Large-Sets - French (Beige) Mushrooms

The contents of the box consist of 1 or 2 bags of casing soil, a layer of compost inoculated with mushroom mycelium, and 4 sticks. Remove the bag(s) from the box and store them sealed in a cool, dark place for later use. Place the box with the lid on for approx. 4 days at a temperature of 20–25ºC (room temperature). Afterwards, the casing soil must be applied, and you do this as follows: Put 1/4 litre of water into a bucket and add the contents of 1 bag of casing soil. Do the same with the potential second bag. Lightly press down the soil and let the water soak in for about half an hour. Then, spread the moist soil loosely over the compost layer in the box. Now, place the box with the lid on for 5 to 8 days at 20–25ºC. The white fluff (mycelium) will then grow upwards into the soil. Check this by using a matchstick to make a small hole until you hit the fine mycelium. The mycelium should grow up to a few mm's BELOW the surface! Cover any spots where the fluff grows on top of the soil with well-moistened soil. The box must now be placed in a cool spot at 15–18ºC (or lower) for one day, without the lid. After this day, poke the 4 sticks into the corners of the box and place the lid on top, creating a gap of approx. 3 cm between the box and the lid. Place the box at 15–18ºC. Keep the soil moist with a spray bottle. When a good number of small, white buttons are visible on the soil, give a little more water with a small watering can with a fine rose. The soil should be moist, but not wet! Normally, the mushrooms grow first on the sides and only later in the middle. HARVESTING: Twist out the mushrooms, do not pull, otherwise, the casing layer will be damaged. Do not harvest the mushrooms too small, as you will harvest more weight. After harvesting, fill any damaged spots with moist soil. The second harvest will come 1–2 weeks after the first. A maximum of 6 harvests. Water regularly, but sparingly. After the third harvest, fewer mushrooms will appear, and you should also water less.

Planting time:

• All year

Soil type:

• All soil types

Location:

• Shade
• Indirect sunlight

• Flower colour: White to beige-brown
• Average growth height: Up to 30 cm
• Attractive to insects: N/A
• Annual or perennial: Perennial
• Hardy: Not frost hardy
• Origin: Europe
• Ease of cultivation: Easy

• Latin: Agaricus bisporus avellaneus
• Dutch: French mushroom
• Also known as: Chestnut mushroom
• English: French mushroom

• January - June, September - December