{"product_id":"king-trumpet-oyster-colonized-agar-plate","title":"King Trumpet Oyster Colonized Agar Plate","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mgk-product-content\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFully colonized King Trumpet Oyster (\u003cem\u003ePleurotus eryngii\u003c\/em\u003e) agar plate\u003c\/strong\u003e, grown from our master culture and 1st-generation isolated genetics — the same strain we use in our King Trumpet liquid culture syringes and grow kits. Each plate is produced fresh at our Illinois lab on standard malt extract agar (MEA), fully colonized before it ships, and ready to ship from inventory — usually within 1 business day.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mgk-callout mgk-callout-ships\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e✓ Usually Ships Next Business Day\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eUnlike most agar plate sellers who make plates to order with 2–4 week lead times, our plates are colonized and held in inventory — ready to ship from our Illinois lab. Most orders ship within 1 business day; multi-item orders may take an additional 1–2 days to process.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy King Trumpet on Agar?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKing Trumpet — also sold as King Oyster, King Brown, French Horn, or simply \"eryngii\" — is the largest and meatiest of the cultivated oyster mushrooms. Instead of the thin, fan-shaped caps other oysters produce, it grows thick, dense white stems topped with small tan caps, and the stem is the prize. Beyond the size, King Trumpet offers:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMeat-like texture\u003c\/strong\u003e — the stems stay firm and chewy when cooked. Sliced into rounds and seared, they're a well-known scallop substitute; shredded, they work like pulled meat.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLong shelf life\u003c\/strong\u003e — one of the longest-keeping gourmet mushrooms at 7–10 days refrigerated, far more forgiving than Golden or Pink Oyster for storing or selling\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCool-to-moderate fruiting\u003c\/strong\u003e — fruits best at 55–65°F, filling the gap between Blue Oyster and the warm-weather oysters\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeavy yields by weight\u003c\/strong\u003e — dense stems mean each flush weighs more than it looks\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKing Trumpet is a step up in difficulty from the other oysters — it wants a supplemented hardwood substrate and more attention to fresh air and humidity during pinning — which makes a clean, vigorous starting culture especially valuable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eShatterproof Polypropylene Plates\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery King Trumpet plate ships in a \u003cstrong\u003e90mm polypropylene Petri dish\u003c\/strong\u003e — not the standard polystyrene used by most agar sellers. Polypropylene flexes under impact instead of cracking, which means your plate arrives intact even after rough handling in transit. This is a meaningful upgrade: a cracked plate isn't just a damaged product, it's a contamination risk, since a crack breaks the parafilm seal and exposes the culture to airborne contaminants. We chose polypropylene specifically to eliminate that problem.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e(The exception in our lineup is Lion's Mane, which uses clear polystyrene to maximize contrast against our specialty black agar.)\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat You'll Receive\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOne 90mm polypropylene Petri dish\u003c\/strong\u003e, parafilm-sealed for sterility during transit\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e~18mL malt extract agar (MEA)\u003c\/strong\u003e — our standard formulation for gourmet species\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFully colonized\u003c\/strong\u003e with healthy, bright-white King Trumpet mycelium (typically 90–100% coverage at ship time)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e1st-generation isolated genetics\u003c\/strong\u003e from our master culture — the same strain in our King Trumpet LC syringes and grow kits\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLab-inspected for contamination before ship\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProduced fresh at Myco Labs (Illinois, USA)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow to Use Your Agar Plate\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA single colonized agar plate is one of the most versatile tools in mushroom cultivation. From one plate, you can:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTransfer to grain\u003c\/strong\u003e — cut a small wedge of colonized agar and place it onto sterilized grain (rye, our 5-grain blend, etc.) to create grain spawn. King Trumpet typically colonizes grain in 10–14 days.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCreate liquid culture\u003c\/strong\u003e — transfer agar wedges into sterile liquid media to produce your own LC syringes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eExpand to more plates\u003c\/strong\u003e — divide one plate into 8–10 fresh plates to start a long-term genetic library\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIsolate strong sectors\u003c\/strong\u003e — pick the most vigorous growth and transfer it to a fresh plate to refine your genetics over generations\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNew to agar work? See our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.midwestgrowkits.com\/blogs\/blog-1-growing-101-more\/how-to-use-agar-plates-for-mushroom-cultivation-2026-guide\"\u003egrain transfer tutorial.