Bloc de mycélium pour la culture de Nameko

Remove starter 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!

Plant & Grow starters 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.

Namekos can be successfully cultivated outdoors, but they require the right environment and a little more care than some other species. In the wild, these mushrooms fruit in cool, moist forest floors—and with the right setup, your garden can mimic those conditions.

How to initiate fruiting outdoors:

• Site selection: Choose a cool, shaded spot—such as under dense tree canopy or along a north-facing slope. Avoid areas that receive direct afternoon sun.
   
• Burying the block: Bury your block in moist soil with a loose covering of straw, leaf litter, or pine needles to help maintain humidity. You can also scratch the surface of the mycelium with a clean fork (about 1cm deep) to help trigger fruiting—just be gentle.
   
• Temperature: Nameko mushrooms fruit best in temperatures below 65°F. Fall or early spring are ideal planting windows in most climates. If summer heat is unavoidable, consider burying the block deeper or adding shade cloth and mulch to help regulate soil temperature.
   
• Humidity: These mushrooms need consistently high humidity, especially during pinning. Water the area daily during dry spells—ideally in the morning and evening—to avoid surface drying.
   
• Airflow and CO₂: Outdoors, airflow is generally sufficient, but avoid enclosed areas where air might stagnate. Pin formation is especially sensitive to excess CO₂ buildup.
   

What to expect:

• Slower fruiting: Namekos may take a few weeks to fruit, especially if conditions aren’t cool enough. Once pins appear, maintain high humidity until harvest.
   
• Harvesting: Pick clusters before the caps fully open. Gently twist or cut at the base and trim off any soil or substrate.
   

For experienced gardeners or those ready for a more hands-on mushroom, Nameko offers a rich, savory reward—and a beautiful amber-hued addition to the shaded parts of your garden.

For the best quality mushrooms, try to adhere to these general temperature and fruiting time guidelines.