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Organic Chestnut Mushroom Grow Kit Fruiting Block












Skill level | Intermediate |
Grow location | Indoors |
Grow speed | 2 to 3 weeks |
Shelf life | 6 months (refrigerated) |
Kit dimensions | 6in H x 9in W x 6in D |
Kit weight | 5 lbs |
Fruiting temps | 60-70°F |
Our chestnut (Pholiota adiposa) fruiting block 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. And when cooked, they have a woodsy aroma, a crunchy texture, and a rich, nutty, mildly-sweet flavor.
Chestnuts 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. They can also be trickier to get subsequent fruitings, so attempting a second flush requires extra work and attention.
“5 of the Best Chestnut Mushroom Recipes”
Upon receiving your kit:
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 until you are ready to grow your fruiting block!
Scroll down for guides on growing, storage, cooking, and more.
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For the majority of mushroom species, all that is needed to initiate fruiting (or begin the growth cycle) is a change in environmental conditions -- specifically humidity, light, temperature, and changes to oxygen and CO2 levels.
For best results:
We recommend growing your chestnut block in a fruiting chamber (like a monotub or martha tent) as a controlled environment will decrease the risk of contamination and increase the chances of success.
Creating optimal conditions:
The environmental parameters for chestnut mushrooms can be found on this page under "Temp, Humidity & CO2 guide" and on page 12 of our fruiting block instruction booklet.
Preparing your block:
- Wait until the block begins to turn orange within its bag before initiating fruiting.
- When ready to fruit, tightly fold excess plastic back and place block face up.
How to initiate fruiting:
- Place the bagged chestnut block in the refrigerator for approximately eight hours.
- Remove from refrigerator and slice bag with a single diagonal line or with an X.
- Chestnut mushrooms can be top or side fruited.
- Place in fruiting chamber until ready to harvest.
Special considerations:
- Chestnut mushrooms are slow to pin.
- Color will transfer to lighter colored mushrooms when grown or packaged together.
Harvesting your mushrooms:
Harvest chestnut mushrooms before the veil breaks in order to prolong shelf life; caps will still be cupped. Chestnuts have a short shelf life if harvested when the caps have flattened out.
Growing different blocks together:
With some compromise, many different species of mushrooms can be grown together in a fruiting chamber. First, consider the temperature range of the mushrooms you desire to grow, and second, the CO2 sensitivity. Humidity ranges overlap for the majority of species. We encourage you to experiment with many different groupings!
Troubleshooting:
Having issues with unusual growth, stunted growth, or no growth at all? Refer to pages 16-18 in our fruiting block instruction booklet.
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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.
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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 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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- Reviews
- Questions
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My new favorite mushroom
These things are delicious! I threw some into the pressure cooker along with a roast and they had the best texture. So far I have been successful in getting second and third flushes.

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!