The Aussie Mushroom Supplies Tan Oyster Mushroom Grow Kit is a fully colonised, ready-to-fruit block grown on their farm in Victoria. Cut it open, give it humidity and fresh air, and it produces meaty clusters of tan oyster mushrooms for the kitchen, often within a week. No substrate to mix and nothing to sterilise.
Fast, forgiving, and proven in the Lykyn
Oysters are the easiest mushroom to start with, and the fastest. We grew a Pearl Oyster block of the same species (Pleurotus ostreatus, from a different grower) in the Lykyn Smart Mushroom Grow Box: first growth at the cut on day 4, harvested on day 6. See that run day by day in Pearl Oyster Mushrooms in 6 Days.
Aussie Mushroom Supplies collected this blotch-resistant Tan Oyster strain in 2015 and has grown it ever since for its yields and easy fruiting.
Two ways to grow it
In a Lykyn Grow Box: three steps, then hands off
- Take the block out of the kit's cardboard box.
- Cut an X in the bag and set it in the Lykyn.
- Select the oyster profile in the app.
That's it. The box runs humidity, fresh air and light on the oyster profile around the clock. No misting and no guessing whether the room is too dry. The only job is topping up the water reservoir when the app asks. It's how we grew our oyster block.
In the kit's own box: daily care
Pop out the perforated window on the front of the box and cut an X in the bag the same size as the hole, using a knife wiped with isopropyl alcohol. Mist the outside of the plastic flaps 1–3 times a day with filtered or cooled boiled water, never the block itself. Keep it at a steady 16–24°C, with enough light to read a book by and plenty of fresh air. Not in a cupboard. Most of the problems below come down to humidity or airflow slipping between mistings.
If something looks off (growing in the kit's box)
Yellow tips: once the mushroom starts forming, stop spraying it directly. Direct misting in a dry room turns the tips yellow.
Growth stalls: usually a sudden jump in temperature or drop in humidity. Move it somewhere steadier.
Growing under the plastic instead of out of the X: the room is too dry, so the mushroom is chasing the moisture trapped in the bag. Raise the humidity around the cut.
Long stems, small heads: not enough fresh air. Get it out of enclosed spaces.
In the kitchen
Tan oysters have a mild, savoury flavour and a meaty texture that holds up in the pan. Tear the clusters into pieces and fry hot until the edges crisp, or add them to stir-fries, pasta and soups.
| Species | Tan Oyster (Pleurotus ostreatus), blotch-resistant strain |
| Format | Fully colonised, ready-to-fruit block in a box with a fruiting window |
| Grown by | Aussie Mushroom Supplies, Carrum Downs VIC |
| Humidity | Above 70–80% |
| Fruiting temperature | 16–24°C |
| Yield | About 300–700 g per harvest, depending on conditions (manufacturer figure) |
| Repeat harvests | Further flushes after a 2–3 week rest and a 5–12 hour soak |
| Packed size | 12 × 12 × 25 cm, approx. 2.5 kg |
| Storage | Refrigerate until you're ready to start it |
| Fits | Lykyn Smart Mushroom Grow Box (blocks up to 2.7 kg) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Will it fit in the Lykyn Grow Box?
Yes. Take it out of the cardboard box and it sits in the Lykyn with room to spare. Pick the oyster profile in the app.
Do I need any experience?
No. The block is already fully colonised. In a Lykyn Grow Box you cut the bag, pick the oyster profile in the app and the box does the rest. In the kit's own box, your job is to keep the cut humid with fresh air around it.
How long does it keep before I start it?
Keep it in the fridge until you're ready and start it as soon as you can. Oysters are fast growers and will push to fruit if left warm.
When do I harvest?
While the cap edges are still curled slightly downward. Once they start to flatten and roll upward, the mushroom is about to drop spores, so pick just before that. They can double in size in a day, so check daily once pins appear. Twist the whole cluster off the block and clear away any leftover bits so nothing spoils. After harvest, rest the block for 2–3 weeks, and if it feels light, soak the bag in cold water for 5–12 hours. Drain it, turn it so the old X faces the back of the box, cut a new X through the window and start misting again. Later flushes take a little longer.
Do I need anything else?
In a Lykyn Grow Box, just a clean knife to cut the bag. Growing in the kit's own box, you'll also need a spray bottle and filtered or cooled boiled water.