Growing vegetables can take a little effort and space in garden beds or containers, but growing mushrooms is for anyone! “It’s not at all difficult,” says Mike Snyder, amateur mycologist of WildWise Botanicals and cultivation committee member of the North American Mycological Association. “Mushrooms are beautiful and mysterious, and it’s simple and satisfying to grow mushrooms because anyone can do it in your garage, basement or apartment.”
There are so many techniques for growing mushrooms right in your own home. In the last few years, the popularity of this hobby (which mushroom enthusiasts call the “‘shroom boom”) has exploded, and many mushroom growing kits are now available. These kits will contain everything you need to grow mushrooms so they’re perfect for beginners. Within a week or so, you’ll have mushrooms for all your favorite mushroom recipes!
If you’re more adventurous, you can also grow mushrooms without the help of a kit using a few inexpensive supplies. All you need is a bucket, a growing medium (called a substrate), and mushroom spawn, which contains mycelium that will grow into the substrate. “When the mushroom mycelium has eaten the substrate and gained enough nutrients, it will reproduce. These fruiting bodies are what we eat,” says Snyder. Keep in mind that, overall, the cost of purchasing the individual components (substrate, lime, and spawn) yields more mushrooms than a self-contained grow kit, but it also will require more work.
Here’s what you else need to know about how to grow mushrooms.
What are the easiest types of mushrooms to grow?
Oyster, shiitake, and lion’s mane are all good choices for beginners. The easiest of the bunch is oyster, says Snyder. Order a grow kit or pick one up at your local farmer’s market. They typically yield a pound or two of mushrooms, a few weeks apart.
Where can I grow mushrooms?
You can grow mushrooms year-round indoors if the conditions are right. Follow the grow kit instructions, but generally, mushrooms like high humidity, moderate temperatures, and indirect light. A basement is a great place to start!
How do I grow mushrooms without a kit?
You can absolutely grow mushrooms without a kit! It’s definitely more hands-on, but you’ll also harvest more mushrooms. To get started, you’ll need a bucket, substrate (growing medium), powdered lime, and mushroom spawn. Take a five-gallon plastic bucket, and drill 10 to 12 holes in a diamond pattern about 4 to 6 inches apart on the side; this aids air transfer so the fungi don’t suffocate, says Snyder.
Next, prepare your substrate, which provides the nutrition for growing the mushrooms. While you can use anything from toilet paper to coffee grounds to kitty litter, straw is an easy and inexpensive choice, says Snyder. You’ll need to chop it into 3- to 4-inch long pieces, then pasteurize it by soaking in a lime bath. The powdered lime raises the pH to kill other competing organisms that might try to grow in your substrate.
Then, mix in (or “inoculate”) your moist substrate with spawn. Again, oyster mushrooms are a good choice for novices. A ½-pound block of spawn will inoculate about 7 to 8 buckets; you can order online or purchase through a local mushroom producer. Keep your bucket at a moderate, but not freezing, temperature, such as in the basement. You won’t need to water it, but once the tiny mushrooms start to poke through the bucket’s holes, you can mist them lightly with a spray bottle.
How long does it take to grow mushrooms?
In a few weeks, you should have mushrooms that you can harvest! It really is that easy. You’ll usually get a few pounds of mushrooms several weeks apart. When your bucket stops producing, empty it all in your composter, where it may surprise you and keep growing mushrooms!
You also can grow mushrooms such as shiitakes outdoors in a log. But that’s more complex and takes 6 to 12 months before you’ll have a harvest. However, many local mushroom clubs offer workshops to help novices learn to grow mushrooms with these more advanced techniques.
Shop These Supplies for Growing Mushrooms
Shiitake Mushroom Log Kit
Mister Spray Bottle
North Spore Pink Oyster Grow Kit
Arricca Elin SanSone has written about health and lifestyle topics for Prevention, Country Living, Woman's Day, and more. She’s passionate about gardening, baking, reading, and spending time with the people and dogs she loves.
