Organic Chestnut Mushroom Grain Spawn

$29.99

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Our USDA-certified organic chestnut (Pholiota adiposa) grain spawn features a popular strain widely cultivated in Japan. Mushrooms are velvety with small-to-medium, delightfully speckled caps resembling the color of their namesake nut. When cooked, they have a woodsy aroma, a crunchy texture, and a rich, nutty, mildly-sweet flavor.

Chestnuts can be a bit finicky, but generally grow well indoors. They prefer cooler temperatures and are prone to drying out or stopping their growth if humidity is not maintained when the mushrooms are still in their early stages. However, when they grow successfully you can expect significant and commercially-viable harvests. Note that chestnuts do not reliably produce subsequent flushes.


Recommended use:

  • Chestnut grain spawn can be used for indoor production using sawdust-based sterile substrate.
  • Do not use grain spawn for log inoculation.
  • This is not a mushroom grow kit. Chestnut grain spawn must be combined with a substrate in order to fruit.

Upon receiving your spawn:

Remove it 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!

Scroll down for specifications, growing, and storage guides.

Specifications
  • Weight: Approximately 6 lbs
  • Hydration: Average of 47%
  • Bags: Gusseted 2.2 mil polypropylene
  • Filter: High efficiency .2 micron
  • Inoculation Rates: 6 lb. bag of grain will inoculate between 120-165 lb. sterilized sawdust
  • Sterilization method: Commercial grade autoclave sterilized
Temp, Humidity & CO2 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.
Indoor cultivation

Chestnut mushroom grain spawn can be mixed into sterilized hardwood sawdust to create chestnut substrate blocks.

Note: Grain spawn must be mixed with bulk substrate before you can fruit it. If you are new to growing mushrooms, we recommend purchasing a book on mushroom cultivation.

Recommended reading:

'Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms' by Paul Stamets

'Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation' by Tradd Cotter

Storing

If you don't plan to use immediately, you can refrigerate your spawn for up to 4 months.

Cooking

"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.

Ingredients

Our grain spawn is USDA certified organic and made using organic cultures from our own culture bank. It contains a blend of locally sourced, organic, and non-GMO ingredients from farms in New England and North America.

Cautions & considerations

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.

FAQs

Grain Spawn FAQ

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Frequently Asked Questions

We recommend absolute beginners start with our Spray & Grow Kits, which make growing mushrooms at home super easy.

We want you to have the best possible experience with every North Spore product and guarantee free replacements within 30 days of receipt for any damaged, contaminated, or unusable product.

Absolutely! Mushroom cultivation is a great activity to do with the whole family, whether you'd like to grow indoors or outdoors. If you're new to mushrooms, we recommend starting with a Spray & Grow Kit or a Plant & Grow Kit – both make it easy to grow fresh, organic mushrooms at home.

We are vertically integrated — from culture work all the way to spawn and substrate production — ensuring a quality end product. And our staff mycologists keep up to date on all best practices in our field. Additionally, we have a dedicated QAQC team that tests every batch of grain and substrate before it’s inoculated.

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

Organic by design

Made from organic, locally sourced, non-GMO ingredients.

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