Recently, a colleague was telling me that she reluctantly paid £20 for a starter dish that was literally three smallish mushrooms on a slice of toasted sourdough. Sounds ridiculous. With a little digging, the plot thickened. These were no ordinary mushrooms, these were Chanterelles. A mushroom that can typically only be found in the wild.
Cultivating chanterelles is extremely challenging due to their mycorrhizal nature, which means they form a symbiotic relationship with the roots of trees. Truffles form a similar symbiotic relationship. Truffles are arguably even harder to get your hands on because they grow underground. You may have heard how truffle foragers use pigs and dogs to snuffle out those truffles!
Morels and Fly Agaric also remain elusive to even the most talented mushroom cultivators. Although, I am not too sure why you would want to consume much Fly Agaric. It is mildly poisonous to humans and hallucinogenic.
The world of mushrooms is incredibly diverse, with an estimated 14,000 to 22,000 known species of mushrooms. Out of these, about 2,000 species are considered edible.
You have already taken several very important steps on your journey to becoming a budding mushroom farmer. Whilst growing any type of mushroom at home is hard, there are some that are a little more forgiving than others. In this article, we talk about 14 types of mushrooms that you can more easily grow at home.
Why Grow Mushrooms at Home?
Mushrooms have been revered for centuries for their unique flavours, nutritional value, and medicinal properties. However, the art of mushroom cultivation has nearly been lost with the rise of urbanisation. Fortunately, in the last two decades, there has been a resurgence of interest in growing mushrooms.
Growing mushrooms at home gives you access to many types of mushrooms that can’t normally be bought in stores. Importantly, it also allows you to control the quality and purity of the mushrooms that you might be eventually consuming.
It gives you a front seat live tour of the fascinating world of mycology.
Categories of Mushrooms You Can Grow
Psychedelic Mushrooms
Used for millennia in certain communities across the world often in ceremonial settings. Known for their mind-altering effects. These mushrooms contain psilocybin and psilocin. Cultivation is more challenging but they are often grown by those interested in their perceived spiritual or therapeutic potential. It goes without saying, these should only be grown and consumed in countries where it is legal to do so.
Functional Mushrooms
Celebrated for their health benefits, including boosting immunity, reducing stress, and improving cognitive function. These mushrooms are increasingly becoming known as superfoods. There has been an explosion in interest in consuming these as nutritional supplements - in teas, tinctures or capsules.
Edible/Gourmet Mushrooms
Any self-respecting chef will get overly excited about these mushrooms. These are not your supermarket mushrooms - Button, Chestnut, Portobello - which are actually all the same mushroom, at different stages of maturity. These are these offering rich and unique flavours and textures.
Mushrooms Anyone Can Grow at Home
Eight Mushrooms That Are Easy To Grow Indoors And Outdoors
Oyster Mushrooms (Gourmet)
Yield: Very High | Difficulty: Easy (Indoor & Outdoor)
Oyster mushrooms are among the easiest to grow, thriving on a wide range of substrates. They’re perfect for beginners, and pre-inoculated grow kits make the process even simpler. Oysters are resilient and fast-growing, producing high yields in a short time.
Psilocybe cubensis (Psychedelic)
Yield: Very High | Difficulty: Easy (Indoor & Outdoor)
Psilocybe cubensis is the go-to species for those interested in growing magic mushrooms. It’s popular due to its ease of cultivation and the wide availability of spores. While not the most potent, it’s reliable and can be grown using methods like PF-Tek or monotubs. Varieties like Golden Teacher and Koh Samui are particularly beginner-friendly.
Enoki Mushrooms (Gourmet)
Yield: Moderate-High | Difficulty: Easy (Indoor & Outdoor)
Enoki mushrooms are simple to grow and are a staple in Asian cuisine. They require cool temperatures and can be grown indoors on hardwood sawdust or outdoors on logs.
Panaeolus cyanescens (Blue Meanies) (Psychedelic)
Yield: Poor | Difficulty: Easy (Indoor & Outdoor)
Though less common, Blue Meanies are a potent species that can be grown using similar methods as Psilocybe cubensis. The main challenge is sourcing the spores, but once obtained, they grow well on dung or straw-based substrates.
Lion’s Mane (Functional)
Yield: Moderate | Difficulty: Moderate (Indoor & Outdoor)
Lion’s Mane is not only medicinally potent but also delicious. It promotes nerve growth and is being researched for its potential to treat neurodegenerative diseases. While it requires careful humidity control and patience, the health benefits are worth the effort.
Reishi (Functional)
Yield: Moderate | Difficulty: Easy (Indoor & Outdoor)
Reishi mushrooms are renowned for their immune-boosting properties and have been used in traditional medicine for centuries. They’re relatively easy to grow in bags or buckets filled with hardwood substrates, though they require a bit of experience to get started.
