Beginner’s Guide to Growing Mushrooms

A First Timer’s Guide to Getting Started with Mushroom Cultivation

If you’ve ever walked through the woods of Western PA after a rainy day, you’ve probably noticed mushrooms popping up everywhere. From bright orange chanterelles to big, meaty chicken-of-the-woods, our forests are full of wild fungi. But what if you could grow your own right at home?

As a homesteader, I’ve found that mushrooms are one of the most rewarding (and surprisingly easy) things to grow. They don’t need much space, they can thrive in shady spots, and best of all, they provide delicious food while improving the soil. Whether you’re looking to grow mushrooms for your kitchen, to sell at farmers’ markets, or just for fun, this guide will walk you through the basics of starting your mushroom hobby—no fancy equipment or special skills required.

Let’s dig in and get growing!

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Introduction to growing Mushrooms

If you’ve ever thought about growing your own mushrooms but weren’t sure where to start, hold my beer. Whether you want to grow them for fresh food, as a fun hobby, or even as a small business, mushrooms are one of the most rewarding and low-maintenance crops you can cultivate. They don’t take up much space, they grow in places most plants won’t, and they’re packed with flavor and nutrition.

As a homesteader in Western PA, I’ve found that mushrooms fit perfectly into a self-sufficient lifestyle. They’re not just something you forage in the woods—they can be grown right in your kitchen, basement, backyard, or even on logs in the woods. But like any new skill, there are choices to make before you dive in. Do you start with a ready-to-grow kit for quick results? Or do you want to take the hands-on approach and learn to cultivate mushrooms from spores?

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know as a beginner—from choosing the right method to troubleshooting common problems—so you can start growing mushrooms with confidence. Whether you’re looking for an easy first experience or want to go all-in on DIY cultivation, you’ll find everything you need to get started right here, The Beginner’s Guide to Growing Mushrooms!

Buy Oyster Mushrooms in Ligonier

Close up of Pink Oyster Mushrooms – A great starter mushroom to grow that is easy and beautiful to grow.

Choosing Your Mushroom Growing Method

Mushroom Grow Kits: The Easiest Way to Start Growing Mushrooms

If you’re new to mushroom growing and want a simple, low-effort way to get started, a mushroom grow kit is the perfect choice. These kits take all the guesswork out of the process by providing a pre-inoculated substrate (the material mushrooms grow on) that’s ready to start fruiting. This means you don’t have to worry about sterilization, contamination, or complex growing setups—just follow a few easy steps, and you’ll have fresh mushrooms in no time!

What is a Mushroom Grow Kit?

A mushroom grow kit is a pre-made block of substrate that has already been colonized with mycelium (the root-like structure of fungi). The hard work of inoculating and incubating the mushrooms has already been done for you. All you need to do is provide the right environment—usually moisture, airflow, and the right temperature—to encourage your mushrooms to start growing.

Most grow kits come in a sealed bag or box with easy-to-follow instructions. Some even come with their own misting spray bottle, so all you need to do is cut open the kit, mist it daily, and wait for your first flush of mushrooms.

Why Choose a Grow Kit?

If you’re new to mushroom growing and want the easiest, fastest way to get started, a mushroom grow kit is the perfect choice. These kits come pre-inoculated and ready to fruit, meaning you can skip the complicated steps of sterilization and inoculation. With just a little misting and the right environment, you can see mushrooms start growing in as little as 7-14 days. Unlike other methods that require special equipment and weeks of waiting, grow kits provide a low-maintenance, high-success option for beginners who want fresh mushrooms without the hassle.

✅ Beginner-Friendly – No experience or special equipment needed.

✅ Fast Results – Many kits start producing mushrooms within 1-2 weeks after setup.

✅ Low Maintenance – Just mist with water daily and keep in a suitable environment.

✅ Low Risk of Contamination – Since the substrate is already colonized, there’s less chance for mold or unwanted bacteria to take over.

✅ Experiment with Different Mushroom Types – Kits allow you to test different species before committing to a larger setup.

