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The Back to the Roots Organic Mushroom Kit is our top choice for DIY growing.
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Stacy Tornio
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Stacy Tornio
Writer
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
- University of Oklahoma
Stacy Tornio has authored more than 15 books about animals, nature, and gardening. She is a master gardener and master naturalist.
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Updated May 20, 2022
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Treehugger Approved The best DIY mushroom growing kit is the Back to the Roots Organic Mushroom Kit. Growing your own mushrooms isn't hard when you can break it down step by step. The most important thing you’ll need is the right environment and growing conditions. Then it won’t be long before you’re harvesting homegrown mushrooms and using them in your favorite recipes and dishes. No, you don’t need a lot of space or even to live near the woods to make this happen. By using an easy-to-grow mushroom kit, you pretty much have everything you need right there in the box. When you're all done harvesting your mushroom crop, most kits use a growing medium that can be added to your home compost. Ready to enjoy the taste of freshly picked shiitakes or morels? Here are the best mushroom kits to help you get from box to harvesting as soon as possible. The Rundown Best for Beginners: Best for Shiitakes: Uncommon Goods Shiitake Mushroom Log Kit at Uncommon Goods (See Price) This company has been redefining the way gardeners look at growing mushrooms for years. The founders of this company, Back to the Roots, created their first product while in college after they learned you can grow mushrooms from coffee grounds. Today, this kit is one of the most popular ways to grow mushrooms. All you have to do is open the box, spritz with water, and you’ll have mushrooms in as little as 10 days. They have incredible customer service, including a promise to replace your kit if you have any trouble. Plus, they regularly donate back to schools to help them grow mushrooms in the classroom. They have many kits to choose from, including this one featuring pearl oyster mushrooms. Grow these popular mushrooms inside or outside, pretty much any time of the year. The step-by-step instructions really break it down into a simple process—open, slice, and spray. Then it won’t be long before you start to see results. While this kit is for blue oyster mushrooms, North Spore also has other kits available, like pink oyster and lion's mane. You might consider trying two or three different ones so you can start to decide what flavors you like best! The 8 Best Grow Lights This four-pack of mushrooms is an excellent way to try several different types at once. It comes directly from a commercial mushroom farm that grows the mushrooms in optimal conditions. The supplier sends fruiting blocks to you to keep ‘em going. You can choose from many different combinations of mushrooms, including lions mane, pink oyster, gold oyster, or blue oyster. Be sure to open up your box right away and set your mushrooms up in good growing conditions to keep the success going from the farm. The 6 Best Herb Garden Kits Many mushroom kids are naturally organic, including this one where you can grow your own golden oyster mushrooms. Everything you need is included in this kit, including a mushroom log, humidity tent, spray bottle, and instructions. You could see results in as little as seven days, and you might have mushrooms for several weeks or even months. It’s also a good one for kids if you want to share the love of growing your own food with little ones. There are a lot of places out there that claim to help you grow morels, but the the reality is that these mushrooms can be a challenge. This kit on Etsy is from a home grower who was once looking for a way to grow mushrooms in the backyard. After a lot of careful cultivation, the Mushroom Man Of Peotone was able to develop this kit to help others do the same. It includes detailed instructions for how you can have your own morels. Keep in mind that it can be a process to grow morels, but it’s perfect for gardeners who like to take on a challenge. Shiitake mushrooms are some of the most popular and coveted of chefs around the world. They have this versatile, smoky flavor that you can use in many different dishes. The best way to grow shiitakes is to use a log. In fact, many home gardeners have created their own versions, or you can get a kit. With this kit, the log is included and already has the mushrooms added, so it’s ready to go. All you have to do is soak it and then find a cool, damp place. You’ll love seeing the mushrooms emerge from this little log, and then you’ll love it even more when you start to get enough for harvest. This is one you’ll probably end up doing again and again because it’s such a great experience from start to finish. Final Verdict The Back to the Roots Organic Mushroom Kit is reliable, easy to use, and fun for young and old mushroom lovers alike. Plus, with the company’s offer to replace any dud kits, you can feel good about your investment. For those who love morels and want a challenge, consider the Morel Mushrooms Grow Kit from the Mushroom Man Of Peotone. Just like plants, mushrooms may need different levels of attention and care. It’s a good idea to consult the supplier’s description about how easy or difficult it is to grow the mushrooms you’re looking to buy. Most mushroom suppliers are upfront, but if they’re not, it’s worth sending a message to find out. No matter what difficulty level you select, we strongly recommend that you open your kit and start it right away, as improper storage can prevent the spores from fruiting. A few mushroom kit suppliers, like Back to the Roots, guarantee their products will work, or they’ll replace them. If you’re new to growing mushrooms, this may be your best bet. Some mushrooms have very specific needs for moisture, air circulation, and light. It’s best to read about these needs before you buy and make sure the space where you intend to grow mushrooms is suitable for each kit. All the kits listed here include growing medium (also called substrate), colonized with the mycelium (also called spores) that should produce the desired mushroom. Some of these kits also include spray bottles and tents for humidity (although not all types require tenting). You may or may not want these additional items based on what you have already at home. It's worth noting that some other grow kits on the market don’t actually include the mushroom spores. Treehugger loves finding products that help you grow your own food year-round, both inside and out. The author, Stacy Tornio, came to love mushrooms late in life, and now she loves using kits to grow her own. The Best Seed Starting Kits and Tools to Get You Growing:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1207796670-b7c5154aa92c432aa360ef5250841d54.jpg "The 6 Best Mushroom Kits for Your Home Garden (2)")
Best Overall
Back to the Roots Organic Mushroom Grow Kit
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“I like that when you’re done harvesting all the mushrooms on one side of Back to the Root’s kit, you can open up the other side and try again. My second crop wasn’t as robust as the first, but I still enjoyed my bonus mushrooms.” ~ Margaret Badore, Treehugger Senior Editor
What to Consider When Shopping for Grow-Your-Own Mushroom Kits
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