FAQ

1) What is spawn?

Mushroom spawn is a bit like mushroom roots growing on wood, wheat grains or special plant based mixtures. It has been selected for local conditions after many years of breeding. It needs to be stored in the fridge.

2) Are the kits made from natural materials?

Yes- all items are natural products or registered organic.

3) How long can they produce?

Each mushroom is different, but you can expect them to come all at one time in a flush. After this initial crop, there can be a rest time of 7-28 days for Oyster and Field mushrooms, and it may be 1-3 months  between flushes for Shiitake and Burgundy mushrooms. Most people get 3-6 flushes from their set up.

4) Why is the beginner  Oyster kit so good to start with?

This kit has been designed over a period of 20 years to fruit in a wide variety of conditions in a short amount of time. It doesn't have any soil and unless the air is very dry doesn't even need watering after it is prepared.

5) What can I do after my mushrooms stop growing?

When you have picked 3-6 flushes from the oyster kit, the growing material can sometimes grow more if it is soaked overnight, then drained and put back in the growing area. The button kit can be re-fired by watering well, placing in a supermarket bag, closing it securely  and putting in the fridge overnight.  Return the kit to normal conditions and water as usual for a week. If these ideas don't work, kits are ready to be dug into the garden or added to the compost or worm farm. 

6) What is the difference between a kit and spawn?

Kits have most or all of the items supplied to grow the mushroom chosen. Spawn is just the starter culture for you to add to your own raw materials.

7) Do I have to do the mushroom course to sell mushrooms in my area?

No you don't, but it is a quick way to start and get things right from the beginning. You receive back up by phone and email to support your start up. It is a small fee easily paid back from the yield of a couple of bales of straw and don't forget the spawn provided as part of the price.

8) Do I need an expensive set up to get growing for my local market?

No, this is the beauty of the course. Techniques to get you going at a low cost that you can build on as you desire.

9) When growing on logs, do they need special care?

Yes, the logs need to be watered frequently to maintain moisture level inside. In dry weather this may mean every day. Keeping in a moist and shady spot is important. Lack of moisture in the log is the main reason why logs take a log time to fruit. Just as stacking firewood dries out the timber, so it does your growing logs. Light rain and mist is not enough to maintain log ,moisture level.

HOME