If you like the idea of growing your own mushrooms, then you’re probably wondering which mushrooms can be grown at home. You might not even be sure if it’s a good and viable idea. However, there’s no need to worry. In this article, we’ll provide you with an overview of growing mushrooms at home.
Growing your own mushrooms is a very rewarding process. It not only saves costs, but you also get fresh and healthy mushrooms that you can include in your meals. And you know what? The process can be really easy if you know what you’re doing. Even if you’re a beginner who hasn’t tried their hands on growing something at home, you will still do just fine. Let’s begin with choosing the kind of mushrooms that you want to grow.
Here are some of the mushrooms that you can grow at home:
- Pearl Oyster
- King Oyster
- King Stropharia
- Lion’s mane
- Shiitake
- Velvet Pioppini
Let’s learn more about each of them in further detail below!
1. Pearl Oyster
Pleurotus ostreatus, commonly known as pearl oysters, are one of the best choices for beginners who want to grow mushrooms at home. You can easily cultivate this species in a jar or a bucket. When it comes to ease of growing, the pearl oyster is inarguably our top choice of mushroom species.
When it comes to fruiting substrates, pearl oysters are extremely flexible and will grow on about anything that can sustain them. Although they prefer pasteurized straw or sawdust, they can also fruit on any waste product that contains lignin and cellulose.
If you’re looking for outdoor options, then you can grow pearl oysters on stumps or hardwood logs. Fresh coffee grounds are also a great option for growing your mushrooms at home. However, you’ll have to be extra careful because their nutrient-rich content makes the coffee beans prone to contamination.
Pearl oysters are very resilient and can grow in a variety of conditions. They grow best in an environment with temperatures ranging between 45-77°F. When given the right conditions and healthy substrate, pearl oysters take 2 to 3 weeks of time from inoculation to fruiting.
2. King Oyster
Similar to pearl oyster, king oysters are another excellent mushroom variety to grow at home. They taste delicious and offer a meaty touch to your meals. You can barbecue them or serve them as sliced pieces. King oysters are a delicacy that offers a crispy and chewy experience when stir-fried.
King oysters are grown in the same manner as pearl oysters. They have the same requirements for substrate and external conditions. When you have become comfortable with growing pearl oysters, you have to give king oysters a try. They offer a tasty addition to your kitchen.
3. King Stropharia
King Stropharia or Garden Giant (scientific name: Stropharia rugosoannulata) are another variety of mushrooms that you can grow at home. It is one of the easiest to grow because it can sustain a broad range of conditions. It also tastes extremely delicious.
King Stropharia grows best in hardwood chips as fruiting substrates. It can also grow in waste products and straw. This species of mushrooms can grow in a broad range of temperature conditions from about 41°F to 95°F.
The garden giant needs lots of moisture to produce healthy and nutrient-rich mushrooms. This mushroom variety takes a long time from the inoculation stage to fruiting. In good growing conditions, king Stropharia will take about 4 to 6 months to fruit.
4. Lions Mane
Hericium Erinaceus, commonly known as a lion’s mane, is another important part of our list of mushrooms to grow at home. Growing this species is a little trickier than the others we have mentioned so far. However, the benefits offered by the lion’s mane make the hassle worth it. Not only is lions mane a delicious mushroom, but it also has several medicinal qualities.
In the outdoors, lion’s mane grows on logs, while in the indoors, you can grow it on hardwood sawdust. When growing it on hardwood sawdust, make sure you supplement it with 10%-20% wheat bran. High spawn rates ensure that the colonization happens fully.
Incubate the spawn for 10 to 14 days at room temperature. Shake it often and make sure you look out for think colonization.
For fruiting, you need to maintain a temperature between 60 °F to 70°F. Lion’s mane also needs a damp environment with humidity at 90%. Spray the fruits regularly while they grow.
5. Shiitake
Shiitake, or Lentinula edodes, is a great outdoor cultivation option for beginners. They grow on logs easily. This species of mushrooms takes a little longer to fruit, but when you inoculate a few logs every season, you’ll have a steady supply of mushrooms at all times.
Shiitakes can grow on a wide variety of hardwood logs. For best results, use beech, oak, or alder. Other substrate options include eucalypts and sawdust. For fruiting, this species requires a climate with a temperature between 57°F to 68 °F.
Shiitakes take a long time from the stage of inoculation to fruiting. Based on the physical conditions and the log’s inoculation rate, it can take them between 6 to 12 months to fruit. In the case of sawdust, it takes them 7 to 10 weeks to fruit.
6. Velvet Pioppini
Velvet pioppini, or Agrocybe aegerita, is the last one on our list of mushrooms to grow at home. This mushroom offers a delicious taste with a crunchy touch.