 

Best Mushroom Types for Grow Kits

Most grow kits come with beginner-friendly mushroom species that are fast-growing and forgiving. Here are some of the most popular options:

  • Oyster Mushrooms (Pleurotus spp.) – One of the easiest mushrooms to grow, producing beautiful and delicious clusters in a variety of colors (blue, pink, yellow, and pearl).
  • Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus) – A unique, shaggy white mushroom with a mild, seafood-like flavor and potential brain-boosting health benefits.
  • Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) – A flavorful mushroom often used in cooking, slightly slower-growing but worth the wait.
  • Chestnut Mushrooms (Pholiota adiposa) – A great choice for gourmet cooking, with a nutty, earthy flavor.

Oyster Mushrooms

Lion’s Mane

Shiitake

Chestnut Mushrooms

Sarting with Spawn: A Hands-On Approach to Growing Mushrooms

If you’re ready to dive deeper into mushroom cultivation and take control over more of the process, starting with spawn is a logical next step. While it requires a bit more effort than a pre-made grow kit, this method gives you more flexibility, larger yields, and the ability to start grow mushrooms continuously without buying new kits every time.

What is Mushroom Spawn?

Mushroom spawn is essentially the “seed” of mushrooms that have “Rooted” in a substrate such as grain. It consists of mycelium (the fungal network) growing on a nutrient-rich material like grain, sawdust, or wooden dowels. Instead of planting seeds like you would with vegetables, you use spores to inoculate (introduce mycelium into) a growing medium (substrate).

Once the mycelium spreads and fully colonizes the substrate, it’s ready for next steps.

Why Start with Spawn Instead of a Grow Kit?

✅ More Mushroom Variety – You can choose from dozens of mushroom species, including rare and gourmet varieties.

✅ Continuous Growing – Unlike a one-time grow kit, starting with spawn allows you to grow multiple batches over time.

✅ Larger Yields – You can grow bigger harvests by choosing the right substrate and expanding your spawn.

✅ Cost-Effective – While there’s an initial learning curve, growing from spawn saves money in the long run compared to buying kits repeatedly.

✅ Learn the Full Process – You’ll gain a deeper understanding of mushroom cultivation, which opens the door to more advanced techniques.

Types of Mushroom Spawn

Before you start, you’ll need to choose the right type of spawn based on your growing setup.

  • Grain Spawn – Mycelium grown on grains like rye, wheat, or millet.
    • Best for: inoculating bulk substrates like straw, sawdust, or compost.
    • Great for: growing in tubs, bags, or buckets indoors.
  • Sawdust Spawn – Mycelium grown on sawdust.
    • Best for: inoculating logs or outdoor mushroom beds.
    • Great for: growing shiitake, lion’s mane, and oyster mushrooms.
  • Plug Spawn – Small wooden dowels covered in mycelium.
    • Best for: inoculating logs for outdoor mushroom farming.
    • Great for: long-term mushroom growing on trees like oak, maple, and beech.

Choosing a Substrate (Growing Medium)

Different mushrooms thrive in different substrates. Here are some of the most common options:

  • Straw – Great for oyster mushrooms. Requires pasteurization to kill contaminants.
  • Hardwood Sawdust/Chips – Ideal for shiitake, lion’s mane, and maitake.
  • Coffee Grounds – A sustainable option, but best mixed with other substrates.
  • Compost/Manure – Great for button mushrooms and portobellos.
  • Logs (Hardwood) – Used for long-term outdoor growing with shiitake or oyster mushrooms.

Best Beginner Mushroom Species to Grow with Spawn

  • Oyster Mushrooms – Fast-growing and forgiving, great for straw or sawdust.
  • Shiitake Mushrooms – Thrive on hardwood logs or sawdust blocks.
  • Lion’s Mane – Grows well in sawdust or supplemented hardwood substrates.
  • Button & Portobello Mushrooms – Best grown in compost or manure.
  • Wine Cap Mushrooms – Excellent for outdoor garden beds.

