Oyster mushrooms are delicate woodland fungi native to many temperate forests throughout the world. Familiar to North American mushroom hunters, they are also widely cultivated internationally on a variety of agricultural byproducts. A particularly elegant and colorful group, Oysters are also aggressive colonizers of many substrates, making them among the easiest edible fungi to cultivate.
Golden Oyster: A luminous citrine yellow mushroom with a tangy flavor perfect in small quantities as an edible garnish. This mushroom lightens in color when sautéed to provide a fungal feast for both palate and eye. Golden Oysters fruit naturally in late spring and again in late summer - perfect for outdoor summer cultivation.
Stand the log up in a shaded area. The log can be set against a fence, wall or planted by burying one end of it in the ground. It will look great in a garden among flowers and other plants, especially once the mushrooms begin to sprout.
Douse the log with cool water every time the bark becomes dry. Every 2 weeks will do. The ideal moisture level for mushroom growth is between 35 and 45 percent, Never allow the logs to dry out completely, or the mushrooms will die. Mushrooms should begin to show through in 10 to 12 weeks, depending on the temperature and humidity of your climate.
Wait for 6 months to 1 year for mushrooms to appear. A well colonized log will last about 3 to 4 years, until most of the wood cells have been replaced by shiitake mushroom mycelium cells.
After first fruiting, it can be forced every 2 months by shocking the mushrooms with ice cold water. This can be done by soaking the log in cold water for 24 hours, put into a refrigerator for 12 hours or set outside for a few days in the winter. Freezing will not hurt it. After shocking, remove the log from the water and stand it up again in a room temperature location. The mushrooms will think that winter has just passed and it is now spring, causing them to grow in a few weeks.
Tips & Warnings
The optimum temperature is 62 to 78 degrees F. The mushrooms will grow in other temperatures, but not as well. The log will go dormant below 40 degrees F and above 80 degrees F. Freezing for a short while won't hurt and provide a strong shock to force the mushrooms to fruit. It also needs air, normal or high humidity, and a natural day and night cycle, alternating between shade and indirect sunlight or artificial lighting.Harvest Oyster mushrooms when the edges of the mushroom cap are rolled under and the gills are exposed. Cut the stems flush with the surface of the log with scissors or a knife. Store right away in plastic container and refrigerate.
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