Welcome to your Paignton Mushrooms Home Grow Kit!

 

This guide will help you set up your grow kit and grow delicious, home grown mushrooms. We'll teach you how to grow Lion’s Mane, Blue, Yellow and Summer Oyster, and Black Pearl King Oyster mushrooms in the comfort of your own home!

Please follow the instructions carefully for successful mushroom growth.

What’s Inside Your Kit:

• 1 x Partially to fully Colonised Substrate Grow Bag

• 1 x Humidity Screen (A4 sheet with double-sided tape);

• Instruction Sheet

Step 1: Set Up Your Growing Space

1. Choose a Location:

   • Find a humid area with indirect light. The best place is one that has a natural humidity level of at least 85%—for example, a bathroom or basement. This will reduce the amount of misting required during the growing process.

   • Avoid direct sunlight as it can dry out the substrate and hinder mushroom growth.

2. Check the Substrate for Full Colonisation:

   • Your substrate grow bag contains partially colonised mycelium. Before opening the bag, check that the substrate is fully colonised with white mycelium.

   • Colonisation time: From the date on the filter patch, the substrate typically takes around 4 weeks to fully colonise. This time may vary based on the temperature of the environment. You should see white, fluffy mycelium covering the substrate before you begin fruiting conditions.

   • If the substrate is not fully colonised, give it more time (keep it at room temperature, around 14-24°C / 64-75°F) until you see complete colonisation.

3. Prepare the Humidity Screen:

   • Take the A4 humidity screen and peel off the backing from the double-sided tape.

   • Attach the screen to the top inside of the cardboard box. Ensure the tape is secure, with the screen hanging down to cover the grow bag. This will create a mini greenhouse effect, helping to maintain the humidity necessary for fruiting.

Step 2: Preparing the Substrate Grow Bag

1. Inspect the Bag:

   • Ensure the substrate is fully colonised with white mycelium.

2. Cut the Bag:

   • Use clean scissors to cut a small cut at the top of the bag to delate all air out. Then cut a  small X-shaped slit ( approx 4 -5 cm long) in the bag. This will be the area where your mushrooms start to fruit. Choose a location with the strongest mycelium growth.

3. Place the Grow Bag in the Box:

   • Carefully place the colonised substrate grow bag back inside the box, with the slit facing up or out. The humidity screen will now hang over the grow site, creating the perfect microclimate for your mushrooms.

Step 3: Maintaining the Right Conditions for Growth

1. Humidity:

   • Mushrooms thrive in a humid environment. With the humidity screen in place, the box will retain moisture. However, you may need to lightly mist the inside of the box once or twice a day if the humidity drops below 85%.

   • Ideal humidity: 85-95%. Monitor this by feeling the air or using a hygrometer.

2. Fresh Air Exchange:

   • Mushrooms need fresh air to grow and won’t thrive in a completely sealed area. Air will be able to circulate around the humidity screen

   • Important: Don't allow the grow site to dry out as it receives this fresh air. Mist lightly if necessary to maintain moisture.

3. Temperature:

   • Keep the room temperature in the following ranges for optimal growth:

     • Lion’s Mane: 15-25°C (59-70°F)

     • Blue Oyster: 12-20°C (64-75°F)

     • Black Pearl King Oyster: 16-22°C (60-75°F)

     • King oyster (14-20°C)

     • Yellow, pink & Summer oyster 16-24°C (60-75°F)

4. Lighting:

   • Provide indirect natural light for 12-14 hours per day. Direct sunlight can dry out the substrate and cause overheating.

5. Watering:

   • Misting: If the humidity inside the box drops, lightly mist the substrate and the inside of the box. However, avoid over-watering, as excess moisture can lead to mould.

   • Keep the environment moist but not soaked. Light misting once or twice a day should be enough if your growing area is humid enough.

   • Alternatively you can place a wet towel under the kit which as it evaporates will raise humidity around the kit

Step 4: Watch Your Mushrooms Grow

• Lion’s Mane: Expect to see fluffy, white pom-pom-like growth. This should appear within 7-14 days after you begin the fruiting conditions.

• Blue, pink and yellow Oyster: Small pins will appear first, followed by blue-grey clusters. Growth is usually visible within 7-10 days.

• Black Pearl King Oyster: These mushrooms will grow large caps and meaty stems. Look for growth within 10-14 days.

Step 5: Harvesting Your Mushrooms

1. When to Harvest:

   • Harvest your oyster mushrooms when the caps are fully open, but before they start to roll upwards at the edge. Harvest lion’s mane when teeth are around 1cm or start tuning orange at the tip. Lion’s mane has got a denser and meatier texture when young.

2. How to Harvest:

   • Gently grab the cluster of mushrooms and twist of the block. If any scraps of mushroom remain, pick them off to clean the growth site.

3. Encouraging a Second Flush:

   • After harvesting, mist the bag lightly and return it to the box. You may see another set of mushrooms in 1-2 weeks.

   • Repeat the process of fresh air exchange and misting to encourage more mushrooms to grow.

Step 6: Soaking for a Third Flush

• After the second flush, you can rehydrate the substrate to encourage a third flush.

  • Soak the entire block of substrate in cold water for 4-6 hours. Drain the block well before placing it back in the box with the humidity screen. This helps replenish the water resources needed for continued fruiting.

Troubleshooting

• Mould: If your grow site starts to become mouldy:

  1. Take the kit outside to avoid contaminating the rest of your environment.

  2. If still localised, remove the affected substrate carefully before it spreads. Dispose of any contaminated material.

  3. Seal the grow site hole with tape to prevent further exposure.

  4. Clean the surface of the bag with a clean, damp cloth.

  5. Start a new grow site by cutting a new hole where there is still healthy white mycelium.

  6. If contamination has progressed more than 10% of the block, dispose of block.

• Contamination Signs: If you notice unusual colouration or a foul smell, it could be a sign of contamination. Contamination is usually the limiting factor of grow kit. If contamination has progressed then the kit must be disposed of.

Additional Tips:

•  

• Make sure bag is fully deflated prior to cutting grow sites into bag, its best to fold and flip the block to eliminate air spaces within the bag.

• Mushroom respond to temperature changes, an overnight cold shock helps kick start fruiting

• Reusing the Substrate: Once you’ve harvested all your mushrooms, you can rehydrate the substrate by soaking the bag in water for several hours after the second flush to encourage a third round of mushrooms. Once completely spent, the substrate makes for great mulch for the garden.

• Be Patient: Mushroom growth can take time, but with the right care, you’ll soon be harvesting your own fresh, home grown mushrooms!

Enjoy Your Fresh Mushrooms!

Thank you for choosing the Paignton Mushrooms Home Grow Kit! We hope you enjoy the process of growing and harvesting your own delicious mushrooms. If you have any questions or need support, feel free to reach out to us.

Be sure to take photos and tag us on your social media, it would mean a lot to me!!!!!!!

Happy Growing! 🍄