Starting with Spores: Inoculating Your Own Jars

If you’re looking to take complete control over the mushroom-growing process, inoculating your own jars with a spore syringe is the most hands-on approach. This method allows you to grow mushrooms from the very beginning, watching as mycelium develops from spores and colonizes your chosen growing medium. While it requires patience and sterile technique, it’s a rewarding way to cultivate mushrooms on your own terms.

What is a Spore Syringe?

A spore syringe is a liquid solution containing mushroom spores suspended in sterile water. These spores act like seeds, but instead of sprouting roots and leaves, they develop into mycelium—the fungal network that eventually produces mushrooms.

With a spore syringe, you can inoculate sterilized jars of substrate, kickstarting the mycelium’s growth and creating your own spawn from scratch.

Why Start with Spores Instead of Spawn?

✅ Full Control – You create your own spawn from the ground up.
✅ Cost-Effective – A single spore syringe can inoculate multiple jars, saving money over time.
✅ More Mushroom Variety – Spores are widely available for both common and exotic mushrooms.
✅ Long Shelf Life – Spore syringes can be stored for months in the fridge before use.

However, spores take longer to develop into mycelium compared to using ready-made spawn. The process requires strict sterilization techniques to avoid contamination.

Best Substrates for Spore Inoculation

To grow mushrooms from spores, you need a sterile, nutrient-rich medium for the mycelium to colonize. The most common choice for beginners is sterilized grain jars, which act as an ideal growing environment before transferring the mycelium to a bulk substrate.

Common Substrates for Spore Inoculation:

  • Brown Rice Flour (BRF) & Vermiculite Jars – Best for beginners, often used in the PF Tek method.
  • Sterilized Grain Jars (Rye, Wheat, or Millet) – Great for transferring to bulk substrates like sawdust or straw.
  • Liquid Culture (LC) – Allows you to expand spores into a nutrient-rich liquid for faster colonization.

Understanding Mushroom Life Cycles

Understanding the Mushroom Lifecycle: How Fungi Grow from Spore to Harvest

Before you start growing mushrooms, it helps to understand their lifecycle. Unlike plants, mushrooms don’t grow from seeds—they come from spores, which develop into mycelium, the underground (or in-substrate) network that eventually produces the mushrooms we harvest.

By understanding each stage of growth, you’ll be better prepared to troubleshoot problems, optimize your growing conditions, and get the best possible harvest.

The Four Stages of the Mushroom Lifecycle

Mushrooms go through four key stages from spore to full fruiting body:

  • Spores (The Beginning of Life)
  • Mycelium (The Underground Network)
  • Pinning (Baby Mushrooms Start Forming)
  • Fruiting (Mushrooms Grow to Harvest Size)

Stage 1: Spores – The Mushroom “Seed”

What Happens:

  • Mushrooms release millions of microscopic spores into the air.
  • Unlike plant seeds, spores don’t contain nutrients and must land in the right environment to grow.
  • When spores land on a suitable surface (like a substrate), they begin to germinate and form mycelium.

Key Takeaways for Growers:

  • If you’re inoculating jars with a spore syringe, this is the stage you’re starting with.
  • Spores take time to germinate—expect 1-2 weeks before seeing signs of growth.
Stage 2: Mycelium – The Growing Network

What Happens:

  • Spores develop into thread-like structures called hyphae, which fuse together to form mycelium.
  • Mycelium spreads through the substrate, breaking down nutrients to fuel its growth.
  • A healthy white mycelium network is a sign that your mushrooms are developing properly.

Key Takeaways for Growers:

  • If you’re starting with spawn, you’re skipping the spore stage and beginning with already-developed mycelium.
  • Colonization is the process of mycelium fully taking over the substrate.
  • This stage takes 1-4 weeks, depending on species, temperature, and substrate type.
  • Contamination (green, black, or foul-smelling growth) can occur in this phase—proper sterilization and clean handling are critical!
Stage 3: Pinning – Baby Mushrooms Appear

What Happens:

  • Once the mycelium fully colonizes the substrate, it enters the fruiting phase when triggered by changes in humidity, fresh air, and light.
  • Tiny mushroom pins (also called primordia) begin forming—these are baby mushrooms!
  • This is a critical stage—without proper humidity and airflow, pins can dry out or fail to develop.

