|
Stromrider
This must be the place



Registered: 06/02/13
Posts: 7,325
Loc: Dept of know what I'm say...
Last seen: 1 day, 7 hours
|
What I've learned with black pearl oysters
#27321823 - 05/24/21 09:08 PM (2 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
I put the black oyster in my rotation a few months ago after hearing many good things. Everyone was definitely right. It's an awesome mushroom and a great money maker for any small mushroom farm. It's easy to grow, yeilds well, and does great on masters mix
When I started with these I couldn't really find much info so I thought I'd share what I've learned so far. I tried a few different things and have settled on top fruiting. It's more labor intensive to harvest but i think it's worth the effort.
I tried slitting the bag and growing like oysters to start with. It did well and I was getting a little over a lb off a 5lb block. Only problem was there was a huge chunk of mostly unusable product at the base of the cluster
I tried a few different ways of top fruiting and have settled on leaving the block to colonize for 3 weeks and then cutting the top off just below the filter patch. I don't wait for them to pin in the bags like kings because it's just unnecessary and seems to decrease yeild
Once I put them in the growroom they only take a few days to pin. They pin all around the edge

Once the pins are about an inch tall I put a couple cuts in the bag and fold it down. This isn't really necessary but you end up with much cleaner mushrooms. The shit on the sides of the bag get all over the mushrooms since they grow around the edges

A couple days later they're ready to harvest. Its not near as easy as just grabbing a cluster off a block but we have to remember many of us are charging super premium prices for what we grow and it's that extra mile that makes the difference. Even if you're just growing for personal consumption you want the best the mushroom has to offer. I still end up with just over a lb and it's all usable.
 
Hope this helps. They do end up a little smaller than just cutting a slit but I think that makes for better presentation anyway
|
deadmandave
Slime


Registered: 02/16/10
Posts: 3,352
Loc:
Last seen: 3 hours, 2 minutes
|
Re: What I've learned with black pearl oysters [Re: Stromrider]
#27321914 - 05/24/21 10:50 PM (2 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
Beautiful, thanks for sharing.
I wanna give them a try. How much spawn do you use per bag?
|
junior c
junior c


Registered: 04/08/20
Posts: 42
|
Re: What I've learned with black pearl oysters [Re: deadmandave]
#27321937 - 05/24/21 11:30 PM (2 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
Great write up and great looking mushrooms! My black pearl strategy is similar to you minus the pre-fold cuts.
Do you bother with a 2nd flush? It takes about 3 weeks for my second flush to come around. I'm folding the bag back up and resealing it with a ziptie between flushes.
Your using grain spawn? Am also getting about a lb off the first and 1/2 lb off the second. This is with 1/5 qt of rye.
-------------------- "Existence has overpowered books. Today, I slew a Mushroom" - Emily D
Edited by junior c (05/24/21 11:32 PM)
|
Allan Cash
despite
Registered: 04/25/21
Posts: 61
Last seen: 2 years, 2 months
|
Re: What I've learned with black pearl oysters [Re: Stromrider]
#27322038 - 05/25/21 03:11 AM (2 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
beautiful mushrooms. what is their fruiting temperature?
|
Stromrider
This must be the place



Registered: 06/02/13
Posts: 7,325
Loc: Dept of know what I'm say...
Last seen: 1 day, 7 hours
|
Re: What I've learned with black pearl oysters [Re: Allan Cash]
#27322442 - 05/25/21 10:54 AM (2 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
I'm using 1 5lb grain spawn bag to around 15 production blocks. Occasionally if I'm a little behind or don't have enough spawn I'll use a good looking production block to inoculate more blocks
I don't 2nd flush anything for many reasons. Turn and burn baby
My growroom stays around 65 degrees
|
deadmandave
Slime


Registered: 02/16/10
Posts: 3,352
Loc:
Last seen: 3 hours, 2 minutes
|
Re: What I've learned with black pearl oysters [Re: Stromrider]
#27322936 - 05/25/21 05:38 PM (2 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
You got some monsters growing there junior. That's awesome, good to hear from both of you how low rate of spawn you're using. My kings suffer if I drop below half a quart...
Did you get your grow room cooling sorted, Strom?
|
Stromrider
This must be the place



Registered: 06/02/13
Posts: 7,325
Loc: Dept of know what I'm say...
Last seen: 1 day, 7 hours
|
Re: What I've learned with black pearl oysters [Re: deadmandave]
#27322946 - 05/25/21 05:49 PM (2 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
Yea I think so. Hottest day of the year so far yesterday at 91 degrees and I was able to maintain it to no higher than 68. Id prefer it a few degrees cooler but I think that will do.
Plus I got my king trumpet sells switched to blacks for the summer and everyone seems pleased with them. I honestly personally prefer them to eat over kings.
|
Allan Cash
despite
Registered: 04/25/21
Posts: 61
Last seen: 2 years, 2 months
|
Re: What I've learned with black pearl oysters [Re: Stromrider]
#27323013 - 05/25/21 06:46 PM (2 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
how do you maintain your temperatures low and also keep humidity?
|
Blackrainbow2
Stranger



Registered: 12/16/20
Posts: 371
Loc: right behind U
Last seen: 2 years, 2 days
|
Re: What I've learned with black pearl oysters [Re: Allan Cash]
#27323218 - 05/25/21 10:09 PM (2 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
Did you find that they will grow Myc on the fruit body...I found they would often start fuzzing up on the caps... thought it was mold at first.. but several of mine were doing it..
|
taku
° shapeshifter ∆



Registered: 12/05/20
Posts: 731
Loc: Canada
Last seen: 15 hours, 29 minutes
|
Re: What I've learned with black pearl oysters [Re: Stromrider]
#27323222 - 05/25/21 10:13 PM (2 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
These look so smooth. How's the taste compared to trumpet?
--------------------
|
junior c
junior c


Registered: 04/08/20
Posts: 42
|
Re: What I've learned with black pearl oysters [Re: taku]
#27323703 - 05/26/21 09:44 AM (2 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
They differ from trumpets in texture. Still dense, but more spongy, not as firm as kings. I don't detect any anise taste like some other oysters. Here they are after simmering in a marinade and then bbq'd. I agree with stromrider. Kings are great, but I like these more. One of my favourites.
-------------------- "Existence has overpowered books. Today, I slew a Mushroom" - Emily D
|
junior c
junior c


Registered: 04/08/20
Posts: 42
|
Re: What I've learned with black pearl oysters [Re: junior c]
#27323720 - 05/26/21 09:58 AM (2 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
Also, for comparison. Here's a batch fruited from a side hole and another grown outside in a pot last year. The outside one was made from 2 spent blocks broken up and packed into an old hanging basket.
-------------------- "Existence has overpowered books. Today, I slew a Mushroom" - Emily D
|
|