Pioppino '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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Elevate your garden with the rich, savory character of the Pioppino Plant & Grow TM Garden block. This USDA Certified Organic strain produces flushes of elegant mushrooms with velvety brown caps and long, slender stems. Known for their earthy, nutty flavor and slightly peppery-sweet finish, Pioppino mushrooms are a favorite among chefs and home cooks alike.

While pioppinos are reliable producers, they do require a bit more patience and moisture management to fruit successfully outdoors. They prefer cool, shaded areas and consistently humid conditions—making them best suited for growers ready to provide a little extra care.

    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

    Pioppino mushrooms can thrive outdoors, but they need a bit more patience and care than other species. For successful garden cultivation, the key is to mimic their natural growing conditions: cooler temps, steady moisture, and plenty of fresh air.

    How to initiate fruiting outdoors:

    • Site selection: Choose a shady, cool spot—such as beneath deciduous trees, beside shrubs, or along a north-facing garden bed.
    • Bury the block: Bury the block just below the surface, with 1–2 inches of soil or mulch over top to maintain humidity. You can also add a loose layer of leaf litter or pine needles.
    • Moisture & humidity: Water consistently, especially in dry conditions. Pioppino blocks are slow to pin and can dry out easily during this early stage, so keeping humidity up is critical.
    • Temperature: Fruiting is most successful when nighttime temperatures drop into the 50s–60s °F. Avoid planting during peak summer heat.
    • Airflow: Unlike indoor grows, outdoor gardens usually offer excellent gas exchange naturally—no need to manage CO₂ levels manually.

    What to expect:

    • Slower pinning: Pioppinos take their time—expect pins in 2–4 weeks depending on weather.
    • Harvest timing: Pick mushrooms when the veil beneath the cap just begins to break. For best shelf life, harvest just before full maturity. Twist or cut at the base and brush off any soil or mulch before bringing indoors.

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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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