Blue Oyster (Pleurotus ostreatus) is a fast substrate colonizer with a strong bluish-gray hue. It produces richly umami mushrooms with a soft, meaty texture that pairs well with most dishes. Oyster mushrooms are great for beginners because they colonize quickly and are reliable producers.  As our most productive oyster strain, blue oysters are reliable, cold-tolerant, and fruit prolifically in early spring or late fall. They are also ideal for commercial cultivation, especially when grown on straw.  Recommended use: Blue oyster sawdust spawn can be used for log projects and/or outdoor bed, container, and bucket projects. Blue oyster sawdust spawn must combined with a substrate (like straw) or used in log inoculation in order to fruit.  If growing on logs, one bag of sawdust spawn will reliably inoculate 20 logs. Blue Oyster log chart: BEST WOOD SPECIES* Aspen, Cottonwood, Tuliptree, Willow OTHER SUITABLE SPECIES Ailanthus, Alder, Basswood, Beech, Birch, Box Elder, Buckeye, Chinese Tallow, Elm Hackberry, Hophornbeam, Hard Maple, Soft Maple, Mulberry, Palm, Pear, Sassafrass, Sweetgum, Sycamore AVOID Ash, Hemlock, Oak Upon receiving your spawn: Remove it from the shipping box as soon as possible. Then, unfold the top of the bag, making room for air space. It's also important to check and confirm that the filter patch is not obstructed. This will help the organism breathe and continue to thrive!