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Organic Chestnut Mushroom Plug Spawn
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| Skill level | Intermediate |
| Grow location | Outdoors |
| Spawn shelf life | 6 months (refrigerated) |
| Incubation | 12-18 months |
| Fruiting temps | 60-70°F |
| Best log type | See wood chart below |
Chestnut (Pholiota adiposa) is a popular cultivated mushroom in Japan. It produces velvety, small-to-medium, delightfully speckled caps resembling the color of their namesake nut. When cooked, they have a woodsy aroma, a meaty heaviness, and a rich, nutty, mildly-sweet flavor.
Chestnut mushrooms aren't too difficult to cultivate, but can pose some minor challenges with identification. They are not ideal for first time cultivators or those unfamiliar with how to properly identify different mushrooms species. However, this species can be quite rewarding to grow.
Note: Dowel may be fluted or spiral. Aside from being kiln dried, our wooden dowels are not treated in any other way.
Chestnut wood chart:
| BEST WOOD SPECIES* | Aspen, Beech, Birch, Cottonwood, Hophornbeam, Hard Maple, Oak, Sweetgum |
| OTHER SUITABLE SPECIES | Alder, Ash, Basswood, Buckeye, Cherry, Elm, Hackberry, Hornbeam, Mulberry, Willow |
| AVOID | Hemlock |
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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Chestnuts work well with the Stump and Log methods in maple and oak logs. After a 1-year colonization period above ground, Chestnut logs may be buried under 2 inches of top soil. Mushrooms fruit from logs and will emerge from the soil.
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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"5 of the Best Chestnut Mushroom Recipes"
Once cultivated, the Chestnut mushroom has a full flavor that is evoked with thorough cooking. We recommend you use its rich, nutty flavor as a compliment to autumn soups. Chestnut mushrooms work best when sautéing and simmering, and are delicious in a variety of soups, stews, and casseroles.
CAUTION: Be careful to properly identify these mushrooms when harvesting and before consuming. Chestnuts have poisonous lookalikes, so make sure you are familiar with the deadly Galerina autumnalis.
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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.
CAUTION: Be careful to properly identify these mushrooms when harvesting and before consuming. Chestnuts have poisonous lookalikes, so make sure you are familiar with the deadly Galerina autumnalis.
*Recommendations are based on our own testing. You may have different results experimenting with other wood species.
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Customer Reviews
5.0 Based on 11 Reviews
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Z
04/02/2024
Zephren
United StatesI recommend this product
Healthy
3rd or 4th set of plug spawn I have bought from NS. I have to say that the mycelium on the plugs looks vigorous AF, I have no doubt these plugs arrived in peak health. Thanks Y'all
04/03/2024
North Spore
Thanks for the great review, Zephren! We really appreciate your support.
MP
11/09/2023
Mike P.
United StatesI recommend this product
Looks good
Arrived in timely fashion covered in mycelium and ready for logs
100 plugs
11/10/2023
North Spore
Thanks for sharing, Mike! If you need help with anything, please reach out.
CS
06/02/2023
Cheryl S.
United StatesChestnut plugs
The information for planting the plugs was easily understood. We both enjoyed the whole entire process. We are now waiting mushroom growth. Unsure if we will see any this year or not but like our asparagus we plant and wait. See what nature gives us.
100 plugs
LC
05/15/2023
Linda C.
United StatesEasy Inoculation
During this last winter, we lost two very old trees (a mimosa and a curly leaf pittosporum). Though I know these are not typical woods to inoculate, they are both hardwood and I thought I would try. The North Spore Chestnut Plug Spawn made inoculating the wood quite easy, particularly since the pittosporum is still standing (cut to 6’ high). It has been about a month since inoculation and a few places where the wax has dropped off, mycelium can be seen spreading through the trunk. That, to me, is success. Now it is up to Mother Nature.
100 plugs
LC
05/15/2023
Linda C.
United StatesEasy Inoculation
During this last winter, we lost two very old trees (a mimosa and a curly leaf pittosporum). Though I know these are not typical woods to inoculate, they are both hardwood and I thought I would try. The North Spore Chestnut Plug Spawn made inoculating the wood quite easy, particularly since the pittosporum is still standing (cut to 6’ high). It has been about a month since inoculation and a few places where the wax has dropped off, mycelium can be seen spreading through the trunk. That, to me, is success. Now it is up to Mother Nature.
100 plugs
SH
03/23/2022
Samuel H.
United StatesEasy
Plugs looked great, instructions were clear and easy!
DM
06/03/2021
David M.
United StatesEasy Instructions
The instructions were very detailed and really enjoyed your product magazine as it lists lots of details about mushrooms.
L
12/01/2020
Lindsey
Good stuff!
Good instructions and the dowels were COVERED in mycelium so the risk of contamination was low. Quick shipping as well. I love North Spore.
BM
11/17/2020
Ben m.
Great plugs!
Haven’t done anything but stick em in some logs so we will see!
B
11/15/2020
Brad
Chestnut Inoculation
I got my pellets as expected also my wax through North Spore. Once I got my red oak logs, it was very simple to put together. I used a regular drill and found it easy to inoculate my logs. I have been misting every day but will need to do a follow up review next year. However, North Spore has been very reliable and easy to order from.
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