What types of gourmet mushrooms are easiest to grow at home?
Oyster mushrooms, shiitake, and lion’s mane are among the easiest gourmet mushrooms to grow at home. Oyster mushrooms are highly adaptable and can thrive on various substrates, making them ideal for beginners. Shiitake and lion’s mane require slightly more specific conditions but are still manageable, offering unique flavors and textures that make the effort worthwhile.
While all these varieties are a great first choice, there are a few considerations that may push you toward starting with a particular mushroom such as taste, ease of grow, health benefits, etc.
Oyster Mushrooms
Oyster mushrooms are usually the popular choice for beginner. This might the best choice for you if you prefer a mild, savory flavor. Oyster mushrooms grow incredibly fast and have a high crop yield. If you just want to grow as many mushrooms as possible in a short time, this may be your shroom. Compared to the Shiitake and Lion’s mane, you get the best “bang for buck” on this mushroom by producing the most mushrooms with the highest chance of success in the shortest time.
What are the growing requirements for Oyster Mushrooms?
Oyster mushrooms like to grow on substrates such as straw, coffee grounds, or sawdust. They prefer temperatures between 30-80°F, high humidity levels (80-95%), and indirect light during the fruiting stage to produce abundant harvests.
- Temperature: 30-80°F
- Humidity: 80-95%
- Indirect light, 10-14 hours
- Various substrates
What is the best substrate for Oyster Mushrooms?
One of the benefits of growing Oyster mushrooms versus other varieties is amount of different material they can grow in. You might have the opportunity to scavenge some of these for free. Many people will use a blend of different substrates to achieve the best result or utilize whatever material is most available. Over time, you can hone your own unique proprietary blend and find what works best in your environment. Here are a few common substrates for growing oysters…
- Hardwood sawdust
- Wheat bran
- Cottonseed hulls
- Corn cobs
- Office paper
- Coffee grounds
- Cardboard
What humidity do Oyster Mushrooms need to grow?
Oyster mushrooms need about 80-95% humidity to grow. This level may change depending on the stage of growth they are in, but it is best to keep closer to 90%. If the humidity is too high, it will promote growth of harmful bacteria and you may never see your mushrooms pin. If the humidity is too low, this can stunt or stop growth completely.
What temperature do Oyster Mushrooms need to grow?
The temperature for growing oyster mushrooms will vary depending on which variety of oyster mushroom you are growing but will generally be between the range of 30-80F. You can expect the temperature for the fruiting period to be slightly lower than the colonization period. Some varieties such as the cold blue oyster mushroom require a cold shock to initiate the fruiting stage. This is basically a queue from nature
How much light do Oyster Mushrooms need to grow?
Indirect Light will help to optimize your grow. Unlike other species of mushroom, Oyster mushrooms do no need a super dark place to grow. They will need about 10-14 hours of indirect light. Some direct light is fine as long as it’s not for prolonged periods.
How long do Oyster Mushrooms take to grow?
Depending on the variety of Oyster mushroom, they can fully fruit in the time frame of 3-4 weeks. The maintenance only requires a few sprays of water per day and a general monitoring of the environment to make sure you are within the acceptable parameters of humidity and temperature. In addition to the fast rate of growth and easy maintenance schedule, Oyster mushrooms produce a high yield. Approximately 3-5 pounds per square foot.
What are the health Benefits of Oyster mushrooms?
These mushrooms have been linked with improving cognitive health, heart health, regulating blood sugar levels. Oyster mushrooms in particular have higher levels of antioxidants than any other cultivated mushroom.
1 cup of sliced, raw Oyster mushrooms (86g)
- Calories: 28.4
- Total Carbohydrates: 5.2 g. Fiber: 2 g
- Sugar: 1 g
- Total Fat: 0.4 g. Saturated Fat: 0.1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Sodium: 15.5 mg
- Niacin: 4.3 mg (27% DV)
- Riboflavin: 0.3 mg (23% DV)
- Copper: 0.2 mg (22% DV)
Shiitake Mushrooms
Shiitakes are famous for their umbrella shaped caps, brown colored tops, and hefty price tags. Shiitakes have smokey flavor and meaty texture that are favored in many East Asian dishes. It is important to consider the grow time of Shiitakes, since they on average take about 4-6 months to cultivate. While Shiitakes may take more time and skill to grow, the Japanese have been cultivating these for over 1,000 years. There are many tips and tricks to produce this iconic mushroom that we can use at home.
What are the growing requirements for Shiitake mushrooms?
Shiitake mushrooms grow best on hardwood logs, such as oak or beech but we can produce these in fruiting blocks with hardwood sawdust. They require a warm, dark environment for initial colonization at around 55-75°F and then cooler temperatures with high humidity for fruiting.
