Blue Oyster
Pleurotus ostreatus
A fast, cool-weather oyster strain and one of the best mushrooms for a first grow. It colonises quickly and forms tidy clusters of blue-grey caps.
Growing requirements at a glance
- Scientific name
- Pleurotus ostreatus
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Colonisation temp
- 20 to 24°C
- Fruiting temp
- 13 to 18°C
- Substrate
- Straw or supplemented sawdust
- Flavour
- Mild, savoury
Overview
Blue oyster is a cool-weather strain of Pleurotus ostreatus and one of the friendliest mushrooms for a first grow. It colonises quickly, fruits on cheap substrates, and forms clusters of blue-grey caps that fade toward tan as they mature.
Growing conditions
Colonise grain and bulk substrate at 20 to 24°C, then fruit at about 13 to 18°C. Blue oyster grows well on pasteurised wheat or paddy straw and on supplemented hardwood sawdust. Hold humidity at 85 to 95% during fruiting and give it plenty of fresh air, since oysters grow long stems and small caps when carbon dioxide builds up.
In the kitchen
Cook blue oyster hot and fairly dry so it browns rather than steams. It suits stir-fries, curries, and pulaos and holds its shape well. Like all gourmet mushrooms, cook it through and do not eat it raw.
Grower tips
Start with liquid culture or ready grain spawn, keep your work clean, and harvest the whole cluster as the caps flatten. A well-run block usually gives two to four flushes.
