From Spore to Table: Your Step-by-Step Guide on How to Grow Mushrooms

May 17

home grown mushrooms are prepared for cooking

Growing mushrooms at home is easier and more rewarding than you might think. This guide will walk you through each step of how to grow mushrooms. From setting up a mushroom kit or (like our RyzaPods) to harvesting your first batch. You’ll learn the basics of mushroom life cycles, what supplies you need, and how to care for your mushrooms as they grow. Whether you’re using a simple grow kit or even a homemade setup, these steps will help you succeed in cultivating mushrooms at home.

Why Grow Mushrooms at Home?

Growing mushrooms at home offers fresh, flavorful produce right from your countertop. You can enjoy varieties that are hard to find in stores (like lion’s mane or shiitake), control exactly what goes into your food. It’s also a fun science project: you get to see the invisible mycelium (the mushroom “roots”) spread, and then watch mushrooms pop up out of nowhere. Many growers find it satisfying that a tiny spore can turn into a meal in just a few weeks, making home mushroom growing well worth the effort.

Freshness: Homegrown mushrooms go straight from your setup to the kitchen, so they taste great and last longer.

Variety: Try exotic or gourmet mushrooms that aren’t at the supermarket. Growing mushrooms lets you experiment with oyster, lion’s mane, shiitake, and more.
Education: Cultivating your own mushrooms allows you learn about how fungi grow
Fun: It’s a unique hobby with some surprises along the way. The best part is seeing the final stages where mushrooms erupt into mature mushrooms from their tiny forms called pins.

Many beginners worry: “Are mushrooms hard to grow at home?” The good news is that with the right conditions and tools, it’s quite doable without any formal training. Mushroom kits and mushroom pods simplify the process by providing sterile substrate (the material mushrooms eat) and a controlled environment. Even if you’re new to mycology (the study of growing mushrooms), a kit or pod can guide you through each stage. As you follow this guide to growing mushrooms, you’ll see that patience and cleanliness are the keys – no special green thumb needed!

Supplies and Tools: Mushroom Kits, Pods, and More

Before you start, gather your supplies. At a minimum, you’ll need:

Mushroom culture or spores: While some mushroom grow kits come with pre-colonized mycelium, if you’re growing “from scratch”, you’ll need a spore or liquid culture syringe. This is your mushroom “seed.” Many growers use a pre-made liquid culture or spore syringe. If you need to keep your spores in storage for a bit, see our Ultimate Guide to Storing Mushroom Spores.
Sterile substrate (growing medium): Often a mix of wood, grains, or other organic materials that are appropriate for the mushroom species you want to cultivate. Mushroom kits usually include pre-sterilized substrate in a bag or, in our case, a RyzaPod. RyzaPods come with a sealed substrate container that has self-healing injection port for easy and sterile inoculation. RyzaPods also come in manure or dung-loving substrate, as well as wood-loving mushroom substrate.
A humidity dome or bag: Mushrooms like a humid environment. In bag systems, the bag becomes the fruiting chamber, and it’s up to the grower to adjust how “open” the bag is to achieve appropriate fresh air exchange while minimizing the chance the foreign molds or bacteria get in. RyzaPods, on the other hand have a plastic dome with a filter patch to keep humidity high but allow fresh air and reduce CO2 that mushrooms produce, all while preventing foreign organisms from contaminating your grow.
Misting spray bottle: To gently spray water inside the pod or dome and keep things moist. We love continuous mist sprayers, which are easy to use and generate a beautiful, fine mist that mushrooms love.
A clean workspace and clean hands: Sterility is important when inoculating (injecting spores). Prepare surfaces like injection ports with alcohol swabs, and never open a sterile substrate to ambient air before it is colonized by mycelium. When directly handling mushrooms, such as during harvesting, make sure to wash your hands well beforehand.

Many growers find a mushroom kit is the easiest way to get started. For example, a RyzaPod is an all-in-one kit that contains sterilized substrate with a built-in injection port and a humidity dome. With a kit, the tough part (sterilizing and preparing the substrate) is already done for you. This means you can focus on inoculation and caring for the mycelium instead of building the kit from scratch.

Other tools are nice to have but not strictly required. Some people use a homemade still air box or spray alcohol to clean the injection site. But even a kitchen counter in a clean home can work if you are careful. Keep your grow going in a clean area free from dust and dander as much as possible. Do this by working on clean surfaces and avoid keeping the kit on the floor or especially carpet.

Step 1: Inoculation – Introducing the Mycelium

Inoculation is where your mushroom journey begins. This means introducing the mushroom culture (spores or liquid mycelium) into the substrate so it can colonize. If you have a mushroom kit or pod with an injection port, it’s simple:

Sanitize: Wipe down the injection port area with alcohol or a disinfectant to keep it clean.
Inject the culture: Use a sterile syringe filled with spore solution or liquid culture. Pierce the injection port (which reseals after) and inject the contents into the substrate. Typically you inject a few milliliters of liquid culture into each pod or kit. Dispose of the needle portion responsibly in a sharps container or other method approved by your sanitation organization.
Seal it up: The self-healing port will close, keeping the environment sterile inside. If you’re using a bag system, seal it per instructions (often with a filter patch to allow gas exchange).

For those not using a kit: you could use a liquid culture syringe to inject sterilized grain spawn or small substrate blocks. But remember, cleanliness is crucial. Always use sterilized tools and work quickly in a clean area. Think of inoculating like planting seeds in soil – you’re setting the stage for mushrooms to grow, but doing it without contamination.

After inoculation, label your kit or container with the mushroom species and date. Then it’s time to give the mycelium a quiet period to grow.