Key Takeaways for Growers:

  • To encourage pinning, you need high humidity (80-90%), fresh air exchange, and indirect light.
  • If your mycelium is fully colonized but not pinning, try misting more often or adjusting airflow.
Stage 4: Fruiting – Mushrooms Grow & Mature

What Happens:

  • Pins rapidly grow into full-sized mushrooms over 5-14 days, depending on the species.
  • As mushrooms mature, they develop caps and gills (or pores, depending on the type).
  • Once fully grown, mushrooms will eventually release spores, restarting the cycle.

Key Takeaways for Growers:

  • Mushrooms grow FAST in this stage—check them daily!
  • Harvest just before the veil under the cap breaks for the best texture and flavor.
  • Some substrates will produce multiple flushes (new rounds of mushrooms) after the first harvest—just mist and wait!

Putting It All Together: The Mushroom Lifecycle in Action

Stage What’s Happening? Timeframe What You Need to Do
Spores Spores land on a substrate and start germinating. 1-2 weeks If using spores, keep the environment sterile and warm (70-75°F).
Mycelium Growth (Colonization) Mycelium spreads through the substrate, feeding and preparing for fruiting. 2-4 weeks Keep in a warm, dark place and avoid disturbing until fully colonized.
Pinning (Primordia Formation) Tiny mushroom pins form as the mycelium starts fruiting. 3-7 days Increase humidity, provide fresh air, and expose to indirect light.
Fruiting (Mature Mushrooms) Mushrooms grow quickly and are ready for harvest. 5-14 days Maintain humidity and airflow; harvest before caps fully open.

Why Understanding This Matters for Growing Success

  • Knowing the different stages of growth helps you diagnose problems (slow growth, no pinning, contamination).
  • You can adjust your growing environment to optimize each

Essential Equipment for Mushroom Growing

(Based on the Spore Inoculation Approach – The Most Hands-On Method for Beginners)

Before you start growing mushrooms, you’ll need the right equipment to set up your growing operation. While some methods—like using a grow kit—require minimal gear, starting from spores and inoculating your own jars requires a bit more preparation. This section covers everything you’ll need to sterilize, inoculate, colonize, and fruit your mushrooms successfully.

If you’re interested in a simpler setup, you can skip some of these steps by using pre-made spawn or a mushroom grow kit instead. But for those who want full control over the growing process, here’s what you’ll need.

Sterilization & Clean Workspace Equipment

The key to success in mushroom cultivation is keeping your growing environment as sterile as possible. Contamination from bacteria or mold can ruin a whole batch before it even starts!

Pressure Cooker or Autoclave

(Required for Sterilizing Substrate & Tools)

  • A pressure cooker (like an All-American 921) or an autoclave is essential for sterilizing grain jars and liquid culture.
  • Spores need a completely sterile environment to grow—boiling alone isn’t enough to kill competing bacteria.
  • Why? Proper sterilization at 15 PSI for 90 minutes eliminates contaminants that could compete with mushroom mycelium.

👉 Alternative: If you’re using pre-sterilized substrate (like North Spore’s sterilized grain bags), you may not need a pressure cooker.

Gloves, Alcohol Wipes & Isopropyl Alcohol (70% or Higher)

(Required for Maintaining a Clean Workspace)

  • Always sanitize your hands, tools, and work surfaces before handling spores or mycelium.
  • 70% isopropyl alcohol is preferred over 90% because it evaporates slower, killing more bacteria.
  • Why? Contamination is one of the biggest challenges in mushroom growing. Keeping everything sterile increases your chances of success.

👉 Pro Tip: If you can, work in a still air box (SAB) or in front of a laminar flow hood for better sterility.

Still Air Box (SAB) or Laminar Flow Hood (Recommended for Clean Inoculations)

  • A Still Air Box (SAB) is an enclosed plastic bin with hand holes cut into it. This prevents airborne contaminants from landing on your sterilized substrate.
  • A Laminar Flow Hood is a high-end setup that uses a HEPA filter to create a constant flow of sterile air.
  • Why? Reduces contamination risk when inoculating jars, making transfers, or working with agar plates.

