Ready Growing White Oyster Mushroom Growing Kit
Ready Growing White Oyster Mushroom Growing Kit
White Oyster Mushroom Growing Kit - P. ostreatus var. floridaThe Ready Growing White Oyster Mushroom Growing Kit (Pleurotus ostreatus var. florida) is a fully colonised, pre-started indoor kit that fruits bright white oyster clusters within 7 to 10 days of the first mist. It grows at normal UK room temperature between 14 and 21°C, needs only a twice-daily spray through the growing holes, and gives 2 to 3 flushes for a total of 800g to 1.2kg. Each kit is hand-planted in small batches in Storrington, West Sussex. No spores, no inoculation, just quick and easy mushrooms to grow at home.
Ready to Grow
Ready to grow. Arrives pre-started — first pins show within a few days and the first harvest follows in 7 to 10. A gift that crops the same week it is opened.
Easy Care
Beginner friendly. White Oyster is one of the most reliable and forgiving varieties for a first-time grower. Spray twice daily through the growing holes — no inoculation and no spores needed. Step-by-step instructions and the full White Oyster growing guide are included.
Family Farmed
Family farmed. Hand-planted in small batches on our family farm in West Sussex, drawing on six generations of growing experience. Nutrient-rich compost fully colonised with vigorous Pleurotus ostreatus mycelium in every box.
Multiple Harvests
Multiple harvests. 2 to 3 flushes per kit for a total of 800g to 1.2kg, with the heaviest crop on the first flush.
Our Experience
Over 50 years of growing experience. From our specialist small-batch mushroom farm in West Sussex, hand-crafted kits prepared with decades of expertise.
Zero Waste
Once the compost is spent it makes an excellent soil conditioner — break it up and dig it into beds, borders, or containers.
Growing Guide
Full growing guide included with every kit. Read it online here.
Product Dimensions: 7in x 7in x 7in (17.5cm x 17.5cm x 17.5cm) |
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Ready Growing White Oyster Mushroom Growing Kit
Product reviews
2 reviews
This white oyster mushroom kit was fabulous. The mushrooms started growing within a few days. It was amazing to watch the mushrooms develop, growing out of the holes in the box. I had so many in the first flush that I had to freeze some and give some away. I have had a smaller second flush. I am hoping for a third flush but the temperature has been very high so I'm not quite so optimistic. The texture of these mushrooms picked fresh from the box is worlds apart from the supermarket packaged oyster mushrooms. They are very firm. I will definitely buy this kit again.
Excellent customer service, very fast delivery, read & followed the instructions then didn't wait long at all until a wonderful bounty of beautiful tasty mushrooms appeared and they were delicious. I will be back for more.
Gourmet White Oyster Mushroom Kit
 | Fresh. Tasty. Ready in days.Keep the kit in a light room out of direct sunlight, mist twice daily through the growing holes, and you are harvesting bright white oyster clusters within 7 to 10 days. White Oyster fruits at normal UK room temperature, one of the most reliable and forgiving varieties for a first-time grower. Every kit is hand-planted with nutrient-rich compost which is why a well-kept kit gives a solid weight of mushrooms across every flush. Every kit delivers gourmet mushrooms straight to your doorstep, fresher than anything you can find in the shops, guaranteed. This kit produces a total yield of 800g to 1.2kg of bright white oyster clusters across 2 to 3 flushes, with your first crop ready in 7 to 10 days. Explore our full range of Mushroom Kits for more types of mushrooms. |
About the White Oyster Mushroom Growing Kit
White Oyster (Pleurotus ostreatus var. florida) is the bright-white strain of the common oyster mushroom, and the easiest oyster we grow for a first attempt. It fruits in wide, fan-shaped clusters from the holes in the lid, with firm, meaty caps and a mild, savoury flavour that suits almost any dish. Unlike the warm-loving Pink Oyster, White Oyster fruits best at normal UK room temperature, which is what makes it so forgiving indoors.
The names White Oyster and Pearl Oyster are often used for the same mushroom, though they point to slightly different strains. This kit grows Pleurotus ostreatus var. florida, which throws bright white caps and crops well at moderate indoor temperatures. In the kitchen they all behave the same way.
