Chestnut 'Plant & Grow' Garden Block

$29.99

Garden with mushrooms the easy way!

Our USDA Certified Organic Plant & Grow blocks are the easiest way to add mushrooms to your garden. Specifically designed to be no-mess and no-stress, you can plant them alongside your veggies in a garden bed or by themselves. Whether you have a single bed or acres of land, these are the product for you. Think of this as the "seedling" of the mushroom world. Just remove the block and plant directly in soil or mulch.

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Experience a taste of Japan in your own garden with our Chestnut Mushroom Plant & Grow TM Garden Block. This USDA Certified Organic strain produces velvety mushrooms with small-to-medium speckled caps that resemble their nutty namesake. Expect a delightful crunch, a rich nutty flavor, and a subtle woodsy aroma that enhances any dish.

Chestnut mushrooms prefer cooler, shaded spots and require steady moisture to thrive—especially during their early growth stages. When planted buried outdoors, be sure to keep humidity high by mulching with straw or leaf litter and watering regularly. While they may take a bit more care than other species, the rewarding first flush is well worth the attention. Multiple harvests are possible but may need extra nurturing.

Receiving and Storage

Remove kit 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!

Fruiting blocks 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.

How to Grow

Chestnut mushrooms are slow-growing and richly colored, with firm texture and nutty flavor. While they can be grown outdoors, they require a bit more patience and care than faster-fruiting species.

How to initiate fruiting outdoors:

  • Wait for color change: Allow the block to begin turning orange within the bag before initiating fruiting. This is a sign the mycelium is mature and ready.
  • Cold shock: Place the unopened bag in the refrigerator for about 8 hours before introducing it to the outdoor environment. This cold shock can help trigger pinning.
  • Pick a shady spot: Find a well-ventilated area with indirect light—beneath trees or along a north-facing wall works well.
  • Bury the block: Remove the plastic bag entirely from your block. Bury the block completely, adding about 1" of soil or mulch on top.
  • Maintain moisture: Mist regularly around the block to maintain high humidity. Be consistent—chestnuts are slow to pin and require steady conditions.

Temperature & humidity:

  • Chestnuts prefer cooler temperatures (ideally 55–65°F), so they’re better suited to spring and fall grows in most regions.
  • Avoid overly hot or dry conditions, which can stall growth.
  • These mushrooms are more sensitive to environmental shifts, so try to protect them from wind, sun, and dramatic temperature swings.

Special considerations:

  • Fruiting may take several weeks—be patient and keep humidity high during the wait.
  • The block may produce a single large flush rather than multiple smaller ones.
  • Pigment from the caps can stain lighter-colored mushrooms or surfaces if placed nearby.

Harvesting:

  • Harvest chestnuts before the veil breaks—this means the caps will still be rounded or cupped.
  • Delaying harvest can shorten shelf life and cause mushrooms to lose their firm texture.
  • Use a clean knife or gentle twist to remove clusters without damaging the block.

Chestnuts reward patience with a beautiful and satisfying harvest—rich in color, flavor, and texture.

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Frequency Asked Questions

It’s as simple as planting tomato seedlings! Just bury the block in a shaded, moist spot in your garden and keep it lightly watered. The mushrooms do the rest—no complicated setup or special tools required.

Choose a shaded, humid area such as under shrubs or in a garden bed that stays moist. Mushrooms thrive in indirect light and cooler, stable conditions. Planting next to leafy vegetables is a great way to keep the mushrooms cool and shaded

You can see mushrooms in as little as 1-2 weeks. The Plant & Grow method is designed for fast results and multiple flushes

Yes! The Plant & Grow blocks are designed for anyone who can grow a basic garden plant. They’re USDA Certified Organic and nearly foolproof for first-time mushroom growers.

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

Backed by Our 100% Grow Guarantee

Every kit comes with our 100% Guarantee: You’ll get your first flush of mushrooms, or we’ll make it right. With over 350,000 happy growers, North Spore is trusted by hobbyists, chefs, and mycologists alike.

Crafted to the Highest Standards

Our mushroom spawn is made to mycologist-approved standards at every step of the way. Starting with USDA-Certified Organic ingredients, we mix each bax of substrate to perfect. We inoculate our products in a custom-built mushroom lab, in clean rooms that have more oxygen exchanges per hour than a hospital operating room. Every bag is carefully monitored for full colonization and the best product is hand-selected to ship to our customers.

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