👉 Alternative: If you don’t have a SAB or Flow Hood, work in a small, clean room with minimal airflow and disinfect all surfaces before inoculation.

Inoculation Equipment

This is where you introduce spores into your growing medium (substrate) to begin the mushroom lifecycle.

Spore Syringe or Liquid Culture Syringe

(Required for Inoculating Jars)

  • A spore syringe contains millions of mushroom spores suspended in sterile water.
  • A liquid culture syringe contains already germinated mycelium in a nutrient-rich solution (faster growth than spores).
  • Why? Spores take longer to develop but offer a wider variety of strains, while liquid culture speeds up the process.

👉 Where to Buy? High-quality spore and liquid culture syringes are available at North Spore.

Sterilized Jars (or Grain Bags) with Injection Ports

(Required for Spore Inoculation)

  • Mason jars with self-healing injection ports or pre-sterilized grain bags are used to incubate spores into mycelium.
  • Why? This acts as the “nursery” for mycelium before transferring it to bulk substrate.

PRO TIP

Use a brown rice flour & vermiculite (PF Tek) jar setup if you’re a beginner, or grain jars (rye, wheat, millet) for bulk growing.

Make your own mushroom grain jar lids

These jar lids are pretty easy to make if you have a drill, a few drill bits and the right components. 

Homemade Mushroom Jar Lids

Alcohol Lamp or Lighter (Required for Sterilizing Needles)

  • Use an alcohol lamp or butane lighter to flame sterilize the needle of your spore syringe before every jar injection.
  • Why? Prevents cross-contamination and ensures spores are injected into a sterile environment.

👉 Pro Tip: Heat until red-hot, then let cool for 5-10 seconds before injecting spores.

Incubation Equipment (Colonization Phase)

After inoculation, you need the right conditions for the mycelium to grow and fully colonize the substrate.

Temperature-Controlled Incubation Area (Recommended for Faster Growth)

  • Mycelium colonizes best at 70-75°F (21-24°C). Too cold, and growth slows; too hot, and bacteria thrive.
  • Why? A stable environment speeds up colonization while reducing contamination risks.

👉 Alternative: If your home is cold, use a heat mat with a thermostat to maintain the right temperature.

Fruiting Chamber & Growth Environment

Once your mycelium has colonized the substrate, you need the right conditions to trigger fruiting and grow mushrooms.

🏠 Fruiting Chamber or Grow Tent (Required for Growing Mushrooms Indoors)

  • A Monotub (clear plastic tote with holes for airflow) is great for fruiting bulk substrate.
  • A Martha Tent (mini greenhouse with humidifier and fans) is perfect for controlled, high-yield grows.
  • Why? These maintain high humidity and fresh air exchange, which mushrooms need to fruit.

👉 Pro Tip: If using a grow bag or log, you can skip a full fruiting chamber—just mist regularly!

Indirect Light Source (Required for Pinning & Fruiting)

  • Mushrooms don’t need direct sunlight, but they need some light to trigger pinning.
  • A 6500K daylight LED light or indirect window light works best.

👉 Pro Tip: Avoid direct sun, which can dry out your mushrooms.

Harvesting & Storage Equipment

Mushroom Harvesting Knife (Recommended for Clean Harvesting)

  • Use a sharp harvesting knife or scissors to cleanly cut mushrooms at the base.

👉 Pro Tip: Twisting and pulling mushrooms can damage the substrate, reducing future flushes.

Drying Rack & Dehydrator (Recommended for Long-Term Storage)

  • Use a food dehydrator (like the Excalibur 9-Tray) for the best results.
  • Mushrooms should be dried until they’re completely crisp—no flexibility.

👉 Pro Tip: Store dried mushrooms in an airtight jar with a silica pack for long shelf life.

