We picked up a mushroom tabletop grow bag at the Garden Expo a few weeks back, and have been excitedly misting and watching them grow.
We started out with the base bag and cut the holes into it, as instructed. A wasn't so sure about this...
We waited several days, misting and checking, and one morning we came down and *poof!*, there were tiny mushrooms growing out the holes!
From there, they exploded and grew so fast - A had to check every few hours and measure and spray.
When the caps were 4 inches across, we harvested! Our first harvest was almost a pound of Grey Dove Oyster Mushrooms.
We made a big pot of creamy oyster mushroom soup (YUM), and saved a few to make a creamy pasta sauce. The boys didn't want to EAT "the fungus" yet, but loved growing and harvesting, and are eagerly anticipating the growth of the second batch on our bag (it says we will continue to harvest for about 90 days). We have a few books on mushrooms coming that A requested, so maybe by the next harvest he'll venture a taste...probably not, but my husband and I are perfectly happy eating all the mushrooms. ;)
We waited several days, misting and checking, and one morning we came down and *poof!*, there were tiny mushrooms growing out the holes!
From there, they exploded and grew so fast - A had to check every few hours and measure and spray.
When the caps were 4 inches across, we harvested! Our first harvest was almost a pound of Grey Dove Oyster Mushrooms.
We made a big pot of creamy oyster mushroom soup (YUM), and saved a few to make a creamy pasta sauce. The boys didn't want to EAT "the fungus" yet, but loved growing and harvesting, and are eagerly anticipating the growth of the second batch on our bag (it says we will continue to harvest for about 90 days). We have a few books on mushrooms coming that A requested, so maybe by the next harvest he'll venture a taste...probably not, but my husband and I are perfectly happy eating all the mushrooms. ;)
My kids would dig that as well. I guess my hubby would have to eat them all though because fungus weirds me out too.
ReplyDeletewow! who knew there were kits out there to grow your own. what a great idea and project for the boys!!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that, either!!
ReplyDeleteAwesome!
Trev wouldn't touch them, but Eric and I would make up for it! :)
That's awesome! My little lady has requested we purchase different types of mushroom but once we are home... mom and dad do the eating! Fine by me! Love em'!
ReplyDeleteI think she would be very into this! Thanks for sharing!
That's outrageous! I'm dying to try. I always thought you needed a dank shed to grow mushrooms yourself!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure those are very tasty, but they look kind of disturbing growing out of that bag.
ReplyDeleteI just told my husband that I'd like to try growing mushrooms sometime.
Very neat. I didn't know you can grow them like that, I might have to look into that. Tasty Results. :-)
ReplyDeleteJennifer
I was just wondering how your mushroom growing project was coming along! :) I'm glad it worked out so well. I want to try this.
ReplyDeleteWow, that is incredible and fun science. We might have to try this despite our climate because my daughter loves this topic. I've got to read some more on the website. Thanks for the link. Great photos too.
ReplyDeleteI bet A & G are having a blast with these mushroom observations...true food scientists. I want some of that yummy mushroom soup...we will come eat it with you! :)
ReplyDeleteThat is SO cool!
ReplyDeleteThat is both awesome and weird. I'm not sure I'd have the nerve to try it.
ReplyDelete~Tara
Wow! So many mushrooms- yum!
ReplyDeleteWe put some plugs in logs last fall, and some spawn in the garden, but it's all hibernating yet. Hope we should be so successful!
Oh my gosh! My Caleb has been asking about growing mushrooms for a long time now. Something about mushrooms saving the planet (?)
ReplyDeleteI had no idea there is a mushroom growing kit. Very cool! My boys love eating mushrooms, Autumn doesn't like them.
Oh neat! I'm trying to organize a field trip to a local mushroom farm.
ReplyDelete:)
That is so funny -- the image of mushrooms popped up and I immediately thought, "I bet those crazy cats are growing mushrooms!" AND YOU ARE!
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of such a thing as a mushroom grow bag, that is seriously cool, Denise. And so very Mom in Madison. I can't to tell the girls when they call tonight (they are all out of town for a few days).
What a great project - I never knew you could grow mushrooms like that!
ReplyDeleteDrew did this last year with Shitake mushrooms. I have to say they were a bit disturbing (HUGE) to look at, but he really enjoyed them.
ReplyDeleteI think we ordered them thru Gardner's Supply Co.
The coolness factor of this is only matched by the yummy factor of having fresh shrooms!!!
ReplyDeleteSO COOL!! We'll have to look for a kit like that. We all love mushrooms.
ReplyDeleteHow fun to watch grow.
Oh, yum! What a great idea!
ReplyDeleteWay too go! Jerome is determined to start growing mushrooms here on the farm and has ordered all the stuff this week to do it. Your oyster mushrooms look so tasty.
ReplyDeleteFabulous!!! I am buying a kit next. Thank you for posting this :)
ReplyDeleteShroomy fun! Great thing for kids, I do think. And the cooking with them sounds oh so yummy!
ReplyDeleteWow now look at that....delicious too!
ReplyDeleteThey look fantastic Mom in Madison!
ReplyDeleteFor fun you may want to try your hand at cloning mushrooms from the supermarket. I have sucessfully cloned oyster, enoki, and shiitake. Currently, I am cloning king oyster and beech. Well, I hope the beech is cloning, I just started it on the weekend. The king oyster has already colonized the cardboard I started it on and pieces have been transferred to 250 ml canning jars. If your interested, you can follow my project at http://mushrooms-with-fungusgnat.blogspot.com/