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eKing Trumpet Growing Characteristics\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mgk-spec-table\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLatin name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cem\u003ePleurotus eryngii\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCommon names\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eKing Trumpet, King Oyster, King Brown, French Horn, Eryngii\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMycelium appearance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBright white, dense and cottony; less rhizomorphic than other oysters\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eColonization speed on agar\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate — typically 7–12 days at 72–78°F\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePreferred grain\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRye or our 5-grain blend\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFruiting substrate\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSupplemented hardwood sawdust or masters mix — does not perform well on straw alone\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFruiting temperature\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e55–65°F\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAppearance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eThick white stems 2–6\" tall with small tan-to-brown caps\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFruiting habit\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIndividual fruit bodies or small clusters of thick stems\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFlavor profile\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMild, savory umami; firm, meaty texture — excellent seared, grilled, or roasted\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShelf life\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLong — 7–10 days refrigerated\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntermediate — more demanding than other oysters\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUse category\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGourmet (culinary)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePlate Specifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mgk-spec-table\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlate size\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e90mm Petri dish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlate material\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePolypropylene — shatterproof, flexes under impact\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAgar type\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStandard malt extract agar (MEA)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAgar volume\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e~18mL\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeal\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eParafilm M, lab-grade\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSterility\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePoured and inoculated under HEPA-filtered laminar flow\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSterility \u0026amp; Quality Standards\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery plate is poured, inoculated, and inspected at Myco Labs under HEPA-filtered laminar flow. Plates are sealed with parafilm immediately after inoculation and incubated in a dedicated clean room until fully colonized. Each plate is visually inspected for contamination before being approved for shipment — if it doesn't look right, it doesn't ship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eShipping \u0026amp; Handling\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll agar plates are produced ahead of time and held in inventory — they are not made-to-order. Most orders ship within \u003cstrong\u003e1 business day\u003c\/strong\u003e of being placed. Multi-item orders (especially those including grow kits, grain spawn, or other made-fresh products) may take \u003cstrong\u003e1–2 additional business days\u003c\/strong\u003e to process so we can pack everything together. Orders placed Friday afternoon, weekends, or holidays ship the next business day.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlates ship in insulated, padded packaging via USPS Priority Mail (typically 2–4 days in transit). In summer months (May–September) or to hot-climate destinations, we include a cold pack at no additional cost. Inspect your plate within 24 hours of arrival — minor condensation on the lid is normal and harmless. Store in a cool, dark place (55–70°F) until ready to use; an unopened, sealed plate stays viable for 60–90 days at room temperature, or 6–12 months refrigerated at 35–40°F.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eRecommended Companion Products\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/king-trumpet-oyster-liquid-culture-syringe-10cc\"\u003eKing Trumpet Oyster Liquid Culture Syringe\u003c\/a\u003e — same genetics, ready-to-inject format\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/king-trumpet-oyster-mushroom-grow-kit-5lbs\"\u003eKing Trumpet Oyster Mushroom Grow Kit (5 lbs)\u003c\/a\u003e — skip the lab work and go straight to fruiting\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/grain-spawn\"\u003eGrain Spawn Bags\u003c\/a\u003e — for transferring your colonized agar to bulk\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/colonized-agar-plates\"\u003eBrowse All Colonized Agar Plates\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdetails class=\"mgk-faq\"\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs King Trumpet the same as King Oyster? What about King Blue Oyster?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKing Trumpet and King Oyster are the same mushroom — \u003cem\u003ePleurotus eryngii\u003c\/em\u003e. You'll also see it sold as King Brown, French Horn, or \"eryngii.