Mushrooms are a hot trend at the moment. They come in all shapes and sizes, and many are delicious and healthy, too, making for an excellent addition to just about any wellness regime. Plus, they’re pretty easy to grow at home, especially with the help of a mushroom grow kit.
These kits are beginner-friendly and make it easy to have all sorts of freshly grown mushrooms with minimal effort. You don’t need to have any special skills or equipment to grow your own mushrooms. Plus, you don’t even need a big garden since many varieties can be grown indoors.
An indoor mushroom growing kit will allow you to grow edible mushrooms in just about any conditions – no space or light is required. They’re an excellent way to get a feel for what it’s like to farm mushrooms, and they can be added to your favorite recipes or dishes.
Using mushroom boxes is a simple way to grow your own chosen variety and explore the fascinating world of fungi. This guide discusses important things about growing mushrooms and looks at several of the best mushroom growing kits for beginners.
Mushroom Growing Logs and Kits: What Are They?
Mushroom kits generally include everything you need to get started growing your own nutritious and tasty mushrooms at home. It’s simply mushroom mycelium growing on a type of substrate.
To elaborate, mushrooms grow from tiny spores, not seeds. These spores require substances (substrates) like wood chips, sawdust, or straw for nourishment. Together, these nutrient sources and the spores produce what is known as spawn. The spawn supports the growth of the mycelium, which is the part of the mushroom that grows first – it grows beneath the surface and acts as the root system for the mushroom.
While the spawn itself could grow mushrooms, far better results are seen when the spawn is applied to a growing medium. Depending on the mushroom type, the growing medium could be straw, logs, wood chip, etc.
Typically, a mushroom kit includes either a box or a log already seeded with spores. In the case of a mushroom box, you grow your own in the box that the kit comes in – it’s prefilled with a specific substrate/growing medium. Alternatively, you may get a hand-cut log that contains pre-drilled holes filled with fungal spores or mycelium. The holes are covered with cheese wax to protect the fungi from insects and other natural predators.
There is a wide range of mushrooms to choose from when shopping for kits, but some are better than others. Generally, though, mushroom kits are low maintenance and simply require you to keep them moist and at a constant temperature.
What Is the Best Mushroom Growing Kit for Beginners?
Different mushroom kits contain different gear, but all of them come with a container, such as a box, jar, or bag, to grow mushrooms in. Additionally, all kits should include a substrate, as we discussed above.
When purchasing a beginner mushroom growing kit, most of the work has already been done for you. You’re simply required to open the kit, add water, and wait. Others may call for a little more effort but should include step-by-step instructions and don’t require any special expertise or equipment.
It’s essential to buy your mushroom kit from a reputable company committed to providing high-quality products. Specifically, high-quality spawn is necessary because it improves the chance of getting a big yield. It’s a good idea to research a brand and check customer reviews before making a purchase.
Here are six of the best mushroom growing kits for beginners.
Lion’s Mane Mushroom Growing Kit
Also known as hedgehog, bearded tooth, or pom pom mushrooms, lion’s mane is a unique-looking “tooth” fungus that is delicious and healthful.
Although rarely found in grocery stores, lion’s mane is popular among small-scale mushroom farmers and is becoming increasingly sought-after due to its brain-boosting potential. It has a distinct seafood-like flavor that many liken to crab or lobster and is often described as a culinary delight.
Lion’s mane is popular among small-scale mushroom farmers and is becoming increasingly sought-after due to its brain-boosting potential.
Lion’s mane is also one of the easiest mushrooms for beginners to grow at home. Check out North Spore’s lion’s mane growing kit for an easy-to-use option that requires minimal effort. It’s a Spray & Grow kit with an amended sawdust block covered with mushroom mycelium. Once set up, it should be placed in a humid area of your home, away from direct sunlight.
The kit comes with a spray bottle; the most important consideration is to water it generously since lion’s mane can dry out if humidity is too low.
Shiitake Mushroom Growing Kit
Shiitake mushrooms are a delicacy coveted by chefs around the world. They are prized for their rich, savory, versatile flavor that can be used in various dishes. They’re also packed with fiber, protein, and other beneficial nutrients, making for a healthy addition to every meal.
The best shiitake mushroom growing kits use log(s) as the growing medium. 2funguys sells pre-inoculated logs in several sizes, ranging between 6 and 18 inches in length and 3 to 6 inches in diameter.
