Ever since I started gardening, I've always been enthusiastic about growing organic vegetables in my garden. They are healthy, super-tasty, and make a wholesome dinner.
I'm a huge foodie, and even though Texas is not particularly known for its veggies, I like to have some buttery mushrooms with my short ribs. And if you ask me, mushrooms can be a great replacement for meat if you're trying to maintain a vegan diet.
So, when I decided to grow mushrooms, I automatically started looking for some organic growing kits. And as I was scouring every grocery and online store that I could find, I came across some pretty neat organic mushroom growing kits. I've tried and tested some of these kits, and they are quite good.
Today, I'll talk about five of the best mushroom growing kits that I've discovered over the years. So, without further ado, let's dig in!
Top 5 Mushroom Growing Kits
1. Back To The Roots 1102
I came across this organic mushroom growing kit from Back To The Roots when I first started growing mushrooms at home. This kit comes with high-quality, organic oyster mushrooms, and I decided to try it out to grow some in my backyard shed.
Product Highlights
Back To The Roots brings you a mushroom growing kit that's 100% organic and GMO-free so that you can grow beautiful oyster mushrooms without any chemicals or toxic elements. You can grow mushrooms all year round with this kit and add some mushroomy goodness to your daily meals.
Furthermore, it makes growing mushrooms so much easier. The kit includes organic plant-based soil containing mushroom spawns. Thus, you can grow delicious oyster mushrooms within a week without much hassle. What's more, you can harvest the mushrooms straight out of the box within ten days or so.
Moreover, each crop cycle is sufficient to produce three or four servings of mushrooms. So, don't hesitate to plan a sumptuous mushroom dinner for your entire family. The kit also guarantees 100% mushroom growth, but if you're not satisfied with the product, Back To The Roots offers easy replacements.
What's There To Like About It?
Both my son and I love eating oyster mushrooms, and growing them became so much easier with this Back To The Roots mushroom growing kit. It took me only 10 to 12 days to get my first batch of mushrooms.
There's nothing quite as special as sharing good food with your loved ones. And I absolutely admire the quality this kit brings to the table with its organic, GMO-free mushrooms.
What's There Not To Like About It?
If you're looking for a pocket-friendly mushroom growing kit, this might not be your best option. Even though the kit is easy to use for growing oyster mushrooms, it can be a costly affair. So, for those on a budget, I recommend looking for a cheaper alternative.
Pros and Cons of Back To The Roots 1102
Pros
Cons
- 100% ORGANIC AND NON-GMO: There's no need to worry about intoxicants that may hinder your plant's growth because the Back to the Roots Mushroom Growing Kit is completely organic and not genetically modified; You can cook them however you want or add them to your favorite dishes
- GROW YOUR PLANT ALL YEAR-ROUND: This organic mushroom indoor kit allows you to grow your own crop all-year round; Just place the box near a window with indirect light, mist twice a day, and you'll see delicious, beautiful mushrooms growing within a week; Included in this kit is an organic plant-based soil infused with mushroom spawn and a booklet with instructions
- CONVENIENT AND EASY: Mushrooms are one of the easiest to grow indoors; All you need to do is open, spray daily with the included mister, and in 10 days you'll be harvesting your own mushrooms right out of the box; Each crop produces three to four servings of mushrooms, and each box can grow up two crops
2. Root Mushroom Farm SEA-OY-11100
Another mushroom growing kit that I absolutely love is from Root Mushroom Farm. If you're planning to grow beautiful organic golden oyster mushrooms, this is arguably your best bet. With this kit, you get everything you need to grow mushrooms all in one box, thus eliminating the need to run helter-skelter, trying to get all the necessary items in order.
Product Highlights
The main highlight of this mushroom growing kit is its golden oyster mushrooms that are 100% organic. It comes with a mushroom log and a humidity tent that ensures the fast growth of the mushrooms. If you follow the instructions carefully, you'll be able to see beautiful mushrooms growing from the log within a week.
This kit lets you grow mushrooms that are delicious and can easily make for a sumptuous meal. Moreover, you can harvest enough mushrooms from each crop to serve your entire family. What’s more, you can also harvest throughout the year with this kit.
Further, in case you want to start mushroom production for the very first time, trust this kit to have your back. Not only is it extremely easy to use, but you get to grow fresh and organic oyster mushrooms that taste absolutely heavenly. Long story short: if you want to grow scrumptious shrooms and also have a lot of fun in the process, this is the kit I recommend.
