Mushroom Grow Kit Instructions

Welcome to Mushroom Cultivation!

Whether you're a chef, gardener, or just curious about fungi, mushroom grow kits are the best way to start growing at home. They're designed to make cultivation simple, rewarding, and fast, with harvests in as little as 1-2 weeks. Our "Big Boy" Mushroom Grow Kits are made with straw and alfalfa for richer, more flavorful mushrooms.

1. Find the Right Spot

Set your kit on a flat surface in a well-lit room with temperatures between 65-75°F (18-24°C). Avoid direct sunlight, heaters, and drafts from vents or fans. Bright LED lights or indirect sunlight are both good - if you can comfortably read in the room, your mushrooms will be happy.

2. Open the Bag

Most grow kits come with a filter patch for airflow that has been sealed. If your kit has a marked location or sticker, that’s where you’ll want to cut an opening (about 1”x1”) using a clean knife or scissors.
• Be gentle - try not to cut into the straw or damage the mycelium.
• Leave the species label in place - it’s keeping air from flowing through the filter patch, helping direct mushrooms to your new opening.

3. Encourage Pinning

After opening the bag, your mushrooms will begin forming small “pins” within 5-10 days of daily misting. Mushroom pins, also called primordia, are simply baby mushrooms. Their appearance differs greatly between species, but they all appear as dense white growths on the outside of the mycelium.

If your grow kit already has pins growing on it, expose them to oxygen as soon as possible! Choose 1-2 pinning sites to grow and cut a 1"x1" window for them to grow through. Avoid opening too many spots at once, as this can cause the mushrooms to grow poorly.

4. Mist Frequently

Use a clean spray bottle to mist the area around the mushroom at least 5 times a day - it's almost impossible to overwater mushrooms, but avoid fully saturating mature mushroom caps.
• Mist with 5-10 sprays from about 8-12 inches away.
• Avoid soaking the block - your goal is high humidity, not standing water.
• Placing a clear plastic bag or tub with holes over the kit can help trap humidity if your space is dry. Watch for long stems - this usually means your mushrooms need more fresh air.

5. Harvest Time

Most mushrooms are ready to harvest within 7-12 days after opening. 

• Try to harvest the mushrooms before the caps start to flatten out. The Phoenix Oyster should be allowed to curl slightly, but other species are best harvested while the cap margins are still facing downwards.
• Gently twist or cut the cluster at the base to harvest.
• If you see white powder (spores) below the mushrooms, harvest them immediately. Quality and shelf life begin to deteriorate once spores are released, but these are still great mushrooms that can last 5-7 days in the fridge.

To harvest, grab the mushrooms at their base and twist, then pull away from the substrate. It's good to pull a bit of straw out with the mushroom, it's best to not leave the stem behind as it can become susceptible to contamination.

After the First Flush

Your kit can often grow 2 or even 3 flushes with the right care:

1. After harvesting, seal the cut opening with packing tape.

2. Let the block rest for 5-7 days at room temperature.

3. Then, cut a new opening in a different area and start misting again.

If growth slows significantly or contamination like green or black mold appears, it’s time to compost the block.

How to Cook Your Mushrooms

Our favorite way to enjoy any mushroom is roasting!

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C).

2. Toss mushrooms with olive oil, salt, and pepper (or your favorite seasoning).

3. Roast for 35-40 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and crispy.

They’re delicious on their own or roasted with onions, peppers, zucchini, Brussels sprouts, or sweet potatoes for a perfect veggie medley.

What to Do with a Spent Kit

After 2-3 harvests or if contamination takes over, your kit is spent - but don’t throw it away!
• Compost it or bury it in a garden bed to improve soil.
• Some kits may even fruit outdoors if placed in a shady, moist area. It can help to lay down wood chips and set the grow kits on top - their mushrooms may release spores to inoculate the chips!

Keep Growing!

Ready to try a new variety or grow even more? Explore other kits or check out our Practical Guide to Mushroom Gardening to learn how to save money using grain spawn.