Growing oysters in layflat tubing

Layflat tubing is a simple way to grow oyster mushrooms in hanging columns of chopped straw or hardwood sawdust. Our 12″ tubing is about 30cm wide laid flat, and about 20cm across once filled.

Clear or black?

• Clear (250g) – the economical choice, sold by the metre.
• Black heavy-duty (400g) – preferred by some growers. It is less prone to algae, encourages mushrooms to grow out of the slits (the only light reaching them), and is less likely to tear, so it can carry heavier columns.

Filling a tube

1. Gather one end and tie it loosely with cord or a cable tie.
2. Fill in layers: about 10cm of chopped straw or sawdust, a sprinkling of spawn, and repeat.
3. Compact the column by pressing down or tapping the base on the ground, topping up as you go.
4. Tie off the top, leaving a loop (or a second cable tie) to hang it from.
5. Hang the column. A loose tie at the bottom lets excess water drain out.
6. Cut small X-shaped slits evenly around the column for air and for the mushrooms to grow through.

We cut tubing to any length. Straw and other substrates are in bulk growing materials.