What's There To Like About It?
There’s certainly loads to like about this kit if you ask me. For instance, the fast-growing, delicious golden oyster mushrooms are some of the best oyster mushrooms I've ever tasted, and they are completely organic.
At the same time, I don't have to worry about running out of my mushroom stock with this kit. It's perfect for producing high-quality oyster mushrooms throughout the year. So, whenever I'm planning a dinner party, I always make sure to add a mushroom dish to the menu.
What's There Not To Like About It?
Even though the kit is excellent for producing tons of tasty oyster mushrooms during the first crop, the growth of the mushrooms in the second flush is a bit slow. I was able to harvest a few mushrooms sufficient for only one serving during the second flush. But, some of my friends have complained of getting barely any mushrooms from the second crop.
Pros and Cons of Root Mushroom Farm SEA-OY-11100
Pros
Cons
- ✔ EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO GROW MUSHROOMS IN ONE BOX. The kit contains one Ready to Fruit golden oyster mushroom log, a humidity tent, a spray bottle and a detailed instruction. You do not need any extra tools to start! Mushrooms start in ~7 days once you begin to spray(it can last for months in the box unopened). With our unique design and method, you can easily have multiple harvests and amazing production!
- ✔ MAKES A GREAT GIFT. Our mushroom kit is recommended as a gift for kids, mom, dad, birthdays or as the perfect school project. Buy it now for your loved ones and experience the excitement in growing mushrooms!
- ✔ PERFECT INTRODUCTION TO THE MUSHROOMS – It offers a wonderful opportunity to learn how to grow mushrooms. Arrives with detailed instructions, it is very easy to grow mushrooms at home. Growing mushroom is more than just a fun – You can also taste the organic and fresh mushrooms grown by your own!
3. Michigan Mushroom Company's Mushroom Growing Kit
After getting used to growing (and gorging on!) oyster mushrooms, I became somewhat of a mushroom-lover. And that's when I came across a superb mushroom growing kit for Lion's Mane mushrooms from Michigan Mushroom Company. It's an award-winning product that's used in many gourmet restaurants all across Michigan.
Product Highlights
The kit comes with a log of fully colonized, high-quality Lion's Mane mushrooms that can produce up to four pounds of crop. You just need to water it and keep it away from direct sunlight, and you're good to go. Thus, growing award-winning mushrooms becomes so much easier with this growing kit.
You can expect the growing kit to produce three to four pounds of shrooms under proper growth conditions. Also, it is quite easy to use and shows the growth of the mushrooms within seven to ten days. Set it up at a place that receives indirect sunlight to get the best results. The entire setup process takes about two minutes or so and is pretty easy.
Moreover, you can harvest the mushrooms right out of the box without any hassle. Also, the colonized mushroom bags are treated to be 100% sterile. So, no need to worry about any contamination of the mushrooms.
What's There To Like About It?
I think the most likable thing about this mushroom growing kit is the quality of mushrooms you get to harvest. I didn't have much experience with growing Lion's Mane mushrooms prior to this kit, but the taste and quality of the crop certainly had me impressed after just the first batch.
Plus, I was able to produce four pounds of mushrooms in the first crop cycle, which was more than enough to prepare an extravagant meal for my entire family.
What's There Not To Like About It?
This kit is best for one-time use because it hardly produces any mushrooms in the second crop. After the fantastic production of the first crop, I was very much looking forward to the second batch of mushrooms. But, the production in the second crop was disappointing. So, I'll say that the kit isn't a good choice if you want multiple harvests.
Pros and Cons of Michigan Mushroom Company's Mushroom Growing Kit
Pros
Cons
4. Forest Origins' Pink Oyster Mushroom Growing Kit
If you want to grow some good-quality pink oyster mushrooms, this growing kit from Forest Origins will be an ideal choice. I received this kit from one of my friends, and I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the mushrooms produced.
Product Highlights
This mushroom growing kit is perfect for beginners who want to grow their own gourmet mushrooms. You can consider it an introduction kit that can help you grow high-quality pink oyster mushrooms in an easy and hassle-free way. Simply place the kit in an area with indirect sunlight and mist the mushrooms to get a good harvest.