The mushroom logs are hand-cut and pre-drilled. Each hole is filled with spores and sealed with cheese wax, so it’s ready to grow. Simply soak the log in cold water for 24 hours and then place it in a cool, dark spot indoors or a shady location in your backyard. The log can be stood upright or placed on its side for growing. You can mist it occasionally; read the instructions provided for watering.
Reishi Mushroom Growing Kit
Reishi has been used as a traditional medicine for hundreds of years, mainly in Asian countries. Now, it’s becoming more popular in the western world thanks to its numerous potential health benefits. Reishi is known as the mushroom of immortality and is often touted to boost the immune system.
Reishi has a distinctive appearance and is perfect for indoor growing. North Spore’s reishi mushroom growing kit is a fruiting block that measures 9x6x6 inches and weighs 5lbs. It’s fully colonized and ready to grow.
Reishi is one of the easiest species to grow indoors because they require up to no upkeep. You simply let the block produce the mushrooms inside the bag – the bag should not be opened. The kit should be placed away from direct sunlight and in a temperature range of between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. It does not need watering but requires ambient light to grow properly.
Maitake Mushroom Growing Kit
Maitake mushrooms are also named hen of the woods, and they grow wild in parts of China, Japan, and North America. Maitake is an adaptogen, which means it helps the body fight mental or physical difficulties. Moreover, adaptogens work to regulate systems in the body that have become unbalanced.
While maitake can be used in recipes for its flavor, it’s more commonly known as a medicinal mushroom. For the best maitake mushroom growing kit, check out Field Forest. The company sells maitake sawdust spawn in 2.5 lb. or 5.5 lb. bags, which will inoculate 6 or 12 logs, respectively. The kit also includes autoclavable bags, collars, and foam plugs.
The company recommends using the pressure cooker method to sterilize wood chunks before use. The kit includes growing instructions..
White Button Mushroom Growing Kit
White button mushrooms are one of the most cultivated and consumed mushrooms around the world. They’re delicious, versatile, and can be added to just about any meal. They are rich in nutrients like vitamin B and protein and are high in fiber and low in calories and fat.
Delicious and versatile, white button mushrooms are one of the most cultivated and consumed mushrooms around the world.
Mushroom Adventures sells a button mushroom growing kit that grows multiple harvests of mushrooms. The kit includes a completely colonized compost substrate covered in a casing layer. It’s a ready-to-grow kit; all you need to do is add water.
The company claims that crops grow back every 7 to 10 days until all nutrients from the kit are used up. The best temperature for growing is 60 – 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Be sure to read the instructions for a complete overview.
Turkey Tail Mushroom Growing Kit
Turkey tail mushroom growing kits are a little harder to come by. However, Smugtown Mushrooms has an easy-to-grow option for indoor cultivation.
It’s a sawdust mycelium kit that does well in colder temperatures. However, it does require moisture and humidity. The company claims that they have had good results growing turkey tail in a south-facing greenhouse in winter. It’s worth mentioning that turkey tail is very slow-growing, but relatively easy to grow.
This kit contains a bag of hardwood sawdust inoculated with turkey tail mycelium. It’s ready to “fruit” straight from the bag.
Turkey tail is so named due to its striking colors, which resemble a wild turkey’s tail. It has been used around the world for centuries to help treat various ailments. However, it’s most commonly touted for its immune-boosting properties.
What to Know About Indoor Mushroom Growing Kit
Growing mushrooms at home can be easy if you buy a high-quality kit from a reputable company and follow the step-by-step instructions provided. You don’t need much space and each mushroom growing kit we’ve shared with you can be grown indoors under the right conditions.
One of the most important considerations when growing your own mushrooms indoors is the moisture level. Mushrooms need moisture, and the kit should be placed in a location that suits its needs. The garage and basement are good locations since they have a high moisture level.
Temperature and light control are also important factors. Different species may have slightly different requirements, so be sure to read the guidelines. Finally, mushrooms need a sterile environment, so hygiene is important. Be sure to wash your hands and sterilize any equipment before getting started.
All in all, a DIY mushroom growing kit is a good place to start if you’re new to the process because it will supply you with everything you need. Plus, it should come with a detailed instruction guide.
This article covers some of the best growing kits for beginners. But there are many other mushroom varieties out there, so if there is another species of mushroom you love and would like to grow, you may be able to find it too. Just be sure to research the company and check customer reviews to ensure you’re buying from a trustworthy source.
