Mushroom Growing Kit: The Easy Way To Become a Shroom Farmer (2024)

When I started growing my own food, one of the things I was most apprehensive about was growing mushrooms.

How is it done? Where do I start? What growing conditions do they need?

As it turned out, I was fretting for nothing, and it’s all thanks to mushroom growing kits. They are beginner-friendly and don't require special skills or equipment.

I’m happy to report I was able to grow my own mushrooms on the first try with the help of a mushroom growing kit.

If you’re thinking about becoming a mushroom farmer, consider this the push you need. I’ll talk about mushroom growing kits and everything you should know about growing your own mushrooms. You’ll also find my selection of the best available mushroom kits.

Understanding the Mushroom Life Cycle

I’m sorry if you guys nod off now as I’ll turn into a biology teacher now!

This is how a mushroom life cycle works —

Spore Stage

You may say that the lifecycle starts with spores. A spore is released from the gills of a mushroom cap. Now, you may imagine the spores as the seeds of mushrooms.

A mature mushroom can produce hundreds and thousands of spores. These spores are microscopic and can travel beyond the reach of the parent mushrooms.

Hyphae Stage

After the spores are spread across a substrate surface, they start grouping together.

Such a group of mushroom spores is called a hypha (plural hyphae)

An interesting thing is that male spores group together to create male hyphae and females group together to form female ones. Male and female spores don’t group together while forming hyphae.

Mycelium Stage

After the formation of hyphae, they start to look for hyphae of the opposite sex. And, male and female hyphae form together to create mycelium.

Mycelium is a web-like formation that binds to the substrate layer (ground).

Think of them as the root of the mushroom. However, in this context, the mushrooms are the “fruit”, not the plant.

The mycelium spreads out and creates a suitable condition for producing the mushroom.

Hyphal Knots Stage

At this stage, the mycelium has gathered up enough nutrition to produce mushrooms. And, pinheads are the first stage of the growth of the actual mushrooms.

The pinheads are visible to the naked eye.

However, the pinheads need nutrition and time to get into the shape of an actual mushroom.

The Fruitbody Stage

As I’ve mentioned, the pinheads or hyphal knots gather nutrition and start growing. After completing the elongation stage, the fruitbody selection matures and becomes an adult.

This final form is called mature fruitbody or mature mushroom.

Then, the spores form within the gills and the cycle continues.

Mushroom Cultivation Stages (WITHOUT A Mushroom Growing Kit)

If you’re cultivating mushrooms without a mushroom grow kit, you’ll follow the life cycle mushrooms go through when growing in the wild. However, there are a few key differences you want to make for optimal harvest.

Step 1: Start with the Spores

If you’ve decided to cultivate mushrooms without a growing kit, you should start by setting up the substrate. This is the growing medium for your mushrooms.

You can use a tray with dimensions approximately 14 by 16 inches and 6 inches deep. It can be made of any material — wood, metal, plastic.

Make a mix of compost and manure, and fill up the tray, but make sure to leave about an inch of space at the top. Once you’ve filled the tray, spread the spores on top.

You should do this in sterile conditions to avoid mold and fungi growth, as they will compete with the mushroom for growth. Remember to wash your hands before working with substrate and sterilize all the equipment you’ll use.

Step 2: Keep the Soil Moist

Mushrooms grow best in humid conditions, so you should keep the soil moist throughout the growing process.

You can use a spray and spray or mist the soil about twice a day. Alternatively, you can cover the soil with damp towels.

Step 3: Incubation Time

You should keep the soil temperature around 70 degrees for about three weeks. You can use a soil thermometer to check the temperature.

A good way to keep the soil at an ideal temperature is to keep the tray in a warmer part of your home. Or, you can buy a seedling heat mat. If you opt to buy a heat mat, choose one with temperature controls, and put it under the tray.

Step 4: Time to Lower the Temperature

You should start seeing mycelium on top of the soil. Once the mycelium covers the entire tray (it looks white), it’s time to bring the temperature down to 55 or 60 degrees.

If you’ve been using the heating pad, now it’s time to remove it. Once the temperature is down, cover the mycelium with an inch of potting soil.

After a couple of days, primordia, or tiny mushrooms, will start to be visible.

Step 5: Harvest Time

Again, how long your mushrooms will need to grow depends on what kind you’re cultivating. A good rule to follow is to harvest when caps are fully open and separate from the stems.

To harvest the mushrooms, use a sharp knife and cut the stem.

