Organic Chestnut Mushroom Grow Kit Fruiting Block

1-Pack
$29.99

Our Certified Organic mushroom fruiting blocks make growing your own mushrooms easy. Designed by mycologists and colonized to the perfect level, all you have to do is create the right environment and fruit your mushrooms.

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USDA Certified Organic

USDA Certified Organic

Trusted by 350K+ Growers

Trusted by 350K+ Growers

Money Back Guarantee

Money Back Guarantee

Discover the satisfaction of growing your own gourmet mushrooms with the Organic Chestnut Mushroom Grow Kit Fruiting Block. This ready-to-fruit block brings the highly prized Pholiota adiposa directly to your home, offering a unique and rewarding indoor cultivation experience for beginners and seasoned growers.

Chestnut mushrooms are celebrated for their distinctive velvety texture and rich, nutty flavor. With small-to-medium, delightfully speckled caps, they add an elegant touch and savory depth to any culinary creation.

Our USDA Certified Organic fruiting blocks are designed for simplicity. Begin fruiting fresh mushrooms with minimal effort. Just provide the right indoor conditions, and watch your block come to life.

Each block promises multiple harvests, with an expected first flush yield of 0.5 to 2 pounds. Enjoy fresh, accessible gourmet mushrooms cultivated right on your countertop.

Backed by North Spore's mycological expertise and a 100% Grow Guarantee, you receive premium quality products and comprehensive educational support for a successful harvest.

Elevate your home cooking and embark on a fascinating journey into mycology. Start your organic mushroom cultivation today.

Receiving and Storage

Remove kit from the shipping box as soon as possible. Then, unfold the top of the bag, making room for air space. It's also important to check and confirm that the filter patch is not obstructed. This will help the organism breathe and continue to thrive!

Fruiting blocks should be used within 1 week of receipt. If you don't plan to use immediately, you can refrigerate your block for up to 6 months.

Growing Instructions

For the majority of mushroom species, all that is needed to initiate fruiting (or begin the growth cycle) is a change in environmental conditions -- specifically humidity, light, temperature, and changes to oxygen and CO2 levels.

For best results:

We recommend growing your chestnut block in a fruiting chamber (like a monotub or martha tent) as a controlled environment will decrease the risk of contamination and increase the chances of success. 

Creating optimal conditions:

The environmental parameters for chestnut mushrooms can be found on this page under "Temp, Humidity & CO2 guide" and on page 12 of our fruiting block instruction booklet.

Preparing your block:

  • Wait until the block begins to turn orange within its bag before initiating fruiting.
  • When ready to fruit, tightly fold excess plastic back and place block face up.

How to initiate fruiting:

  • Place the bagged chestnut block in the refrigerator for approximately eight hours.
  • Remove from refrigerator and slice bag with a single diagonal line or with an X.
  • Chestnut mushrooms can be top or side fruited.
  • Place in fruiting chamber until ready to harvest.

Special considerations:

  • Chestnut mushrooms are slow to pin.
  • Color will transfer to lighter colored mushrooms when grown or packaged together.

Harvesting your mushrooms:

Harvest chestnut mushrooms before the veil breaks in order to prolong shelf life; caps will still be cupped. Chestnuts have a short shelf life if harvested when the caps have flattened out.

Growing different blocks together:

With some compromise, many different species of mushrooms can be grown together in a fruiting chamber. First, consider the temperature range of the mushrooms you desire to grow, and second, the CO2 sensitivity. Humidity ranges overlap for the majority of species. We encourage you to experiment with many different groupings!

Troubleshooting:

Having issues with unusual growth, stunted growth, or no growth at all? Refer to pages 16-18 in our fruiting block instruction booklet.

Temp, Humidity, & C02 Guide

Temperature 60-70°F  |  15-21°C
Humidity (Phase 1: Primordia)98-100%
Humidity (Phase 2: Fruitbody)88-95%
CO2 Sensitivity (Phase 1: Primordia)500-1,000 ppm
CO2 Sensitivity (Phase 2: Fruitbody)<1,000 ppm

  • Primordia -  The earliest recognizable stage of fruitbody development. Also known as “baby mushrooms” or “mushroom pins.”
  • Fruitbody - A fully grown mushroom, the reproductive structure of the organism in which the spores are produced.
  • CO2 sensitivity - When CO2 levels are too high, yields will decrease, stems will become long and stringy, caps will be small, and/or growth will halt.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Fruiting block kits are mushroom grow kits, but tend to be larger (5 lbs) and some require a bit more care depending on species. Instead of boxes, they are bagged. We recommend growing them in a fruiting chamber such as a monotub or martha tent set up like our BoomRoom. A controlled environment will produce the best results for the fruiting blocks. And, since these kits are slightly larger, they can produce more mushrooms than our Spray & Grow Kits.

