Chestnut Mushroom Grow Kit Fruiting Block












Skill level | Intermediate |
Grow location | Indoors |
Grow speed | 2 to 3 weeks |
Shelf life | 6 months (refrigerated) |
Flavor profile | Nutty, woody, sweet |
Kit dimensions | 6in H x 9in W x 6in D |
Kit weight | 5 lbs |
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.
“5 of the Best Chestnut Mushroom Recipes”
The chestnut variety is one of the easier advanced fruiting block kits. The first flush yields large beautiful clusters of brownish-red mushrooms. However, it can be trickier to get subsequent fruitings, so attempting a second or third flush requires a little extra work and attention.
⮕ Click for printable instructions
Or, click “Instructions” below for a digital step-by-step guide.
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1) Your chestnut fruiting block is an amended sawdust block that has been completely colonized by chestnut mushroom mycelium. Take the block and place it on its side, exposing a side where the block presses right up against the plastic bag. Take a sharp knife and slice a 5-6 inch slice along the bag, slicing the bag with as little damage done as possible to the block. Gently squeeze out any air left in the bag, take the loose flap without mushroom substrate in it, and fold it underneath the kit. The chestnut mushroom mycelium will sense the oxygen in the air and produce mushroom ‘pins’, another word for ‘baby mushrooms’. This should begin to happen within two weeks of slicing your bag.
2) Mushrooms need proper humidity and ventilation to survive. Place your sliced bag in your BoomRoom or the most humid part of your home and outside of direct sunlight (ie. on a kitchen counter somewhat close to a sink). If you are not using a humidification system, spray the outside of your block near the slice at least once per day.
3) Harvest your mushrooms when they resemble the photograph on this page. Harvest before the caps flatten out and become concave. Mushrooms grow quickly, so when you spot your first mushroom pins keep a close eye on them. The warmer the environment the faster they will grow. Mushrooms should be ready to harvest 5-10 days after pin formation.
4) Harvests usually diminish in size with each consecutive fruiting. We recommend giving your block a one week break from spraying, then soaking your block in cold water for 20 minutes, and re-starting the process of spraying your blocks with water daily!
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Fruiting temps 60-70 degrees F Humidity 88-95% CO2 Sensitivity <1,000 ppm - Fruiting - The phase of growth in which visible mushrooms begin to appear.
- 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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If you don't plan to use immediately, you can refrigerate your block for up to 6 months.
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"5 of the Best Chestnut Mushroom Recipes"
For those who enjoy the distinct nutty flavor of chestnut mushrooms, we recommend frying them up with butter and garlic or adding them to your favorite creamy soup or pasta dish. As with other mushrooms, chestnut mushrooms require thorough cooking. However, given their lower moisture content, they do not require “sweating” in the pan.
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If your home is really dry you may want to make a humidity tent to place over your bag. Simply take a trash bag or other loosely fitting plastic bag, put PLENTY of 1/2 inch holes in it (THIS IS IMPORTANT mushrooms exhale CO2 and inhale Oxygen. They will suffocate themselves if there isn’t adequate airflow! Chestnuts that look stringy or strange are usually growing that way because they need more air!) If you choose to use a humidity tent make sure to spray the inside of the tent once per day to maintain humidity.
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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.
Mushrooms grow spores as they develop. This is a natural means of reproduction. This is when people with allergies or compromised immune systems may want to consider putting fruiting mushroom kits outdoors or in a well-ventilated area. Spores in mushrooms sometimes cause respiratory irritation. In rare cases, spores may also cause irritation for some non-allergic or non-immunocompromised mushroom growers. If you are one of them, it is recommended to reduce the overall spore load by harvesting mushrooms while they are still in their younger growth stages.
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Chestnuts are the best nuts
Be extra patient with these! They require some time to pin and grow through their teen days, but they are worth the wait! Pick them before they flatten and they will last a little longer in the fridge. They like the colder, humid side of the room!
North Spore
These chestnuts are beautiful. Great job :-)

GREAT!
My first time tasting, and growing chestnut mushrooms. I got two nice flushes in my BoomRoom, which I cooked up immediately, and were they delicious! I think I like the stems more than the caps. I broke the block up in a straw bed in a low spot outside, then we got two weeks of heavy rain, and unfortunately, they drowned! Not even North Spore, as GREAT as they are, can control Mother N.ature
North Spore
Beautiful work, James!

These things are awesome!
I managed to get my block to fruit twice! Second time was about half the first which is to be expected. I will be re-ordering these after it gets cooler here for sure. Unfortunately the heat wave here has made it more difficult to fruit the ones that like it colder. I wish there was some sort of mini A/C unit to put in martha tents!

Awesomeness
I followed the instructions and these chestnut mushrooms came out beautiful! I went ahead and documented everything from start to finish. And I am now in the middle of trying to get my second flush. I’m about to soak my block for 20 minutes like the instructions state and hopefully have some more flushes!

GREAT!
My first attempt, and I'd say very successful, growing chestnut mushrooms. Growing in my BoomRoom, they were as easy as any mushroom I've ever grown, and the most productive!

Easy and delicious!
This was my second spray-and-grow kit, and I was so happy with how easy they were to grow and how delicious the harvest was! I mixed the spent block with sawdust after a few weeks post-harvest, and am hoping to keep the mycelium running for at least one more flush.

Incredible
I never thought growing a box of my own mushrooms would be just as fun as moreal hunting! Getting to see the changes in them daily is such a reward. With fungal being very fragile in there environment these Chestnut mushrooms grow better than in the wild, mostly without a blemish!