Premium Black King Oyster mushroom grain spawn – 100% colonised on locally sourced New Zealand grown wheat and ready to be mixed into your substrate for fruiting mushrooms. Spawn is ready to use as soon as it arrives.
 
Known as Black King Oyster or Black King Trumpet (Pleurotus ostreatus hybrid) is highly unique, these striking dark charcoal mushrooms with very thick stems closely resemble the true King Oyster (Pleurotus eryngii). A hybrid strain developed in Japan for easy cultivation and fast growth. Offering some unique world class genetics for large harvests!
 
Unique Black King Mushroom Culture Information
 
Scientific name: Pleurotus ostreatus
Flavour & texture: They have a firm, hearty, and slightly chewy texture that holds up well in various dishes. Their flavour pairs well with soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and sesame.
Spawn Storage: If you cannot use your spawn right away you can store it for up to 4 months in the fridge. Spawn vitality cannot be guaranteed with fridge storage.
Difficulty: Medium - recommended for experienced growers who have mastered other oyster strains. Sometimes requires a cold shock to trigger pinning.
Growth speed: Slower than most oysters due to longer incubation period.
Incubation time & temperature: 21-28 days @ 23-25°C
Fruiting temperature: 10-20°C - They can sometimes be tricky to initiate pinning - sometimes requiring a 24 hour cold shock in the fridge.
Inoculation to Harvest: 35-45 days
Yield: Very impressive yields - worth the wait!
CO2 Tolerance: Very High - Top fruit with sides of the bag still up to encourage long stem growth. See pictures.
Ideal Fruiting Humidity: 80-90%
Native status: Non native - Imported
Recommended Fruiting Substrates:  Masters Mix (50% wood pellets / 50% soy hulls) or 20% Bran + 80% Pine Fire Pellets.
Substrate Preparation Method: 15PSI pressure sterilised substrate in filter patch bags.
Growing Style:  Grow in size 3 >> filter patch bags, once ready to fruit cut the top off the bag leaving the sides still on. Top fruiting only to get that King Oyster like shape with thick stems and small dense caps.
 
Receiving Spawn:
Upon receiving your spawn it is ideal to take it out of the box within a day or two, stand the top of the bag up so the filter patch is exposed and the spawn can breath. Keep in a room temperature (10-25°C) place out of direct sunlight until used.
 
Beginners / first-time growers:
If you’ve never used grain spawn before (or you’re not sure how to mix it into substrate), start with our >> Easy 5 Step Oyster Grow Kits instead.
These kits include grain spawn and bulk substrate with detailed step-by-step instructions that teach you exactly how to use spawn to grow mushrooms. It’s the easiest way to learn the whole process hands-on.
 
All spawn and culture work is done in-house in our own laboratory.
 
All spawn cultures we offer have been sourced within NZ or imported under MPI import permit with permission to onsell.
 
Customers who buy Mushroom Grain Spawn often also purchase:
 
>> Black King Oyster Mushroom Grow Kit (2kg) - ready made and easy
 
>> Sterilised Grain for growing mushrooms
 
Always identify any mushroom before consuming!