Organic Italian Oyster Mushroom Plug Spawn
Skill level | Beginner |
Grow location | Outdoors |
Spawn shelf life | 6 months (refrigerated) |
Incubation | 6-12 months |
Fruiting temps | 65-75°F |
Best log type | See wood chart below |
Italian Oysters (Pleurotus pulmonarius) are thicker and meatier than blue oyster mushrooms, and their brown frilled caps can grow quite large. They have a mild flavor, earthy aroma, and are favorite among those who prefer a sturdier oyster mushroom.
Italian oyster mushrooms are great for beginners because they colonize quickly and are reliable producers. This oyster variety works well with log and stump methods.
Note: Dowel may be fluted or spiral. Aside from being kiln dried, our wooden dowels are not treated in any other way.
Italian 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, Hemlock, Hophornbeam, Hard Maple, Soft Maple, Mulberry, Palm, Pear, Pine, Sassafrass, Sweetgum, Sycamore |
AVOID | Ash, 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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Italian Oysters mushrooms work well with the log, stump, and totem methods. Colonization is fast and may start producing in 4-12 months, though fruiting is dependent on environmental triggers. They fruit best in the spring and fall and prefer softer hardwoods such as poplar and aspen. 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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Italian 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 them 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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Amazing experience! Delicious, heavy yields, fruited on the first year and has been fruiting every year since on my log piles.
I wasn't sure how well it was going to go for me. I have trouble with routines and remembering to care for things like houseplants. But this couldn't have been easier and watching my first mushrooms come and then keep coming, now on my third-year yield has been so rewarding. I can't recommend Northspore and their Italian oyster plugs product enough. They were also very helpful before purchase with questions on my wood of choice and prepping. They grew excellent on freshly cut Ash logs. Still going strong after 3 years. Cutting fresh logs this season to get some more plugs soon! Give it a try!
North Spore
Wow, thank you so much for such an amazing review! We appreciate your business.
I just finished plugging my logs with them. All went well so far, waiting on results now. Service was excellent and instructions were very clear and helpful.
North Spore
We really appreciate the kind review, Joe! Our team is here if you need anything.
Good stuff
Plug spawn arrived in great condition and I used it to inoculate an Aspen log. I decided to make my own incubation tub to let it colonize inside. Hope it works. I bought the drill bit, wax and dauber things from NorthSpore as well and they worked good.
Great plugs so far -- time will tell if we get a good crop!
The plugs came quickly and were packed well. Very little waste, which we appreciate very much. We took down some oak branches and drilled holes and tapped these in with some local beeswax melted to seal each one. We built them as mushroom "towers" and hope to have a thriving, fruitful colony soon!
Easy
Plugs looked great, the instructions were clear and easy!