Oyster mushrooms and lion's mane mushroom fruiting block kits are great for beginners because they are reliable producers and require the least amount of effort. Reishi is also great because the mushroom grows in the unopened bag (no special care or fruiting chamber required!)

All kits should grow a minimum of one flush of mushrooms, but with a little patience and skill you can often get a second or third flush depending on the species! After you’ve harvested your first flush of mushrooms, remove any growth from the block and follow these instructions:

⮕ If you have a martha tent or an automated fruiting chamber, leave the humidity and fan running and wait about 2 weeks for new pins to begin forming.

⮕ If you are using a monotub or non-autmated fruiting chamber, open 2x daily and spray blocks generously with water. Try not to expose the blocks for too long to decrease chances of contamination.

⮕ If you don't have a monotub, martha tent, or fruiting chamber cover the block with a humidity tent made from a large plastic grocery bag with LOTS of small, quarter-sized holes. Remove the humidity tent 2x daily and spray blocks generously with water.

Be patient: It's totally normal for it to take longer for mushrooms to appear with each subsequent fruiting. However, if there's no progress after two weeks, it’s a good idea to soak your block.

Soaking your block: Take your block out of the bag and soak in a bowl of cool water. Most species only need to soak for 20 minutes. However, only soak your lion's mane block for 5-10 minutes as these blocks tend to break apart if soaked for too long. After soaking, let the block drain by leaving it cut side down for another 10 minutes or tip it around to let extra water run off. You don't want to leave standing water in your bag, so pat your block dry with a towel before placing it back in the bag.

Note: Shiitake blocks should not be placed back in the bag.

For most species, you should leave the block in the bag for the entire duration of the growing cycle. However, there are some exceptions.

⮕ Shiitake should be removed from the bag before going into the fruiting chamber.

⮕ Nameko should have most of the top of the bag cut off (leaving about 4" of plastic above the block) before going into the fruiting chamber.

Our fruiting block kits are made from sawdust blocks that have been amended with substrate supplements.

Cluster of brown-capped mushrooms with long, light-colored stems against a white background.

Backed by Our 100% Grow Guarantee

Every kit comes with our 100% Guarantee: You’ll get your first flush of mushrooms, or we’ll make it right. With over 350,000 happy growers, North Spore is trusted by hobbyists, chefs, and mycologists alike.

Reviews

  • 5 stars: 41 (93%)
  • 4 stars: 1 (2%)
  • 3 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 2 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 1 star: 2 (5%)
L
Larz Grenier
Beautiful pins

This has been my slowest block of them all so far. However, now I’ve got a bunch of beautiful pins. I’m very excited!

Larz Grenier review photo

Great photo, Larz! If you need help with anything, please reach out.

B
Brandy
Chestnut Mushroom Grow Kit

The chestnut mushrom grow kit was very easy to use and gave us great results!

Brandy review photo

Your grow looks amazing, Brandy! We're so glad you're enjoying the experience.

R
Ray Lewis

Should we really love this product yummy chestnut?

C
Caden
pretty good

they arrived pretty fast and packed really good so far I wood say 5 stars

J
John B
Slow to Flush

These guys like to take their good old time, but from what I've read are worth the wait. I recently put the block in the fridge for 8 hours to see if the cold shock kicks them in gear.

I'm looking forward to trying them!

J
Jason Keene
Very nice

Really good mushroom love it

S
SporeForge Farms
Second time experimenting

The first time I purchased a fruiting block I placed them in a disposable aluminum cooking pan. I was able to get a larger flush for the first time. I as not able to get a second flush after doing that. Even after soaking it some water. I got a second fruiting block but this time I will be just breaking the block up and placing it in my mono-tube this time to see If I can do it again. Experimenting is fun when your just learning the process.

M
Michael
First Flush

This was my first time growing Chestnut Mushrooms.
I learned a long time ago, when growing mushrooms from spawn blocks, take a fork and lightly scratch the block some. It seems the mushrooms always come up in the places that there are scratches.
It did take about 3 weeks before I began to start seeing anything; but once it began, BANG they were up and growing!
My laundry room is humid and they really liked it in there. Also, it was easy to keep the small caps moist by spraying them often so that they do not fan out, crack, get hard, etc...
I am including a photo to show them right before I harvested.
After Harvesting (and frying to eat), I let the block rest overnight upside down to drain itself of any old moisture content. Cleaned the plastic and container, then flipped the growing block over and starting the process again for a 2nd flush on the backside of the block.
I like growing mushrooms this way.
Will be shopping to try some of the other type of mushrooms....

