The mushroom growing handbook
From spawn to harvest, one stage at a time
Which mushroom suits your room, what to grow it on, how long each stage takes, and what to change when a kit sits still, dries out or turns green.
What temperature and humidity does your mushroom need?
Open the full conditions chart →The grow, stage by stage
Substrate, spawn, spawn run, fruiting, harvest. A kit starts you at fruiting; growing from spawn starts at the beginning.
- ·Choose a speciesMatch the mushroom to the temperature of the room you have, then to the method.0 notes · 0 gear guides
- ·Kit or ready blockA colonized block skips the first three stages. Check the ship date and start it soon.0 notes · 0 gear guides
- 1Prepare the substrateStraw is pasteurized, supplemented sawdust is sterilized. Aim for about 60 percent moisture.0 notes · 0 gear guides
- 2Add the spawnMix colonized spawn into cooled substrate with clean hands, then close the bag or bucket.0 notes · 0 gear guides
- 3The spawn runWhite mycelium grows through the substrate. Keep it at room temperature and leave it shut.0 notes · 0 gear guides
- 4Fruit the blockCooler air, high humidity, fresh air and daylight turn a white block into mushrooms.0 notes · 0 gear guides
- 5Harvest and afterPick the whole cluster at the right moment, rest the block, and fruit it again.0 notes · 0 gear guides
- ·Logs and outdoor bedsShiitake on hardwood logs and wine cap in wood chips: slow to start, productive for years.0 notes · 0 gear guides
Charts to pin by the grow shelf
Reference tables by species, with sources on every row and a clean print version.