Organic Italian Oyster Mushroom Sawdust Spawn

$29.99

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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 a favorite among those who prefer a sturdier oyster mushroom.

Oyster mushrooms are great for beginners because they colonize quickly and are reliable producers. They are also ideal for commercial cultivation, especially when grown on straw.

Recommended use:

  • Italian oyster sawdust spawn can be used for log projects and/or outdoor bed, container, and bucket projects.
  • Italian oyster sawdust spawn must combined with a substrate (like straw) or used in log inoculation in order to fruit.
  • If growing on logs - one bag of sawdust spawn will reliably inoculate 20 logs.

Italian Oyster log 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


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!

Tools you'll need

To grow on logs using sawdust spawn, you will need a Log Inoculation Tool, Log Sealing Wax, and Wax Daubers. 

For larger log projects you may also want to purchase an Angle Grinder Adapter and specialized 12mm drill bit.

Cultivation

Click here to download our pamphlet on outdoor mushroom cultivation using sawdust spawn. Be sure to use clean, untreated products when growing mushrooms outdoors.

Inoculation

Logs:

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.

Outdoor beds:

Click here to download our pamphlet on outdoor bed cultivation using sawdust spawn.

Containers:

Click here to learn how to grow in buckets and containers.

Storing

If you don’t plan to use your Italian oyster sawdust spawn right away, store in the refrigerator. Use within 6 months of receipt.

Cooking

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.

Ingredients

All our spawn is made using organic cultures from our own culture bank. Our sawdust spawn is handmade from a blend of locally sourced, all-natural, organic, and non-GMO woods and supplements from farms and forests 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

Sawdust & Plug Spawn FAQ

Mushroom Spawn FAQ

Log Cultivation FAQ

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Harvest precisely

Sawdust Spawn Frequently Asked Questions

Sawdust spawn is sterilized sawdust colonized with mushroom mycelium. It’s used to inoculate a growing substrate such as logs, wood chips, or outdoor garden beds to start mushroom growth.

It serves as the "seed" for your mushroom crop — transferring live, growing mycelium into your chosen growing medium.

Sawdust spawn is best for outdoor projects like logs, stumps, or garden beds and is slower to contaminate.
Grain spawn is ideal for indoor grows or bulk substrate inoculation because it colonizes faster but is more contamination-sensitive.

Sawdust spawn is mixed or packed into a substrate (like logs or wood chips) to inoculate it. Common methods include:

  • Drilling and filling holes in logs
  • Layering in outdoor wood chip or straw beds
  • Mixing with sterilized sawdust or wood pellets for bag cultivation

Most sawdust spawn performs best on hardwoods like oak, maple, or beech. Some species (like Wine Cap or certain Oysters) can tolerate small amounts of softwood in the mix.

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

Your Trusted Source for Premium Mushroom Growing Supplies

Whether you’re growing mushrooms at home, in your garden, or at a commercial scale, we offer everything you need to cultivate success. We start with the highest-quality OMRI-listed ingredients, mix them in our state-of-the-art facility, and inoculate them in our custom-built lab, so you can rest easy knowing your product will yield the best results.

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