Thanks so much, Michael! We really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. If you need help with anything, please reach out!

Z
Zephren
2nd flush

My second flush is far more productive than my first. Fun and dramatic to grow and very tasty.

Beautiful chestnuts, Zephren! Thank you for sharing!

C
Connor Molloy
Chestnut Fruiting Block

Have been wanting to try these for some time. Took about 2 weeks to pin in cooler temps but got about 2 lbs from first flush by the third week!

Thanks for the great review, Connor. We’re so glad everything is working out for you.

M
Maxwell Weaver
Fun to Grow!

Probably one of my favorite looking mushrooom flushes ive grown, flavor is good and the texture is nice. The pins took forever to mature, but turned out wonderful!

Thanks for sharing, Maxwell! We're so glad to hear the chestnuts worked out!

B
Bryan

Easy

Thanks, Bryan! The team is here to help if you ever need anything.

M
Michael Cox
Chestnut mushrooms

I’m new to growing mushrooms but these turned out great.

Your chestnuts look amazing, Michael! Thank you for sharing.

D
David Stashluk
Awesome first flush

Great block slow to pin but where my boomroom is the temp is a little lower then these guys like first flush is looking awesome

Thanks for sharing, David! We appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. The team is here if you ever need anything.

T
Terry Rush
Amazing

So beautiful and so good for you. What a blessing.

Wow Terry! These chestnuts look AMAZING! Keep it up!

D
Doug Horn
Great Flush!

These were easy to grow and really took off after they pinned! Can’t wait to make these again! Thanks, North Spore!

We're so glad the chestnuts worked out, Doug! Thanks for taking the time to share your experience.

B
Bruce McKay
Yummy

Good fruits

Thanks for sharing, Bruce! Our team is here to help if you ever need anything.

J
Justin
Already pinning!

Great and easy

We're thrilled to hear it! Thanks for your support, Justin!

S
Suraya Haldeman
Delicious

These lovely mushrooms were delicious. They took a little bit longer to grow than oysters (which are rapid growers), but well worth the wait. I made a hot and sour soup with them that my guests raved about. Don’t be intimidated! Give these a shot you won’t regret it. You can see all the mushroom loveliness in the pics.

Your grow looks great, Suraya! We really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience.

K
Kevin Houlihan
Great first flush.

Had a great first flush and the second flush is coming in nicely.

We're so glad everything is working out for you, Kevin! Thanks for sharing!

E
Elizabeth

Clear instructions and quick shipping.

Thanks, Elizabeth!

C
Collet C.
Fabulous mushrooms!

The chestnut mushrooms were slow to pin but once they did they took off!! I used them in homemade miso soup today, they tasted fantastic.

Thanks for sharing, Collet! Your miso soup looks delicious!

C
Collet C
Easier than I thought

I received the Chestnut mushroom in my last subscription box. I had great success with these! They do take a while to pin but I was patient. I harvested today and I've got more pinning already starting in other areas of the fruiting block. I'm going to add them to some miso soup in the next day or two.

Thanks for sharing, Collet! We're so glad the chestnuts worked out! Our team is here if you need anything.

M
Martti Putkonen
Fruitfull

Got as many as could possibly fit. Left for week so froze them. Anxious to eat them

M
Micah Smith
Great producer!

I love growing these. They seem to like it around 65f and 85% humidity for my grow. These blocks regularly produce 1.5-2.25lbs per first flush for me and I like to harvest them before they get to silver dollar size for the best texture and flavor.

Chestnut mushrooms usually take 2-4 weeks to fruit in their first flush. They can ha dle a lot of cooking for extended periods of time. They are a lot more dense than oyster mushrooms and are perfect to add to mushrooms soups and pate.

J
James Lingenfelser
Let's go again!

This is my second attempt growing chestnut mushrooms. They are a little slower than the oysters I've grown, but the harvest is just as productive. First flush was a little over a pound, and after a week of rest, the second flush is already pinning. I think that when harvests decline this time I'm going to try hardwood pellets in buckets (as per North Spores video), and see just how long I can carry them on!
And KUDOS to the North Spore team! Their customer service can't be beat!

R
Richard Duong
Hard but rewarding

This block took about 3 months to flush. It definitely required cooler temperature to be successful. Once it did fruit, it was the best tasting one out of all the mushrooms. Was only able to get 1 flush from this block.

P
Paul Riggs
Beautiful!

These were fun to watch grow. Once sautéed, they had a tender texture and a nice flavor.

K
Kimarie Soule
On my second flush

I had to be patient but now am on my second flush of chestnut mushrooms. So excited to have found success!

A
ANUPAMA

Followed all directions from your online description since it did not come with any instructions, maintained humidity in my Martha's tent but no growth