Furthermore, under optimal growing conditions, you'll be able to see the growth of the mushrooms within a few weeks or so. It's fast, it's easy, and it's delicious, and I think it can be a perfect gift for anyone interested in gardening and developing their own organic produce.
Plus, the quality of the mushrooms makes this kit an instant favorite. These gourmet mushrooms taste brilliant and will go perfectly with any dish. Also, you can harvest sufficient amounts of mushrooms in each flush. So, don't hesitate to plan a sumptuous mushroom-themed dinner party for your family and friends.
What's There To Like About It?
When I started growing mushrooms, I hardly knew anything about the whole process. But this mushroom growing kit made it so much easier to grow natural, high-quality pink oyster mushrooms with minimum effort. So, if you're a beginner, this growing kit can be a good stepping stone.
Plus, I harvested tons of gourmet mushrooms within a few days of setting up the kit. And the mushrooms taste delicious in any dish.
What's There Not To Like About It?
Contamination is the main problem that I faced while using this growing kit. The mushroom log that comes with the kit tends to get contaminated after one flush, which automatically affects the growth and quality of the mushrooms. So, it would be best if you were very careful about using this kit to avoid any contamination.
Pros and Cons of Forest Origins' Pink Oyster Mushroom Growing Kit
Pros
Cons
- EXPERIENCE GOURMET MUSHROOMS: Pink oyster mushrooms, scientifically known as Pleurotus djamor, aren't just visually appealing; they also provide a succulent and savory flavor profile. Sauté them, incorporate them into pastas, pizzas, or use them as a satisfying meat substitute owing to their dense texture. Impressively, they create outstanding vegan bacon as well.
- START GROWING WITHIN 14 DAYS: Your kit is likely to begin "pinning" within 7-14 days, proceeding to double in size before reaching harvest-ready status.
- FOR BEST RESULTS: Use your mushroom grow kit immediately upon receiving. However, if you are not ready to use it right away, you can store it in the sealed box it came in and put it in a dark closet indoor for a few weeks.
5. Forest Origins' Specialty Trio Mushroom Growing Kit
I came across this mushroom growing kit from Forest Origins when I was planning to expand my mushroom patch. It comes with three mushroom varieties all in one box, making it so much easier to grow different types of shrooms. With this kit, you can cook different mouthwatering mushroom dishes that your family can enjoy.
Product Highlights
This growing kit includes three varieties of oyster mushrooms, pink, white, and golden oyster, all in one box. So, if you love a good mushroom meal, this mushroom growing kit might be perfect for you.
Growing mushrooms can be a tough job, but that’s a problem you’ll never face with this kit. It is easy to use, and the growth of the mushrooms is super-fast. Thus, you can harvest tons of oyster mushrooms of different varieties within a few weeks.
What's more, the kit guarantees 100% growth of the mushrooms. You can notice the profuse growth of the mushroom bulbs within a few days of setting up the kit under optimal growth conditions. However, if you're not satisfied with the product, you can easily apply for a full refund from the manufacturer.
What's There To Like About It?
With this kit, I got to grow three different varieties of oyster mushrooms all in one box without buying them individually. Plus, the quality of the mushrooms is top-notch, and I was able to prepare delicious mushroom dishes using them.
On top of everything, this kit is perfect for multiple harvests, and the growth of the mushrooms is impressive without requiring any extra care. I was able to harvest three flushes straight without any hassle.
What's There Not To Like About It?
Even though you get the option to grow three varieties of oyster mushrooms with this growing kit, it can be a costly affair. After using this kit for a while, I've realized that buying the same varieties of mushrooms individually from the market costs much less. So, you might prefer to buy the mushrooms from the store instead of buying the kit.
Pros and Cons of Forest Origins' Specialty Trio Mushroom Growing Kit
Pros
Cons
- EXPERIENCE GOURMET MUSHROOMS: Each oyster kit offers a unique gourmet experience! Indulge your palate with the exquisite allure of this variety of oyster mushrooms, boasting a mild, delicately sweet flavor profile, a tantalizing anise undertone, and a velvety texture that transforms every dish into a gourmet sensation.
- START GROWING WITHIN 14 DAYS: Your kit is likely to begin "pinning" within 7-14 days, proceeding to double in size before reaching harvest-ready status.
- FOR BEST RESULTS: Use your mushroom grow kit immediately upon receiving. However, if you are not ready to use it right away, you can store it in the sealed box it came in and put it in a dark closet indoor for a few weeks.