Humidity Control: Misting Bottle & Humidifier (Required for Fruiting Mushrooms)

  • Mushrooms need 80-90% humidity to grow properly.
  • A simple misting bottle works for small grows, but a cool mist humidifier helps for larger setups.

👉 Pro Tip: Use a hygrometer to monitor humidity levels inside your fruiting chamber.

Final Thoughts: The Right Tools for the Job

While spore inoculation requires the most equipment, it also gives you the most control over your grow. If you’re looking for a simpler way, you can skip sterilization by using pre-made spawn or a grow kit instead.

🔗 Looking for high-quality supplies? Check out North Spore for spore syringes, sterilized grain bags, fruiting chambers, and more!

Now that you know what equipment you need, let’s dive into step-by-step instructions for growing mushrooms from spores! 🚀

Step-by-Step Growing Instructions

Getting Started:

I am going to go through this step-by-step for an Oyster Mushroom yeild using grain, spores and bags.  The purpose of this step-by-step guide is to get you started with a successful yield if you have never grown mushrooms before.

Prepping your grain.

Common Mushroom Species for Beginners

If you’re new to growing mushrooms, choosing the right species is key to a successful and rewarding experience. Some mushrooms are easier to cultivate than others, requiring less maintenance and specialized equipment. Below are some of the best beginner-friendly mushroom species and what makes them great choices:

1. Oyster Mushrooms (Pleurotus spp.)

Why They’re Great: Oyster mushrooms are one of the easiest and fastest-growing varieties, making them ideal for beginners. They thrive on various substrates and require minimal care.

Flavor & Use: Mild, slightly sweet flavor with a tender texture. Great for stir-fries, soups, and sautéing.

Growth Time: 2-4 weeks from inoculation to harvest.

2. White Button Mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus)

Why They’re Great: These are the most commonly consumed mushrooms and are relatively easy to grow indoors. They require a compost-based substrate.

Flavor & Use: Mild and versatile; great for salads, pizza, and sauces.

Growth Time: 3-4 weeks to pinning, with multiple harvests.

3. Shiitake Mushrooms (Lentinula edodes)

Why They’re Great: Beginner-friendly, especially when grown on logs or sawdust blocks. They require moderate humidity and airflow.

Flavor & Use: Rich, umami-packed flavor with a firm texture. Great for soups, risottos, and stir-fries.

Growth Time: 4-6 months on logs, 6-8 weeks on sawdust blocks.

4. Lion’s Mane Mushrooms (Hericium erinaceus)

Why They’re Great: Unique-looking mushrooms that grow easily on hardwood substrates and require moderate humidity.

Flavor & Use: Mild, seafood-like taste, often compared to crab or lobster. Works well as a meat substitute.

Growth Time: 4-6 weeks.

5. Wine Cap Mushrooms (Stropharia rugosoannulata)

Why They’re Great: Also known as King Stropharia, they grow well in outdoor beds, wood chips, or straw with minimal maintenance.

Flavor & Use: Earthy, nutty flavor. Great for grilling, roasting, or pasta dishes.

Growth Time: 6-8 weeks, with seasonal harvests.

Which One Should You Choose?

If you want a fast-growing, easy option, oyster mushrooms are best. For a common grocery-store variety, go with white button mushrooms. If you prefer gourmet flavors, shiitake and lion’s mane offer unique tastes. For outdoor growing, wine cap mushrooms are a great choice.

Whichever you choose, growing mushrooms is a fun and rewarding experience that allows you to enjoy fresh, homegrown fungi in your cooking!

Troubleshooting & Common Issues

(Coming Soon)

Harvesting & Storing Your Mushrooms

(Coming Soon)

Expanding Your Mushroom Hobby

(Coming Soon)

Additional Resources & Next Steps

(Coming Soon)

Mushroom Growing FAQs

Are mushroom growing kits worth it?

If you love eating fresh mushrooms or are curious about growing your own, then mushroom kits are absolutely worth it! They’re a fun, easy way to get a quick introduction to mushroom cultivation. With so many brands and species available, a little research can help you find the best kit for an enjoyable and rewarding experience.