What's in the kit
Box: one 17.5cm x 17.5cm x 17.5cm grow box.
Compost: nutrient-rich compost fully colonised with Pleurotus ostreatus var. florida mycelium.
Growing holes: pre-cut openings in the lid for direct spray-misting.
Included: a printed instruction sheet and the full growing guide.
Options: a single kit, a double kit, or paired with a Pink Oyster mushroom growing kit for a white-and-pink harvest.
Why a ready-growing kit matters
Most home-growing failures happen during colonisation, the stage when the substrate is most open to competing moulds. Every Merryhill Mushrooms kit reaches you past that point. The mycelium has already run through the compost on our family farm in West Sussex, so what lands on your doorstep is a kit primed to fruit, with only the trigger left to you: light, fresh air, and humidity.
Storage before you start it
The kit arrives pre-started, which is worth knowing if you are buying it as a gift. If you cannot set it up straight away, it holds in the fridge for up to 10 days before the growing process needs to begin. Timed delivery is available at checkout to match a birthday or a Christmas date. Take it out of the postal box on arrival so it can breathe.
How to Grow White Oyster from the Kit
White Oyster is the easiest oyster to grow indoors because it crops at normal room temperature and asks for very little. Set the kit somewhere that holds steadily between 14 and 21°C with a little fresh air, mist twice daily through the holes, and the first white pins appear within a few days. Harvest follows a few days after pinning, so the run from box to first cooked meal usually fits inside ten days.
1. Choose a growing spot
A light room out of direct sunlight, somewhere that stays between 14 and 21°C. A kitchen counter, a shelf away from a radiator, or a spot near a window all work. White Oyster needs light to fruit but not direct sun, and it needs fresh air. Avoid radiators, warm rooms above 21°C, sealed cupboards, and strong draughts. Steady airflow gives short stems and wide caps; still, stuffy air gives long stems and small caps.
2. Open and activate
Open the pre-cut holes in the lid and mist through each one with clean tap water from a spray bottle, then leave the kit to grow. No soaking, no spores, no inoculation.
3. The daily misting routine
Twice a day, morning and evening, spray each hole so the surface looks damp, not waterlogged. If water pools, ease off and let it settle. Consistent misting is the single biggest factor in how well the kit crops, so set a phone reminder for the first week if you tend to forget.
4. Pinning
Tiny white pinheads cluster inside and around the holes within a few days of the first mist. Once they appear, the clusters roughly double in size each day. If two holes run ahead of a third, that is normal.
5. Harvest
Pick when the caps have fully opened and flattened out, just before the edges start to curl upward. A fine white dust on or around the box means the mushrooms are dropping spores and are slightly past their best, though still safe to eat, so pick promptly. Grip the base of the cluster and twist gently to lift the whole bunch in one piece rather than cutting it.
6. Between flushes
Carry on misting twice daily after the first harvest. The next flush usually appears within one to two weeks and is smaller than the first. Most kits give 2 to 3 flushes in total before the compost is spent.
To see how each stage looks before your kit arrives, our day-by-day growing timeline walks the full cycle in photos.
Troubleshooting
Long stems, small caps
A sign the kit needs more fresh air. Move it somewhere with better airflow and the next flush should come back with shorter stems and wider, meatier caps.
Not fruiting from every hole
Common and usually self-correcting. Our guide on oyster kits not growing from all holes covers what to do.
Holes growing at different rates
Normal, as the kit favours wherever conditions are best. The oyster kits growing at different rates guide explains why.
Slow fruiting in a warm room
Above 21°C the kit slows and the stems stretch. In summer, move it to the coolest room in the house. If your home consistently runs warm, consider our Pink Oyster kit instead, which thrives at higher temperatures.
White Oyster in the Kitchen
White Oyster has a mild, savoury flavour and a firm, meaty bite that holds its shape in the pan far better than a soft button mushroom. Picked straight from the box, the caps come out noticeably firmer than supermarket trays. They take on whatever you cook them with, which is why they suit everything from a fast stir-fry to a slow ramen broth.