- Temperature: 55-75°F
- Humidity: 80-95%
- Indirect sunlight
- Hardwood sawdust for substrate in fruiting blocks
What are the best substrates for Shiitake mushrooms?
Shiitake mushrooms will grow in a variety of hardwood sawdust. Supplementing a low level of wheat bran may also help to improve the fruiting process. Here are a few of the most common hardwoods we used…
- Oak
- Maple
- Beech
- Ironwood
How much humidity do Shiitake mushrooms need to grow?
Shiitakes require a constant humidity anywhere in the range of 80-95%. While Shiitakes like higher humidity, they are fairly resilient and can handle swings into the lower end. This can act as a benefit by killing off other competing bacteria that can’t survive in lower humidity.
What temperature do Shiitake mushrooms need to grow?
Shiitakes generally respond best in lower end of the 55-75°F range. While there are strains that can handle warmer temperatures, it is best to grow in colder environments. Keeping Shiitakes at an optimal temperature will ensure we produce thick and healthy fruit.
How much light do Shiitake mushrooms need to grow?
Shiitake mushrooms require indirect or filtered light for anywhere between 8-12 hours a day. If growing outside, make sure this is in a shaded area.
How long do Shiitake mushrooms take to grow?
Shiitake mushrooms can take anywhere in between 4-6 months to cultivate. The longer grow time may be attributed to its less aggressive mycelium associated with Shiitakes. This extends the incubation period. In addition to having a slower start, they also require longer rest periods in between crop yields or “flushes”.
What are the health benefits of Shiitake mushrooms?
Shiitakes are high in copper, potassium and selenium, which promote general immune and heart health. Research also suggests that Shiitakes have strong anti-microbial properties. It has been found to be particularly adept at reducing harmful micro-organisms in the mouth and reduce cavities.
1 cup of sliced, raw Shiitake mushrooms (86g)
- Total Fat 0.3g
- Sodium 6.3mg
- Total Carbohydrates 4.8g
- Dietary Fiber 1.8g
- Sugars 1.7g
- Protein 1.6g
- Potassium 212.8mg
- Copper 1.3mg
- Selenium 35.96mcg
Lion’s Mane
Lion’s Mane is a mushroom that is usually sought after for its medicinal properties for improving cognitive health. It has a very unique look that lives up to its namesake with a seafood-like taste. While Lion’s Mane is a good mushroom for new growers, it will require slightly stricter tolerances in terms of temperature and humidity. With the boom of Lion’s mane as a health supplement in western culture, it has been cultivated in mass all over the world.
What are the growing requirements for Lion’s Mane mushrooms?
Lion’s Mane mushrooms thrive in a humid environment with temperatures ranging from 70°F to 75°F. They require a substrate rich in organic matter, such as hardwood sawdust or straw, and prefer a high humidity level of around 85-95% during the fruiting stage. Adequate air circulation and light exposure are also essential to support healthy growth and mushroom formation
- Temperature: 70-75°F
- Humidity: 85-95%
- Indirect sunlight
- Hardwood sawdust for substrate in fruiting blocks
What are the best substrates for Lion’s Mane mushrooms?
Lion’s Mane will grow with a few different substrates, but traditionally they are found in the wild growing on hardwood trees. When growing these at home, we can use a hardwood sawdust combined with soy hulls, or sterilized straws in a fruiting bag. A few specific hardwood sawdust we can use are…
- Beech sawdust
- Elm sawdust
- Oak sawdust
- Maple sawdust
- Birch sawdust
How much humidity do Lion’s Mane Mushrooms need to grow?
Lion’s Mane prefers a relatively high humidity of at least 85-95%. To achieve this higher humidity, you may consider using a homemade fruiting chamber to better regulate the conditions. If the mushrooms become cracked or dry looking, you may need to increase your humidity.
What temperature do Lion’s Mane Mushrooms need to grow?
Lion’s Mane likes to grow at about 70-75°F. During the fruiting stage, this can be lowered to 65-70°F for optimal results. They can still grow in slightly cooler temperatures and produce nice fruit, but may slow down the overall fruiting process.
How much light do Lion’s Mane Mushrooms need to grow?
Lion’s Mane mushrooms need indirect or filtered light. Anywhere between 8-12 hours a day will produce optimal results.
How long does Lion’s Mane Mushrooms take to grow?
Lion’s Mane mushrooms generally take anywhere between 6-8 weeks to finish growing if you are inoculating yourself in a fruiting bag. Since this mushroom is slightly less resilient to grow than an Oyster mushroom, you might expect longer grow times if your environmental conditions are sub-optimal.
What are the health benefits of Lion’s Mane Mushrooms?
- Calories: 43 kcal.
- Carbohydrates: 7.6 g
- Fiber: 4.4 g
- Protein: 2.5 g
- Beta-glucan: 2.4 g
- Fat: 0.26 g
- Magnesium: 11.7 mg
- Phosphorus: 94 mg