DIY Grow Kits

If you or someone you live with has a mushroom allergy or intolerance, it is best to grow the kit in a room that is not frequented.

What you'll need

Jug

Disenfectant spray

Clothes pegs

Making the Kits

Day 1

Step 1

To begin, the pellets in the two grow bags need to be hydrated and pasteurised.

Boiling water will effectively kill any potential competitors to your mushroom spawn.

Step 2

Fill your jug with 1.7L of water and boil it.

Position the two grow bags on the bench next to it so that you are ready for the next step.

Step 3

Holding the top of one grow bag open, very carefully pour the entire jug into it. Repeat this process for the second bag so that each of them have 1.7L of boiling water added.

Using gloves for this step is a good idea as the steam will be hot on your hands.

Step 4

Once both bags have been hydrated, fold the tops over three times and hold them in place with clothes pegs.

You want to ensure that no air can get through the top, only through the filter patch.

Step 5

The next day, choose a suitable workspace for adding the spawn to your substrate. The inoculation should take place in a clean room without air movement. Keep the windows and doors shut.

Use a disinfectant spray on your work surface before you start.

Step 6

Use the disinfectant spray on the outside of your spawn bag and then break it up so that the grains are free-flowing.

This will allow you to pour the spawn more accurately into each bag.

Step 7

Cut the top of the spawn bag with a disinfected blade and pour the grains evenly amongst the two bags of hydrated substrate. After the spawn has been added, fold the tops of the substrate bags over three times again and hold them in place with clothes pegs. You want the top of the bag sealed, only allowing air through the filter patch.

It is important to do this step quickly. When the bags are open, you are at risk of accidentally introducing contaminants.

Step 8

Holding the top and bottom, shake each bag thoroughly to ensure the grains are distributed evenly around the substrate.

Once mixed, shape the blocks with your hand to ensure they sit square and level.


Colonising the Kits


Step 9

Store the substrate bags in a warm spot out of direct light to colonise. Ideally, 20C-25C. Lower temperatures will lead to slow growth. A hot water cupboard is a good spot for this step in winter. Over the coming weeks, you will notice the mushroom's mycelium start to spread around the substrate.

Step 10

After two weeks for Oyster Mushrooms or four weeks for Pekepeke-Kiore, head to the instructions section of our website where you can follow the growing methods for each variety.