Organic Blue Oyster Mushroom Plug Spawn
Skill level | Beginner |
Grow location | Outdoors |
Spawn shelf life | 6 months (refrigerated) |
Incubation | 6-12 months |
Fruiting temps | 55-75°F |
Best log type | See wood chart below |
Blue Oysters (Pleurotus ostreatus) are a fast colonizer with a strong bluish-gray hue. They produce richly umami-flavored mushrooms with a soft, meaty texture that pairs well with most dishes.
As our most productive oyster strain, they are reliable, cold-tolerant, and fruit prolifically in early spring or late fall. Blue oyster mushrooms also work well with the log, stump, and totem methods.
Note: Dowel may be fluted or spiral. Aside from being kiln dried, our wooden dowels are not treated in any other way.
Blue Oyster wood chart:
BEST WOOD SPECIES* | Aspen, Cottonwood, Tuliptree, Willow |
OTHER SUITABLE SPECIES | Ailanthus, Alder, Basswood, Beech, Birch, Box Elder, Buckeye, Chinese Tallow, Elm Hackberry, Hophornbeam, Hard Maple, Soft Maple, Mulberry, Palm, Pear, Sassafrass, Sweetgum, Sycamore |
AVOID | Ash, Hemlock, Oak |
Ideal project size:
Plug spawn is ideal for smaller projects of 1-10 logs, though some log cultivators will use them for larger projects.
That's not mold, it's mycelium!
Your kit includes plug spawn colonized with mushroom mycelium. It may appear covered with a soft, white, mold-like substance - that's the mushroom mycelium! It is completely normal. The mycelium of some species is more prominent than others.
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To grow on logs using plug spawn, you will need a Drill Bit, Log Sealing Wax, and Wax Daubers.
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Click here to download our pamphlet on growing mushrooms on logs, stumps, and totems.
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Blue oyster works well with the log, stump, or totem method. Colonization is fast and may start producing in 4-12 months, though fruitation is dependent on environmental triggers. They fruit best in the spring and fall and prefer softer hardwoods such as poplar and aspen, though they will also work on maple. For our complete plug spawn pamphlet, click here.
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If you don't plan to use immediately, you can refrigerate your spawn for up to 6 months.
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Blue oysters can easily replace button mushrooms in most recipes and pair well with many cuisines and flavors. Like all oyster mushrooms, they retain water and may develop a viscous texture when undercooked. If you prefer a firm or dryer texture, continue to cook blue oysters until their liquid has reduced and cooked off and they begin to brown.
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If you’re going to consume home-grown mushrooms, make sure to cook your fresh mushrooms thoroughly with heat. If it is your first time eating this species, it is best to start with a small amount to check for allergies, even if cooked.
*Recommendations are based on our own testing. You may have different results experimenting with other wood species.
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Blue Oyster plug spawn
You guys always ship fast, and fill the order to the brim. These plugs were absolutley already growing mycelium like gangbusters. I've got a bunch of sweetgum logs sitting in a small copse enjoying a December rain, with your Blue Oyster spawn plugs newly added. Here's to a great future harvest.
Happy
I’m happy with my purchase
Oysters are here
After seeing some wild oysters and freshly cutting some logs, I was quick to place an order. They cam in almost no time and the inoculation was easy. Looking forward to harvest!
Easy to use
I live in Iowa and after the huge wind storm here I jumped on the chance to get a bunch of large, fresh cut logs. I purchased several types of spawn from North Spore, all arrived quickly and with very active cultures. The plugs were easy to hammer in when using the suggested drill bit size. Covering the plugs required very little wax and I was able to fill a mug and heat it in a pot of warm water. The wax stayed liquid long enough to provide ample time to cover everything. I will update this review when the logs start to fruit but overall, I am very happy with the product.
A quick plug for Northspore
First, the product is from Maine. Being from Massachusetts, I love a regional product...whether for real, or just a thought, it seems like local cultures should stay local. This is my second attempt with Oysters, but first from Northspore. Fruitful communication has the plugs in a recent Red Maple fall...time will tell. They were quick, asking when I was hoping to plug, great communication, and their from Maine. Say no more.