The preferred substrate for velvet pioppini is hardwood sawdust. You can use it for cultivation in jars, logs, and stumps. Pioppinis like the cold; their preferred temperature is 55°F to 64°F.
These mushrooms fruit during the spring season. They take a long time from inoculation to fruiting. It can take them up to a year to fruit in the case of outdoor log cultivation. For indoors, it can take them up to 6 weeks.
Where can I Grow Mushrooms?
Part of growing mushrooms at home is to look for the right kind of environment and location. Mushrooms need a humid, dark, and cool environment to grow. So, the basement is the ideal place in your house for growing mushrooms. You can also work with space under the sink or any other spot that offers similar conditions.
It’s essential that you test the temperature in the place that you intend on growing mushrooms. The temperature should fall between the range of 55 °F and 60°F. Make sure the spot for cultivation is away from direct heat or sunlight.
If you can wait, then start growing your mushrooms in winter, so they have the right conditions. If you’re using the basement for growing mushrooms, make sure they aren’t disturbed by any other stuff.
Some types of mushrooms only grow outdoors. You need a little bit of experience before you dive into growing mushrooms outdoors. They grow on logs and prepared grounds and require a very long time to fruit, i.e., six months to two years.
How can I Grow Mushrooms at Home?
When it comes to growing your own mushrooms at home, you have multiple options to go with. For indoor cultivation, you have to first decide what kind of material you want to use.
For beginners, we recommend buying a mushroom growing kit. Mushroom kits contain a growing medium that is already inoculated with your choice of mushroom spawn. This makes the process of growing mushrooms easier and quicker. The kit comes with everything that you’ll need to get started on the process.
Without a kit, the process can be daunting for beginners. You’ll have to choose what type of mushroom to grow. Then, you’ll have to determine the right substrate for growing that particular mushroom. However, that doesn’t mean that it is impossible for beginners to grow mushrooms from scratch. With an eye for detail and extensive research, you can pull it off.
To sum it up, you can begin your mushroom growing journey at home by using one of these three methods:
- Purchase a mushroom cultivation kit: This method is quick and easy, which makes it ideal for beginners. You can get these kits online or from a trusted gardening store.
- Buy spawn: You can inoculate your own substrate by purchasing spawn online or from a local supplier.
- Make your own spawn and mushroom cultures: Making your own mushroom cultures is usually not recommended for beginners. This method is for people who want to grow their own mushrooms from scratch. It requires a sterile area for you to cultivate spawn and cultures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Now, let’s answer some of the frequently asked questions about growing your own mushrooms.
What is the most profitable mushroom to grow?
When it comes to profitability, oyster mushrooms are the best choice. These gourmet mushrooms are found in a large variety, such as black oyster, gray oyster, pearl oyster, pink oyster, yellow oyster, and white oyster.
All these types are easy to grow. The reason for their high profitability is that they are easy and quick to grow. In total, the entire process of growing mushrooms takes only six weeks. That is why oyster mushrooms are an excellent choice if you want to start growing mushrooms for a profit.
What are the best mushrooms to grow?
There are several types of mushrooms that you can easily. They taste delicious and are easy to maintain. Here is our list of best mushrooms to grow at home:
- Black Oyster
- Gray Oyster
- Pearl Oyster
- Pink Oyster
- White Oyster
- Yellow Oyster
- Lion’s Mane
- Shiitake
- Reishi
- Enoki
- Morel
Is it easy to grow your own mushrooms?
The answer to this question varies depending on your level of expertise, the type of mushroom you want to grow, and the environmental conditions available to you. Mushrooms are very easy to grow indoors. That is because it’s easier to control the indoor environment.
In the outdoors, you don’t have much control over humidity, heat, and light. Most mushrooms require high humidity and low temperatures to grow properly. So, growing mushrooms is definitely easy if you know what you’re doing. If you’re a beginner, growing mushrooms with a kit is the easiest option for you.
Can I grow mushrooms from store-bought mushrooms?
Yes, you can. Mushrooms can easily be grown from store-bought mushrooms. You can use their stems to grow more mushrooms. Using this method is easy and quick because you don’t need spores as you already have the mycelium on the fungi.
Final Thoughts
Growing your own mushrooms at home can be a fun journey. You get access to fresh and delicious mushrooms for your meals. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced cultivator, growing mushrooms is for all. We recommend growing oysters, lion’s mane, velvet pioppinis, and shiitakes at home.
Make sure you provide appropriate conditions for them to grow and produce fresh and healthy mushrooms. If you have any more questions or comments, feel free to drop them below!