NORTH SPORE Lion's Mane

Mushroom Grow Kit Fruiting Block

Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus) is a nutritious medicinal mushroom that produces plump white clusters with icicle-like teeth. In addition to making an amazing meat substitute, it is an absolute culinary dream both in texture and flavor. That’s because, when cooked, it has a consistency and flavor similar to crab meat.

Though slightly harder to get flushes than oysters or shiitake, lion's mane fruiting blocks are still a great mushroom for confident beginners. They colonize quickly and are relatively reliable producers. Note that Lion's mane can be prone to drying out if the ambient humidity is too low, so we recommend that you water it generously or grow your fruiting block in a humidity-controlled chamber.

Instructions:

Your fruiting block kit is an amended sawdust block that has been colonized by mushroom mycelium. Mushrooms need adequate humidity and ventilation to survive and thrive, so proper care is important.

1. Leave the block inside the bag, and do not open it. To activate your block, place it on its side, exposing an area where the block presses right up against the plastic. Take a sharp knife or razor blade and make a 5-to 6-inch cut along this part of the bag, then gently squeeze out any remaining air. Finally, take the loose bag flap, and fold it underneath the kit.
2. Place your sliced bag in the most humid part of your home (like next to the sink) or in a humidity-controlled grow chamber. Make sure it is kept away from direct sunlight, and keep it well hydrated. Do this by spraying the outside of your block, over the sliced area, with water at least once per day.
3. If your home is very dry, and you do not have a humidity-controlled grow chamber, you may need to make a humidity tent to place over the over fruiting block. To do this, find a loose-fitting plastic bag and make plenty of ½-inch holes all over it. Then place it over the fruiting block (that is still inside it’s original bag.) Once you’ve made the humidity tent, be sure to spray the inside of it a minimum of once per day.
4. Within 1-2 weeks of first slicing open your fruiting block bag, the mushrooms will sense the oxygen in the air and begin to produce mushroom “pins,” or little baby mushrooms. When you spot your first mushroom pins, keep a close eye on them. After 5 to 10 days of pin formation, your mushrooms should be ready to harvest.
5. Harvest your mushrooms when they resemble the mushrooms in the photographs -- large clusters of plump, dense, shaggy mounds.

Each subsequent harvest will be smaller in size, but can still produce a nice flush. Before trying for another flush,  give your block a one-week break from spraying, then soak it in cold water for 20 minutes, and re-start daily water spraying.

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Temp, Humidity & CO2 guide

• Fruiting - The phase of growth in which visible mushrooms begin to appear.
• CO2 sensitivity - When CO2 levels are too high, yields will decrease, stems will become long and stringy, caps will be small, and/or growth will halt.

Storing:

If you don't plan to use immediately, you can refrigerate your block for up to 6 months.

Cooking:

Its unique flavor and consistency make it ideal as a seafood substitute in recipes. We like to slice it into rounds and pan-fry it in olive oil or butter. We also recommend ripping it up and making vegan or vegetarian crab cakes with it. You can find some amazing recipes online!

Creating a humidity tent:

If your home is really dry you may want to make a humidity tent to place over your bag. Simply take a trash bag or other loosely fitting plastic bag, put PLENTY of 1/2 inch holes in it. (THIS IS IMPORTANT mushrooms exhale CO2 and inhale Oxygen. They will suffocate themselves if there isn’t adequate airflow! Lion’s mane that look stringy or strange are usually growing that way because they need more air or humidity!) If you choose to use a humidity tent make sure to spray the inside of the tent once per day to maintain humidity.

Cautions & Considerations

If you’re going to consume home-grown mushrooms, make sure to cook your fresh mushrooms thoroughly with heat. If it is your first time eating this species, it is best to start with a small amount to check for allergies, even if cooked.

Mushrooms grow spores as they develop. This is a natural means of reproduction. This is when people with allergies or compromised immune systems may want to consider putting fruiting mushroom kits outdoors or in a well-ventilated area. Spores in mushrooms sometimes cause respiratory irritation. In rare cases, spores may also cause irritation for some non-allergic or non-immunocompromised mushroom growers. If you are one of them, it is recommended to reduce the overall spore load by harvesting mushrooms while they are still in their younger growth stages.