Mushrooms are very flexible, and many people are interested in growing their own mushrooms for self-sufficiency.
The great news is that there are a few very cool mushroom growing kits available that makes growing fungi very easy, even for a beginner.
However, there are two things you will want to consider when choosing your mushroom growing kit.
What to Consider: We put together some helpful information on finding the right mushroom growing kit, and some of our favorite mushroom growing kits. Let’s dive in!
Choosing Your Mushroom Growing Kit
When purchasing a mushroom growing kit, one of the considerations you will need to think about is the type of mushroom you would like to try and grow.
While there are literally thousands of mushroom species, not all mushrooms are edible, some mushrooms can be very toxic and some edible mushrooms can cause allergic reactions so it’s important to grow something safe!
Typically, you will find kits for:
- shiitake
- portobello
- crimini
- morel
- oyster
- and the white button mushroom.
If you want to try something more exotic, you may also find kits for making reishi mushrooms, too!
When you are considering some mushroom species, it is important to know that each species requires a different level of care and levels of conditions for the mushroom to propagate.
Some mushrooms, like white button mushrooms, need manure and wool pulp, and while shiitake mushrooms need a wood environment like sawdust of logs.
And, you will want to determine if you can keep them indoors because some mushrooms only do well outdoors.
Fortunately, there are a pile mushrooms growing kits that will make it practical as possible to grow mushrooms and give you a lot of options in species!
The Best Mushroom Growing Kits For Beginners
We’ve been exploring different mushroom growing kits available on the market right now and I must say we’ve been quite impressed.
So, we thought we would share our favourite mushroom growing kits with you!
1. Root Mushroom Farm Lion’s Mane Gourmet Mushroom Kit
The beauty of this extraordinary mushroom grow kit is that it can be used at any time of year!
This is especially good for beginners who want to get going immediately and will have everything they need in one box.
You will grow the mushrooms inside the included humidity tent and, once you start the spraying, you can see them start to grow quickly in as little as seven days!
Also, the detailed instructions are so useful for beginners, and I think it’s a great way for anyone to get started in learning about these amazing fungi!
2. Back To The Roots Organic Pink Grow Kit
If you’re looking for something a little more exotic, this pink grow kit will be the ticket.
It contains all you need to get started, and is 100% organic which means it’s safer and tastier! It requires misting two times a day and needs ideal placement in a dark window. With this care, you can expect results in approximately ten days.
Most importantly, the best part is that it can be used at any time of the year! So we think it would be a great gift for that friend or family member who loves gardening, but wants to try something new.
3. Mushroom Mojo Shiitake Mushroom
If you’re a novice that wishes to have more of a hands-on experience with growing mushrooms, this is a kit we’d highly recommend.
You will need to have a log or stump ready, but the kit comes with 100 shiitake mushroom plugs for you to inoculate yourself.
This kit will take a fair amount of time for the first fruit; approximately 12 to 18 months.
But with all that patience will come rewarding crops, because when cared for, the mushrooms will continue producing for many years.
Growing Tips to Make Your Mushrooms Thrive
If this is your first time growing mushrooms, you might feel a little intimidated.
After all, they are not like your standard fruit or vegetables, and therefore they require a bit of a different care.
Below you will find some great tips to help you on your first mushroom growing adventure.
Moisture Levels
New mushroom growers often experience frustration with the slow speed of mushroom growth.
The speed of the mushrooms growing can be increased by providing them with the right moisture, which means providing humidity at the right environmental set-up for the species.
All mushrooms require higher moisture levels, so a humidity tent or similar piece of equipment is a great choice, but if you don’t have a humidity tent, then something like a laundry room or basement may also be suitable.
What to consider when growing mushrooms: A lot of people are tempted to grow the mushrooms in a bathroom, and while this is a nice humid environment, it’s still an environment with many microorganisms that are potentially harmful to the mushrooms. Again, be sure to mist them regularly to keep the moisture levels balanced.
Mushroom Spawns
If you are cropping mushrooms, it is important to ensure that the spawn you will be using for your substrate is a good quality spawn.
Whichever specie sourced, the spawn that contains the mycelium must be from a good reputable supplier.
Mycelium is the fungal equivalent of roots, the future mushroom will begin to develop from the spawn location on the substrate and if the mycelium is not healthy, you cannot expect a healthy mushroom crop.
The good news is, if using a kit sold by reputable suppliers, the kit should include everything needed for successful mushroom cultivation.
Growing Your Mushrooms at the Right Time
Mushrooms, similar to all living organisms, must grow in conditions that support growth that includes growing them at the correct time of the year.
Typically, you will find that mushrooms generally grow best in the spring or immediately after summer when temperatures are between 60 and 85ºf for optimal outcomes.
If the weather is too dry, like it would be during the height of summer or during the dead of winter, mushrooms don’t grow very well, if at all.
That being said, there are other species of mushrooms, like oyster mushrooms, that would qualify for this exception.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a simple and fun way to try growing mushrooms for the first time, a mushroom growing kit is only going to make the experience easier and more rewarding.
You won’t have the hassle of spawning the spawn yourself, which can be quite challenging! You simply “grow and go.”
That said, you may run into some complications so you will need to learn when, and how, to grow the mushrooms, and our easy growing tips will put you on the path to success.