3 Easy Ways to Grow Mushrooms at Home—Both Indoors and Outdoors (2024)

If mushrooms are an ingredient you commonly buy at the grocery store, you may want to consider growing the fungi instead. When given optimal conditions, there are a few beginner-friendly mushroom varieties that are easy to grow. The method you choose will also dictate how straightforward this process is. Mushroom growing kits are the easiest way to get started, but you can also grow mushrooms at home in a container or even on a log. No matter what method you choose, cleanliness is essential when growing mushrooms, as airborne contaminants can disrupt their growth. To help guide you through the process, we're sharing our tips for how to grow and care for mushrooms at home.

How Do Mushrooms Grow?

Mushrooms grow from fungal spores rather than by seed, like many plants. "A single mushroom can release thousands of spores," says Carrie Spoonemore, co-creator of Park Seed’s From Seed to Spoon app. "The spores germinate into mycelium, a network of thread-like structures that eventually form what we recognize as a mushroom. Mushrooms typically require a substrate (such as wood) and specific environmental conditions to grow."

Where to Grow Mushrooms at Home

When growing mushrooms indoors, it is important to maintain a cool and moist environment. "Most mushrooms fruit the best at just below 70 degrees Fahrenheit, so a house that is heated above that in the winter may slow growth," says Tavis Lynch, a professional mycologist and author of Mushroom Cultivation: An Illustrated Guide to Growing Your Own Mushrooms at Home. "A cool basem*nt or a room less used is usually a bit cooler and offers a great place to grow mushrooms."

How to Grow Mushrooms With a Kit

Grow kits are a great way for beginners to learn about growing mushrooms at home. "It is a very common way for even large-scale growers to get started," says Lynch. "The grow kit lets us see the developing mushrooms without having to go through any sterile procedures or any of the multiple transfer steps." The steps for growing mushrooms with a kit will vary, but generally you just open the bag, water the substrate, and watch them grow. Providing ideal growing conditions—optimal humidity levels, proper air circulation, and no direct sunlight will help your kit-grown mushrooms thrive.

How to Grow Mushrooms in a Container

There are many vessels that can be effective for growing mushrooms, such as storage bins, plastic pails, and even laundry baskets, says Lynch. No matter what vessel you choose, make sure it has holes for the mushrooms to emerge. If it doesn't, drill small holes into the sides (not the bottom) of the container.

Before growing your mushrooms, you must first choose a substrate. Common options include straw, sawdust or wood chips, compost, or manure. You will also need mushroom spawn, which is like seedlings for plants—it's available from specialty mushroom suppliers and some seed retailers. Then you can get started.

1. Soak the substrate in water for about five hours, then drain it, ensuring no water remains.
2. Sterilize your container by washing it with soapy water and rubbing alcohol.
3. Mix the substrate with the mushroom spawn and pour it into your sterilized container.
4. Cover the container and place it in a warm, dark place for the mycelium to colonize the substrate.
5. Water as needed to keep the substrate from drying out.
6. Once fully colonized (about four weeks), remove the cover on the container and expose it to fruiting conditions (indirect light, fresh air, and proper temperature and humidity).
7. Spritz the mushrooms with water daily and harvest when ready (about three to four weeks after inoculation).

How to Grow Mushroom on a Log

It is also possible to grow mushrooms on a log, but the method will vary depending on the type of mushrooms you're trying to grow. For example, shiitake mushrooms prefer to grow on oak trees. Generally, hardwood logs from deciduous trees (oak, beech, and maple) are usual choices, says Funk.

1. Cut the logs to a manageable size and age them for a few weeks in an area they won't dry out. This allows the cells of the tree to die.
2. Drill holes into the logs and insert mushroom spawn.
3. Seal the holes with wax to prevent contamination.
4. To incubate, stack the logs in a shaded, moist area for the mycelium to colonize. This process may take several months.
5. Harvest mushrooms when they appear on the logs.

How to Care for Mushrooms

Proper care is essential to ensure your mushrooms grow properly.

Water

Mushrooms are almost 90 percent water, so it is very important that the substrate is kept damp, says Lynch. But keep in mind that too much water can lead to rot. "Evaporation is one of the triggers that starts mushroom growth, so we need to keep things wet, but not too wet," he says.

Light

Mushrooms can be grown in total darkness, but they tend to be weak and colorless, so some light is ideal. "Light will give our mushrooms better color and strength, but too much direct sunlight can cause our mushrooms to sunburn, and it can dry out our substrate," says Lynch. Minimal indirect light is ideal. Grow lights aren't necessary.

Substrate

Unlike plants, soil is not a common medium for growing mushrooms, especially at home. "Most mushrooms are grown on straw, sawdust or wood chips, compost, coco coir fiber, or manure," says Lynch.

Temperature

Temperature fluctuations are what cause mushrooms to grow in the wild—it’s a sign of a change in season, says Lynch. A decline in temperature tells mycelium that it is autumn and time to start producing mushrooms. Generally, mushrooms grow best when temperatures are 55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit, but this varies from species to species.

Humidity

Humidity is important when growing mushrooms and most methods involve covering mushrooms with a lid or some type of tent. "This can create a microclimate around our growing area," says Lynch.

Fertilizer

There are some nutrients you can supplement your substrate with to help mushrooms grow, but they don’t need much. "Often, we will add some gypsum powder to increase sulfur and calcium levels," says Lynch. "This promotes fast mycelial growth. Wheat bran or brown rice flour are common additives to increase the nutrition levels in substrates that are mainly cellulose, such as wood chips or sawdust."

Common Types of Mushrooms

When growing mushrooms indoors, consider these popular varieties.

• Oyster: These mushrooms are a favorite to grow at home as they are easy to cultivate and come in a wide variety of colors. "They take to almost any type of food and require very little care. Their flavor is sweet, and their texture is slightly chewy," says Lynch.
• Shiitake: A more challenging variety, shiitake mushrooms can be quite finicky and don't do well with indoor cultivation. "They can be grown easily on natural logs outside, but they can take up to two years to produce your first mushrooms," says Lynch. "They are a spectacular mushroom for the kitchen, offering a rich flavor and a meaty texture."
• Lion's Mane: This is a great variety if you're new to mushroom cultivation. "Lion's Mane grows fairly easily," says Lynch. "It gets large and beautiful, and it is delicious. Lion’s Mane also offers some medicinal potential."
• Enoki: This variety is identified by its long, slender stems and small caps. Because Enoki mushrooms grow best in when temperatures are in the 40s, outdoor cultivation is ideal. Enoki mushrooms have a mild, slightly fruity flavor, says Funk.
  

Common Problems When Growing Mushrooms

One of the most common problems you'll run into when growing mushrooms is mold. "This steals away the nutrition we have isolated for our mushrooms," says Lynch. In an an outdoor setting, slugs and chipmunks tend to be the biggest problems most people encounter. "They both enjoy mushrooms as much as we do," says Lynch. Generally, disease isn’t an issue when growing mushrooms.