Growing mushrooms at home is easier than you might think. With a few basic materials and the right environment, you can cultivate your own fresh mushrooms in just a few weeks.
Start by choosing the right mushroom variety. Oyster mushrooms are one of the easiest to grow for beginners. You’ll need a growing medium like straw, sawdust, or even cardboard, and mushroom spawn (the equivalent of seeds for fungi).
Sterilize the growing medium to prevent contamination. After it cools, mix it with the mushroom spawn and pack it into a container or grow bag. Keep the container in a dark, humid space (like a closet or under a sink) for the mycelium to colonize. This usually takes 2-3 weeks.
Once the surface is fully white with mycelium, move the container to a spot with indirect light and increase humidity by misting daily. Within days, you’ll start to see tiny mushroom pins that will grow rapidly into harvestable mushrooms.
Harvest by gently twisting them off when the caps open up. With good care, you can get multiple flushes (harvests) from one kit.
Growing your own mushrooms is a rewarding hobby that provides healthy food and a deeper connection to nature.