How to Cook White Oyster Mushrooms
Tear the clusters into pieces along the natural grain rather than chopping. Get a heavy pan hot, add oil, and lay the mushrooms in a single layer. Leave them undisturbed for a minute or so to take on a sear before you toss them, and salt at the end so they fry rather than steam. They work in stir-fries, pasta, risotto, on toast, and in soups — and they are the mushroom behind our black pearl and white oyster ramen.
Nutritional Profile per 100g (raw)
Calories: around 33 kcal
Protein: around 3.3g
Dietary fibre: around 2.3g
B vitamins: riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5)
Beta-glucans: polysaccharides associated with immune cell activity
Ergothioneine: a sulphur-containing amino acid found almost exclusively in mushrooms
Fat and sodium: naturally low in both
Can You Eat White Oyster Mushrooms Raw?
It is best to cook them. Like other cultivated oyster mushrooms, White Oyster holds compounds that soften and become easier to digest with heat, and cooking brings out the savoury flavour and firm texture. A quick sear in a hot pan is all they need. More background is on our blog, can you eat mushrooms raw.
Storage After Harvest
Keep fresh White Oyster in a paper bag in the fridge for a few days, never sealed in plastic, which traps moisture and turns them slimy. A heavy first flush often gives more than you can use at once, so sauté the surplus in butter or oil, cool it, and freeze it in a flat layer for later.
White Oyster Mushrooms: Frequently Asked Questions
What temperature do White Oyster Mushrooms need?
White Oyster mushrooms fruit best at 14 to 21°C, which is normal room temperature in most UK homes. Avoid placing your kit near radiators, in direct sunlight or in very warm rooms, as temperatures consistently above 21°C can slow fruiting or cause the mushrooms to develop thin, leggy stems.
How long until the first harvest?
First pins appear within a few days of the first mist, and the first harvest is usually ready 7 to 10 days from setup. You can see each stage in our day-by-day growing timeline.
How many flushes will my White Oyster Kit produce?
Most kits will produce two to three flushes for a total of 800g to 1.2kg, with the first flush the largest. After each harvest, continue spraying the holes and the next flush will typically appear within one to two weeks. The total yield depends on growing conditions and how well the kit is looked after between flushes.
Why are my White Oyster Mushrooms growing long stems with small caps?
Long, stretched stems with small caps are a sign that the mushrooms need more fresh air. This is a common issue when kits are placed in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces. Move the kit to a spot with better air circulation and the next flush should produce shorter stems and wider, meatier caps.
Are White Oyster Mushrooms the same as Pearl Oyster Mushrooms?
The names are sometimes used interchangeably, but they refer to slightly different strains. Our White Oyster Kit uses Pleurotus ostreatus var. florida, which produces bright white caps and grows well at moderate indoor temperatures. Pearl Oyster is a broader common name for the wider Pleurotus ostreatus species, which also includes grey and brown-capped strains. In the kitchen, all are used in similar ways.
Can I grow White Oyster Mushrooms outdoors?
Yes. White Oyster is one of the best species for outdoor log cultivation in the UK climate. Using inoculated spawn plugs drilled into a fresh hardwood log, you can produce flushes for several years. We offer an Outdoor Mushroom Log Growing Kit with White Oyster spawn plugs, and our blog covers growing White Oyster mushrooms outdoors in the UK. This Ready Growing Kit is designed to be kept indoors for best results.
How do I know when to harvest?
Harvest when the caps have fully opened and flattened out but before the edges begin to curl upwards. If you notice a fine white dust on the surface of the box or surrounding area, the mushrooms are dropping spores, which means they are slightly past their best picking point. They are still perfectly safe to eat at this stage, so just pick them promptly.
Can I give a White Oyster kit as a gift?
Yes. It crops within the same week the recipient opens it, which makes it a popular gift. Order before 2pm for same-day dispatch and next-day UK mainland delivery via DPD, and use timed delivery at checkout for a set date. Full guidance is in our gift ordering guide.
What can I do with the spent compost?
Once your kit has finished producing mushrooms, the spent compost makes an excellent addition to your garden. It is peat free and full of organic matter that will improve soil structure and feed your plants. Simply break it up and dig it into beds, borders or containers. Our guide on reusing spent mushroom compost has more.
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