\" \u003cstrong\u003eKing Blue Oyster is a different mushroom\u003c\/strong\u003e: it's a large-capped strain of \u003cem\u003ePleurotus ostreatus\u003c\/em\u003e (the Blue Oyster species) and grows like a classic oyster, with big caps and short stems. If you want the thick, meaty stems, King Trumpet is the one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails class=\"mgk-faq\"\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow does King Trumpet compare to Blue, Pink, and Golden Oyster?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll four are \u003cem\u003ePleurotus\u003c\/em\u003e species, but King Trumpet is the odd one out. \u003cstrong\u003eBlue, Pink, and Golden Oyster\u003c\/strong\u003e are fast, forgiving, and produce thin caps that fruit happily on straw. \u003cstrong\u003eKing Trumpet\u003c\/strong\u003e is slower, prefers supplemented hardwood, and needs more attention during pinning — but it rewards you with dense, meaty stems and a shelf life two to three times longer than the other oysters. Many growers start with Blue or Pink Oyster and move to King Trumpet once they're comfortable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails class=\"mgk-faq\"\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I grow King Trumpet on straw?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot well. Unlike most oysters, King Trumpet is a poor performer on pasteurized straw alone. For best results, use supplemented hardwood sawdust or a masters mix (roughly 50\/50 hardwood sawdust and soy hulls), sterilized rather than pasteurized. Fruiting in a bag with a small opening at the top helps the stems grow thick and long.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails class=\"mgk-faq\"\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow fast do these ship compared to other agar plate sellers?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMost orders ship within 1 business day. Compare that to other agar plate sellers (including the larger names in the industry) who make plates to order, meaning you wait 2–4 weeks after ordering for the plate to be poured, inoculated, and colonized. Ours are produced on a rolling schedule and held in inventory fully colonized, ready to ship the moment you order. Multi-item orders may take an additional 1–2 business days to process so we can pack everything together.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails class=\"mgk-faq\"\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy do you use polypropylene plates instead of polystyrene?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePolypropylene plates flex under impact instead of cracking. A cracked plate isn't just damaged — it's a contamination risk, since the crack breaks the parafilm seal and exposes the culture to airborne contaminants. Polypropylene eliminates that problem entirely. The plates cost us more, but the result is that your culture arrives intact and uncontaminated. (Our Lion's Mane plates are the one exception — those use clear polystyrene to maximize visual contrast against our specialty black agar.)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails class=\"mgk-faq\"\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAre these the same genetics as your liquid culture syringes and grow kits?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Every agar plate is grown from our master culture and 1st-generation isolated King Trumpet strain — the same genetics in our LC syringes and grow kits. Lab-tested, commercial-grade, and refined over multiple generations for vigor and yield.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails class=\"mgk-faq\"\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow long will the plate stay viable?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn unopened, parafilm-sealed plate stored at 55–70°F in a dark place stays viable for 60–90 days. For longer storage, refrigerate at 35–40°F, where it can stay viable for 6–12 months. King Trumpet handles cold storage well and recovers quickly once brought back to room temperature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails class=\"mgk-faq\"\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I use this plate to make grain spawn directly?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — that's one of the most common uses. Under a still-air box or laminar flow hood, cut a small wedge (about the size of a pencil eraser) from the colonized plate and drop it into a sterilized grain spawn bag or jar. King Trumpet typically colonizes grain in 10–14 days at room temperature — a bit slower than the other oysters.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails class=\"mgk-faq\"\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow should I cook King Trumpet mushrooms?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe stems are the star. Slice them into thick rounds, score a crosshatch on each face, and sear in a hot pan with butter or oil for a scallop-style dish. You can also slice lengthwise and grill, roast at 425°F, or shred with a fork and pan-fry for a pulled-meat texture. King Trumpet holds its shape through almost any cooking method and stays firm rather than going soft.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails class=\"mgk-faq\"\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat if my plate arrives contaminated or damaged?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe guarantee every plate ships in clean, fully colonized condition. If you receive a contaminated or damaged plate, contact us within 5 days of delivery with a photo and we'll replace it free of charge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Myco Labs","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49966524268693,"sku":"AGRKT","price":20.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0712\/0679\/7461\/files\/King_Trumpet_Colonized_Agar_Plate.png?v=1790020667","url":"https:\/\/www.midwestgrowkits.com\/products\/king-trumpet-oyster-colonized-agar-plate","provider":"Midwest Grow Kits","version":"1.0","type":"link"}