Wine Caps, Shiitake, and Blue Oyster mushrooms all have one thing in common: they are perfect for beginners and so easy to grow at home. Whether you want to grow indoors or outside, these species are neigh fail-proof - learn more within!

Discover the differences between Martha grow tents like the BoomRoom II and monotubs like the Boomr Bin to find the best mushroom growing method for you. Learn about setup, benefits, and more in this article.

Learn about the health benefits, historical use, identification, harvesting, processing, and recipes for Chaga mushrooms, as well as how to make Chaga mushroom tea!

Indoor cultivation allows you to grow mushrooms year-round regardless of weather or space limitations. Learn how to grow mushrooms indoors with our comprehensive guide - discover the advantages, best ways to grow, substrates to use, and more.

In this article, we cover five of the most common contaminants you may encounter in your mushroom grows including trichoderma and orange bread mold. We'll also offer tips for dealing with contamination and avoiding it in the future.

Sterile substrates are the nutrient source (food) for your mushrooms. But which substrates pair best with which mushroom species? In this article, we will guide you in pairing your mushrooms with the correct substrate. We will also cover different kinds of substrates, how to use them, and how you can supplement them.