You can expect to have new mushrooms for about six months if you harvest them daily because they’ll keep releasing spores. Once the mushrooms stop growing, you can add more spawn.

Keep in mind that harvested mushrooms can’t last for a long time, and you should use them in a couple of days.

Mushroom Growing Tips and Tricks (The Care Guide)

Temperature

Mushrooms grow best in humid conditions and temperatures that are around 70 degrees.

If you’ve opted for growing mushrooms at home, go around your house with a thermometer, and check the temperature in different places. You’ll be surprised at the results, as our homes have many different microclimates, and the warmer ones are closer to the ceiling.

Set the mushroom kit or tray where the temperature is close to 70 degrees. Once it’s time, move to a place where the temperature is 55 to 60 degrees, or lower the temperature in the corner where you've placed the mushrooms.

Sunlight and Placement

I love mushroom growing because it takes up very little space, and they don’t need as much sunlight as many other plants and vegetables.

You can place the kit in a secluded area of your home, such as a cabinet, drawer, basem*nt, garage, and more.

As for the sunlight, because mushrooms don’t have chlorophyll, they don’t need light to grow. Dim light is enough, and it’s only needed for a couple of hours a day for successful fruiting.

Always remember to keep the kit away from the direct sunlight, as it’ll bother the mushroom.

Watering Tips

You don’t want to overwater the mushrooms because if they absorb too much water, it’ll impede mushroom growth.

Another thing not to do is soak the mushrooms in water because they can end up absorbing too much moisture.

My tip for keeping the air sufficiently moist is to cover the mushroom tray or box with a layer of burlap. This will allow the air to circulate, and it’ll trap a sufficient amount of moisture.

Another good rule to follow when watering mushrooms is to water them when the soil gets powdery. However, you have to think about the water temperature. Always let the water stand until it’s room temperature. This will also allow the chlorine to leave the water, which mushrooms don’t like.

Pest & Disease Control

Growing mushrooms indoors attracts a number of crop-damaging pests, such as:

• Cecid Fly — Multiplies rapidly and is rarely seen. Feeds on stipe, gills, and mycelium of mature mushrooms.
• Phorid Fly — Feeds on mycelium. Transmit fungal and bacterial diseases.
• Sciarid Fly— Is the most pervasive and voracious eater of mycelium and compost. It causes mushrooms to become brown and leathery.
• Nematodas — Their presence means there’s a problem in sanitation processes.
• Other pests such as beetles, spider mites, and larvae.

A good way to get rid of many insects is proper sanitation and pasteurization of the soil before growing a fresh crop.

To properly pasteurize the soil, you should raise the temperature to 140 degrees for about four hours.

Fertilizers

One final tip is on fertilizing your mushrooms. Mix a compost pile or an organic plant fertilizer with water, and give it to mushrooms twice a day.

The compost pile should be made up of organic materials, such as hay, straw, manure, and more.

How Are Mushroom Growing Kits Better for Newbies?

The perfect way to start growing mushrooms is to use a mushroom growing kit because you’ll have a very high chance of success.

Once you’ve experienced your first feeling of success and tasted delicious mushrooms you’ve grown yourself, you won’t ever want to stop.

One of the main reasons why using a mushroom kit is better for newbies is that you don’t need a ton of equipment, a special growing environment, or a fruiting chamber. You can do it with minimal expenses, right in your living room, if you choose so.

Most commonly found mushroom kits are for growing oysters, but others are available as well, such as for growing lion’s mane.

Once you order your kit, it’ll arrive ready to go: you’ll get a fully colonized fruiting block, usually in a box. The mycelium should have fully taken over the substrate.

All you have to do is cut an X on the plastic and wait for your mushrooms to grow (just be mindful where you place it, and spray it occasionally).

You Too Can Become a Mushroom Farmer with a Mushroom Growing Kit

Mushrooms have a mouth-watering taste and are an excellent source of dietary fiber, protein, vitamins, and other healthy nutrients. Not only that, but they have health benefits, such as decreasing the risk of obesity and heart disease.

There’s no reason why you, too, can’t enjoy all the mushroom benefits with a mushroom growing kit. It’s extremely easy to use, it requires minimum involvement on your part, and you’ll have multiple mushroom harvests. It’s also a fantastic and original Christmas gift idea.

Get familiar with the mushroom life cycle and the cultivation process, and for a plentiful mushroom flush, apply all the tips and tricks I’ve outlined above.

Happy mushrooming!