Organic Italian Oyster Mushroom Plug Spawn

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 favorite among those who prefer a sturdier oyster mushroom.

Italian oyster mushrooms are great for beginners because they colonize quickly and are reliable producers. This oyster variety works well with log and stump methods.

Note: Aside from being kiln dried, our wooden dowels are not treated in any other way.

Ideal project size: Plug spawn is ideal for smaller projects of 1-10 logs, though some log cultivators will use them for larger projects.

Inoculation: On Logs - Works well with the Log, Stump, and Totem methods. Colonization is fast and should start producing in 4-12 months. They fruit best in the spring and fall and prefer softer hardwoods such as poplar and aspen, though they will also work on maple.

Difficulty: Beginner

Italian Oyster mushrooms are a great mushroom for beginners. They colonize quickly and are reliable producers. Decent for commercial cultivation, especially grown on straw with cooler temperatures.

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 Italian Oysters until their liquid has reduced and cooked off and they begin to brown.

Properties: The Italian Oyster mushroom has a high protein content, several B vitamins, and all the essential amino acids (Marley, 2009). Its medicinal benefits include promoting anti-tumor activity and lowering high cholesterol. Oyster mushroom fruiting bodies and distillations have been shown to reduce tumor size in several studies on mice, rats, and hamsters (Hobbs, 1995). Additionally, Oyster mushrooms have been used in the Czech Republic as the main ingredient in a dietary supplement used to treat high cholesterol (Hobbs, 1995). Studies in animals have shown that a diet of Oyster mushrooms reduced the development of plaque in major arteries (Bobek et al., 1995).