We all know about seeds many of which make good eating as well as perpetuating a species. Peas, beans, pumkin, carraway, lentils and sunflower seeds are all useful in the kitchen. Spores are less edible.

What is a Spore

• A spore is a small reproductive cell produced by certain fungi, moss and ferns.
• The main difference between spores and seeds is that spores have little food storage compared with seeds. Hence they are not generally eaten by animals.
• Spores are produced in large numbers to increase the chance of a spore surviving.
• Spores are often distributed in the wind.
• Spores can last for many years before producing offspring.
• Mushrooms are grown from spores called spawn.

Oyster Mushrooms

These are one of the varieties of mushroom that can be grown from kits supplied by
Thompson & Morgan below are their growing instructions.

‘Mushroom – Oyster ‘Pleurotus ostreatus’
There are numerous species of mushrooms and increasingly many exotic varieties are being used for their remarkable flavours in oriental cooking, as well as countless other recipes. At Thompson & Morgan we are great advocates of growing your own vegetables, so why not try something a little bit different, and grow your own mushrooms? Mushroom growing may seem complicated but our easy to grow kits are provided with full instructions and require no specialist equipment. Oyster Mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) These mushrooms have a thick, soft texture with a subtle flavour. Can be eaten cooked or raw and are often used in Oriental cooking. The wooden dowels supplied are impregnated with mushroom mycelium ready to ‘plant’ into a hardwood log by drilling a hole and pushing them in. Within several months you will have your own home grown mushrooms, and crops should continue up to 5 times annually for up to 5 years. Kit contains 100 Dowels, Wax, Wax Applicator and Instructions. Please note that these dowels are available all year, however the logs should be cut during the trees dormant season, between leaf fall in autumn and early spring, and it is recommended that the dowels are planted in the log no longer than 6 weeks after the log has been cut. Please note that mushroom orders may take up to 4 weeks for delivery.’