How to Cultivate Oyster Mushrooms

Purchase the spawn to grow the oyster mushrooms. Spawn is the mycelium mixed with a cereal grain to make seeding easier. Inquire at garden stores and look on the Web for sources from which to buy the product (see Resources).

Ready your substrate for planting. The substrate is the medium on which the mushroom will best grow. Oyster mushrooms are not picky and will grow on wet straw, wood chips or even toilet paper. For an easy substrate, moisten toilet paper and shred it into a container. The container size will depend on how many mushrooms you plan to grow. The substrate should be about three to four inches thick in the container when you are done shredding the toilet paper.

Mix the spawn evenly with the substrate. Moisten again after planting and place a plastic bag over the container, creating a small greenhouse to increase the humidity. Make sure the mushroom still has good air flow by propping up the bag with a stick or a hanger. Place the container in a dark area (some light is okay) that is about 65 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit.

Mist the substrate daily, keeping it moist. The mushrooms should start growing in a week or two. In four to seven days they will probably reach their full growth. Keep the plastic bag over them until harvesting. Pick them by twisting them off slowly; don't cut them off the stem.