Blue Oyster Mushroom Grow Kit by Oakland Mushroom Co. | Handmade with Organic Ingredients | Ready to Grow | Harvest in 7-10 Days

I feel like a kid just trying out something that I've always been curious about, growing mushrooms. I don't think I'll do this on a regular basis unless they turn out phenomenally, but it looked like so much fun I couldn't resist. Since my Vine evaluation period is ending very soon, I wanted to get the review in but they have not started to grow yet, but everything looks great so far. The smell is very earthy, and kind of mushroomy I guess, but it's not a bad rotten smell at all. It arrived fresh and moist, and I could see a little dew on the inside of the bag which seemed appropriate. They mentioned something about a "humidity bag", which I don't know if it was supposed to be an additional "tent" type of bag to keep in the humidity, but I can't find anything like that. I have an old aquarium that I've placed over it and set the bag in an aluminum baking tray. I also read that cooler temperatures below 70 F will produce more of a blue color, so these are in my basement since I keep my house well above 70 in the winter. This would be fun for kids, but I actually didn't like mushrooms at all until later in life, and I can't wait for my first harvest. If I find anything disappointing I'll have to submit an update, but I'm confident it will turn out well, thanks!

The mushroom grow kit arrived as a sealed bag that contains the inoculated substrate, a humidity bag, a sticker, and a temporary “mushroom tattoo” accessory that gives the set a playful, gift‑ready appearance. The instructions are delivered on a QR‑code sheet, which is large enough to read and includes the essential steps for setting up the kit. The substrate itself is composed of 100 % organic hardwood and wheat pellets, so the product is marketed as a natural, safe option for home growers. After opening the kit I placed the bag in a well‑ventilated area on the kitchen counter, began daily misting, and maintained the humidity level as directed. The mushrooms emerged within a week, filling the cluster rapidly, and the first harvest was fresh and flavorful when sautéed with garlic and butter. The overall growth cycle was quick and straightforward, and the final product tasted better than typical store‑bought varieties. However, there were a few drawbacks: the kit emitted a noticeable odor during the growth period, and on one occasion the substrate produced only a strong, dark mold with no mushrooms at all. In short, the kit delivers a low‑effort, inexpensive way to grow fresh mushrooms at home. It works well for users who keep the humidity controlled and follow the instructions closely, yielding tasty, fast‑growing produce. The primary risks are the potential for mold development and an off‑putting scent, so a clean workspace and careful monitoring are advisable. Overall, it is a solid option for beginners and those looking for a quick kitchen experiment, but it requires attentive care to avoid the pitfalls reported.

This is a mushroom grow kit from Oakland Mushroom, and at first glance it absolutely looks like a bag of mold and moss. Which, to be fair, is more or less what it is. If you’re new to grow kits, that initial moment of “should I be worried about this?” is part of the experience. Presentation-wise, it’s actually pretty solid. The kit comes with a sticker and what I believe is a temporary mushroom tattoo, which is a fun touch and nudges it firmly into “giftable” territory. Instructions are via QR code rather than paper, which I normally prefer. But in this case, the QR sheet is big enough they could have put some basic instructions too. Everything arrived clean, intact, and looking as expected. I haven’t gotten far enough along to comment on yield or growth rate yet, so consider this an early-stage review. That said, nothing about the kit so far feels sketchy or half-baked and it should be pretty fun to watch (and eventually eat. Mmmm, tasty). It looks intentional, reasonably well thought out, and like something that would make a nice low-effort gift for someone who likes plants but doesn’t necessarily want another houseplant to keep alive. I’ll update if it goes spectacularly well or terribly wrong. For now, it’s doing exactly what a mushroom grow kit should do: quietly existing on my counter and daring me to trust it.

Very few mushrooms

This grew a very stinky dark mold and did not grow mushrooms.

This is the 2nd kit of mushrooms I've grown. The instructions provided with this kit are easy to follow, basically add water to soak everything for about half a day, drain, and cut an X into one side, and keep it humid. It has a large volume of white material which is common in a mushroom grow kit. As the days progress, this gets larger as the mushroom gets ready to grow its fruiting body. My kit is at 10 days so far, and I can see it getting ready to grow the visible mushrooms. I have high hopes for it and will do a "steak" with its first growth. According to the kit, it can do a second growth after a subsequent soak. Hopefully it has enough vigor. After the second growth, I'll try to inoculate a log with it, and see what happens (this is my own endeavor and not the intention of this kit). While you can certainly buy mushrooms at the store for less, this is a fun experience for a reasonable price. It would make a great gift, and be an educational experience with kids.