Most of us grew mushrooms at one point or the other. However, were they edible? Not so much! Were they grown on purpose? Doubtful!
That’s why I am here today to share a quick and comprehensive guide to mushroom cultivation.
Cultivating them is vastly different from growing vegetables and fruits, but it’s not as difficult as you’d expect.
It can take some time and effort, but the rewards, in the form of delicious mushrooms, are worth it! So, let’s see how you can grow a tasty patch?
Getting Started With Cultivation
You need to know a few things before starting your mushroom cultivation journey. For instance, do you know which type of mushrooms you want in your garden?
For beginners, there are some varieties that’ll be easier to grow because they’re more forgiving than others. Oyster mushrooms are a fantastic choice due to their resilience and quick growth.
Shiitake mushrooms, with their rich flavor, are another popular option, offering a rewarding growing experience. Button mushrooms, commonly found in grocery stores, are also great for novices.
After picking your favorite mushroom, it’s time to prepare where you’ll grow it.
You’ll need a clean, damp, and somewhat dark space. This could be a basement, garage, or even an unused closet.
You’ll also need a thermometer, a humidifier, and a spray bottle to control the temperature and humidity.
Other items you’ll need for cultivation include mushroom spores or spawn, a suitable growing medium, containers, and bags to hold the medium.
Finally, safety is paramount when cultivating mushrooms. Always ensure your mushrooms are safe to eat by sticking to well-known varieties.
You should also source your spores or spawn from reputable suppliers to avoid any potential issues.
How To Cultivate Mushrooms at Home
So, are you ready to sauté your favorite mushrooms? Well, here’s to cultivate them:
Step 1: Preparing the Substrate
Once you’ve picked a viable spore or spawn, it’s time to prepare the growth medium. For oysters and shiitake mushrooms, straw or wood chips work best.
You can also use wheat bran for most varieties—some even like compost!
Then, sterilize the containers thoroughly to kill any competing organisms that might ruin your mushroom environment. Once done, fill them with the substrate material.
The tricky part in this stage is getting the moisture content right in the substrate. You’ll need to aim for a middle ground where the substrate holds water without being soggy or having excess water.
Step 2: Inoculation
This step is where you introduce the spawns or spores to the medium you have—like planting a seed!
Start this step by ensuring your workspace and hands are completely clean to avoid contamination.
Hygiene is key in this process as you don’t want to introduce something else to the substrate. If you have chosen spores, add them evenly over the surface of the growth medium.
For spawn, mix it gently into the medium, ensuring it’s well-distributed throughout the material.
After the inoculation, seal the containers with plastic bags.
You should ensure the plastic bags have small holes to maintain the right humidity levels while allowing for air exchange—crucial for mycelium development.
Step 3: Incubation
This stage is where patience meets anticipation.
Once you’ve placed the spores or spawns in the substrate, you let the mycelium grow, setting the foundation for your future mushroom crop.
To create the perfect environment, always keep them in a dark, warm spot, with the ideal temperature being around 75–85°F (24–30°C).
Remember, consistency is key, so try to avoid temperature fluctuations.
Also, humidity is highly vital at this stage. Your growth medium needs to stay moist but not drenched. A humidifier can help with this.
This stage could take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. However, soon enough you should start seeing white, thread-like mycelium speaking through the medium.
Step 4: Fruiting
It makes sense that after all this time you should start seeing mushrooms. However, it requires one last push before it finally pops out of the soil!
First, you need to lower the temperature to around 70–79°F, slightly lower than the temperature required during incubation.
Next, focus on airflow. To prevent stagnation, ensure there’s good ventilation by removing all the covers you’ve placed on your containers.
After that, you need to shift your attention to moisture. High content is essential for fruiting, so you should mist the substrate with water throughout the day.
A few days later, you’ll see tiny heads in the medium, which will eventually grow into delicious mushrooms!

Growing up with a mom who filled her home (inside and out) with all sorts of plants, Lisa got her start in gardening at a young age. Living now on her own with a home and yard full of plants (including an indoor greenhouse), she shares all the gardening tips she’s gained over the years.