King Oyster Mushrooms (Gourmet)
Yield: High | Difficulty: Easy (Indoor & Outdoor)
King Oyster mushrooms are a larger cousin of the more common oyster mushroom, known for their thick, meaty stems and umami flavor. These mushrooms are easy to grow and thrive in a variety of substrates, including sawdust, straw, and even coffee grounds. They’re highly versatile in cooking, often used as a meat substitute due to their dense texture. King Oysters require minimal maintenance and produce high yields, making them a great choice for home cultivation.
Pink Oyster Mushrooms (Gourmet)
Yield: High | Difficulty: Easy (Indoor & Outdoor)
Pink Oyster mushrooms are not only tasty but also visually striking with their vibrant pink color. They grow quickly and are forgiving to beginners, making them one of the easiest mushrooms to cultivate at home. Pink Oysters prefer warm temperatures and are typically grown on substrates like straw, sawdust, or cardboard. Their fast growth cycle and ability to colonize a wide range of materials make them a popular choice for those new to mushroom farming.
Four Mushrooms That Are Easy To Grow Outdoors But Not So Easy To Grow Indoors
Maitake (Functional)
Yield: Moderate | Difficulty: Moderate (Indoor), Easy (Outdoor)
Maitake, also known as "Hen of the Woods," is valued for its medicinal properties and rich flavor. It takes time to cultivate but rewards patient growers with large, leaf-like clusters that thrive on hardwood substrates.
Turkey Tail (Functional)
Yield: Moderate | Difficulty: Moderate (Indoor), Easy (Outdoor)
Turkey Tail is easy to grow outdoors on logs or wood chips, making it ideal for beginners interested in its cancer-supportive benefits. Indoor cultivation is more challenging but can be done with careful management of ventilation and humidity.
Wine Cap Mushrooms (Gourmet)
Yield: High | Difficulty: Hard (Indoor), Easy (Outdoor)
Wine Cap mushrooms, also known as Garden Giants, are ideal for outdoor cultivation. They grow well in garden beds, wood chips, or straw, and are known for their robust size and rich, earthy flavor. Wine Caps are particularly resilient and can be cultivated alongside vegetables, making them a great addition to any garden. They thrive in cooler temperatures and can be harvested multiple times from the same bed, providing a steady supply of mushrooms throughout the growing season.
Beech Mushrooms (Gourmet)
Yield: Moderate | Difficulty: Moderate (Indoor), Easy (Outdoor)
Beech mushrooms, also known as Shimeji, are popular in Asian cuisine for their delicate flavor and crunchy texture. These mushrooms grow best in cooler temperatures and require a bit more attention than other varieties, particularly regarding humidity control. Beech mushrooms are typically cultivated on hardwood sawdust or wood pellet substrates. Although they require a bit more patience and care, the reward is a delicious and unique mushroom that adds a gourmet touch to any dish.
Two Mushrooms That Are Easy To Grow Indoors But Not So Easy To Grow Outdoors
Psilocybe cyanescens (Wavy Caps) (Psychedelic)
Yield: Moderate-High | Difficulty: Easy (Indoor), Challenging (Outdoor)
Wavy Caps thrive on wood chips and are perfect for outdoor cultivation in cooler climates. These mushrooms are prolific once established, producing dense clusters over several flushes. However, they require careful moisture management to avoid failure.
Shiitake Mushrooms (Gourmet)
Yield: Moderate-High | Difficulty: Easy (Indoor), Moderate (Outdoor)
Shiitake mushrooms are prized for their umami flavour and versatility in the kitchen. They grow naturally on hardwood and can be cultivated indoors or outdoors. While they take longer to grow, they’re well worth the wait.
How to Get Started
For beginners, consider starting with a mushroom grow kit. At Mentis, we sell an all-in-one mushroom grow kit, incubator and dehydrator. Mentis’ kits use grow bags that are pressure sterilised, and optimised for nutrition and other growth factors such as moisture and humidity, CO2 levels and temperature. They are designed to cut out the complexity of preparing substrates and managing contamination. As you gain confidence, you can explore sterilising your own grain and substrates, taking spore prints and making liquid cultures.
Final Thoughts
Growing mushrooms at home is a journey that combines science with nature. Whether you’re after the mind-expanding experiences of psychedelic mushrooms, the health benefits of functional fungi, or the culinary delights of gourmet varieties, there’s a mushroom out there for you. With the right techniques and a bit of patience, you’ll be harvesting your own mushrooms in no time.
Happy growing, and thanks for reading The Mushroom Farmer.