Buyers Guide
There are several mushroom growing kits that are currently available on the market. But, when you're looking for the best mushroom growing kit from the lot, it's essential to consider certain factors to make a well-informed purchase decision.
So, in this buyer's guide section, I'll discuss some of the key factors that might help you narrow down your options. Let's take a look!
1. Taste And Quality
Before you purchase any mushroom growing kit, consider the quality of the mushrooms. It's always best to go for natural, organic mushrooms that do not contain any artificial chemicals and steroids. In that way, you can grow fresh mushrooms at home that are healthy and tasty.
Furthermore, quality also impacts the taste of the mushrooms. At the end of the day, you are going to eat the mushrooms after they've grown fully. So, if they don't taste good, there's no point in using the growing kit. If you choose organic mushroom growing kits, you might be able to grow gourmet mushrooms that are perfect for making a sumptuous mushroom dish.
2. Growth Rate
When you're growing mushrooms, you don't only want them to be tasty but also want them to grow fast. Traditional methods of growing mushrooms might take you months to get a decent amount of harvest. Not everyone will have the time or the patience to invest that kind of effort.
Usually, if you use a good quality, organic growing kit, you'll be able to see mushrooms growing in the box within a few weeks or so. Some growing kits even show good results under optimal growth conditions within seven to ten days. So, I suggest you go for the mushroom growing kits that'll help you to grow high-quality, fresh mushrooms within a few days or weeks.
3. Harvest
Harvesting is an important factor to consider when you're buying a mushroom growing kit. You might need a growing kit that can help get multiple harvests to grow mushrooms all year round. Kits like the Back To The Roots 1102 and Root Mushroom Farm SEA-OY-11100 can produce three to four flushes of mushrooms without getting contaminated.
However, you might come across certain kits like Michigan Mushroom Company's Mushroom Growing Kit that stop producing sufficient amounts of mushrooms after the first flush. These are suitable for those who are looking for a limited amount of shroom supply.
Choose the kits that'll help you harvest mushrooms according to your needs. Also, it's best to go for growing kits that'll produce mushrooms within a few weeks so that you can harvest them after some months.
4. Easy To Use
When you're choosing the best mushroom growing kit, always try to look for the kits that are easy to use. If you're a beginner, it is easy to get overwhelmed with the entire process of growing mushrooms. But, choosing the right growing kit can make it convenient for you to grow fresh and natural mushrooms without any hassle.
Furthermore, you get everything in one box by choosing the best growing kit. Such kits should come with plant-based soil, a mushroom log, and all other necessary accessories. You can simply mist the bag and place it under indirect sunlight, and you're good to go. No extra work and no unnecessary trouble.
5. Affordability
The price of the mushroom growing kit is another important factor that can impact your purchase decision. It's not necessary that the most expensive kit will offer the best value for your money. So, it's best to consider your requirements before you decide to invest in the product financially.
Moreover, you might realize that in some cases, buying individual varieties of mushrooms from the market costs far less than buying expensive mushroom growing kits. So, it makes sense to go for a kit that offers good mushroom production at a reasonable price.
FAQs
Mushrooms grow best under warm and humid conditions. So, make sure you mist your growing kit once in a while to get the best mushroom production. Also, keep the kit away from direct sunlight, preferably in a moist shed which can aid the growth.
You are supposed to use mushroom growing kits indoors as direct sunlight can harm the mushrooms. So, I will suggest you avoid using the kits to grow mushrooms outside.
You might need to change the kit if the production is low after the first flush, like for the Michigan Mushroom Company's Mushroom Growing Kit. But, with the kits from Back To The Roots and Forest Origins you can produce three to four flushes.
You should be able to harvest your first batch of mushrooms within a month or two by using any standard mushroom growing kit. Just make sure you follow the required growing instructions, and you’ll be good to go.
My Final Recommendation
Choosing the best mushroom growing kit can be a daunting task when there are so many good options available on the market. However, after going through my article, I hope you know a bit more about some of the best growing kits. By selecting the right kit, growing mushrooms becomes so much easier.Â
If you ask me about my top favorites, it’ll surely be the Back To The Roots 1102 and Root Mushroom Farm SEA-OY-11100 organic mushroom growing kits. But, these are just my recommendations. You can also do some more research before choosing your favorite kits.Â