Manual - Nameko grow kit

STEP 1

Take the grow kit out of the box. The block often needs a few days to recover from the journey.

STEP 2

Use a sharp knife or a pair of scissors to cut a cross of about 4 by 4 cm in the plastic. The clusters of nameko will grow out of that cross.

STEP 3

Do not put the block in direct sunlight and not too close to the heating. Our supplier gives 18 to 28 degrees for a controlled growing room, but we have by far the most success with this species simply outdoors, in partial shade. Outdoors it follows the season and comes mainly in late summer and autumn, as soon as it turns humid. Indoors, high humidity matters more than the exact temperature. Stand the block on a wet cloth to raise the humidity and keep the surface at the cross moist with a plant sprayer.

After one to three weeks small yellow brown knobs appear. From that moment on, high humidity matters even more.

STEP 4

Harvest the nameko when the caps have a fine orange brown colour and feel slightly glossy or slimy. That layer belongs there and is exactly what nameko is known for. Pull the clusters off the block whole.

STEP 5

Keep the block moist after harvesting. New knobs appear after a few weeks. You can usually harvest two to three times. Once the block is exhausted it serves excellently as compost.