Step 2: Incubation – Colonizing the Substrate

Once inoculated, move your kit or pod to an incubation area. This is a warm, dark, and stable spot where the mycelium (the fungal network) will spread through the substrate. In nature, this is like the mushroom sending out roots in the soil or decomposing wood. For home cultivation:

Environment: Aim for a temperature around 70–75°F (21–24°C), though this can vary by species. Most household rooms work fine. We like the kitchen cabinet above the refrigerator because it’s often a bit warmer than the rest of the home.
Darkness: Mushrooms don’t need light for this phase. Keep the pod or bag in a cupboard, closet, or just covered with a box or towel to block light.
Patience: Over the next few weeks, the white, fuzzy mycelium will slowly colonize (take over) the substrate. You may see it growing on the sides or top of the kit.

This stage typically takes 3-5 weeks for most gourmet mushrooms (like oyster or shiitake) when conditions are right. Some species are faster, others slower. Reishi, for example can take 6 or more weeks. Check occasionally: you should see more and more white spreading. If you see green or black spots, that could be mold contamination – in that case, it’s best to dispose of the kit. If you want to open it, do it outside the home. Mold spores are both a health hazard and potential vector to contaminate other mycology efforts, now or in the future. Otherwise, avoid opening the kit; just make sure it stays at a steady warm temperature.

For example, if you inoculated an oyster mushroom kit, you might see fluffy white mycelium by week 2, and most of the bag turning white by week 3 or 4. When about 80–100% of the substrate looks white and solid, it’s time for the next stage: fruiting.

Step 3: Fruiting – Bringing Mushrooms to the Surface

Now comes the exciting part: inducing your mycelium to produce mushrooms. Fruiting requires changing a few conditions to signal the fungus that it’s time to make fruiting bodies (the mushrooms we eat). Typically you do the following:

Expose to Light: Unlike plants, mushrooms don’t need strong light. A little indirect light (like a lamp in the room or a dim window) is enough. Light tells the mycelium it’s safe to fruit. Direct sunlight isn’t ideal, because it can be too warm.
Increase Fresh Air: Mycelium produces CO2 as it grows. Too much CO2 can delay fruiting or cause malformed mushrooms. To fruit, the fungus needs a little fresh air. If you have a humidity dome (like with RyzaPods), remove or open it a bit, or just lift the bag’s lid. Keep some air exchange, but not so much that the substrate dries out.
Keep it Humid: Mushrooms love high humidity (85–95%). Mist the inside of the pod or dome lightly with water 1–2 times per day. The RyzaPod’s humidity dome with an FAE (fresh air exchange) filter is perfect for this: it keeps moisture in while allowing air flow. If you’re using a bag, you can loosely reclose it or cover it to trap moisture, while still fanning it or letting air in daily.

A common recommendation is the “dunk and roll” or misting method: Some growers briefly soak or spray the block itself (if it got a little dry during incubation). Then place it back under the dome. But be careful not to pool water in the bottom – standing water can drown mycelium or cause bacteria. Always pour off any excess, and continue light misting.

Within a few days of these changes, you’ll see tiny pins (mushroom primordia) start to form. These start as little white bumps on the mycelium surface, called hyphal knots. After pinning, mushrooms will grow rapidly – you might see them double or triple in size each day. The first full mushroom harvest usually happens about 1 week after pinning, depending on species and conditions.

Step 4: Harvesting – From Pod to Plate

Harvest time means you get to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Knowing when to pick is important: harvesting at the right moment gives you peak flavor and prevents mushrooms from dropping their spores (which can make a mess).

Look for the cap: Each mushroom cap usually starts out curved or pinched under and gradually opens outward. The perfect time to harvest is just before (or as) the edge of the cap starts to flatten. For many mushrooms, this is when the cap is almost flat but the edges are still a bit curled in.
How to harvest: Simply grasp the stem near the substrate and twist gently, or use a clean knife to cut it at the base. Avoid pulling too hard, which could damage the mycelium. Mushrooms should come off easily after some wiggling, allowing the whole mushroom to break away from the mycelium without leaving a stem. For some woody varieties like pioppino or reishi, it may be more difficult and a clean cutting tool may be warranted.
Storage: Fresh mushrooms can be used right away in cooking. If you have more than you can eat, store them in a paper bag in the fridge for a few days. They lose moisture quickly, so a paper bag (not plastic) is best to keep them dry and fresh.

Each flush (harvest) typically yields enough for a meal or two, depending on your kit size. For example, a single RyzaPod (roughly 1 liter of substrate) can give you a handful of mushrooms in the first flush. From spore to table, you’ll find that homegrown mushrooms often have a richer aroma and taste than store-bought ones, because you’re eating them at peak freshness.

Rinse and Repeat – Multiple Harvests

Good news: mushrooms often give more than one show. After your first harvest, the mycelium isn’t done yet. You can get a second (and sometimes third or more) flush by continuing care:

Rest Period: After picking, let the kit rest for a day or two. It might look ragged from where mushrooms grew.
Restart Fruiting Conditions: You can dunk the the substrate in clean water for a few hours, mist again, and continue fruiting conditions. Often you can get another wave of pins in a week or so. Depending on the variety, the second flush may be smaller (or bigger) than the first, but still tasty.
Repeat as needed: Depending on the species and how much food is left in the substrate, you might squeeze out 2–3 good harvests total. Each flush usually needs the same triggers: humidity and fresh air.

After a couple of flushes, the substrate will be mostly spent. At that point, you can compost the old pod or start a new one.

A common question is: “Can mushrooms grow back every year?” In a kit, no – once the substrate is used up, it won’t keep producing new mushrooms every season. However, in nature, certain mushroom mycelia (like shiitake on logs) can fruit year after year if conditions allow. For home cultivation, think of each kit or pod as a harvest you enjoy now, then you can start fresh again later (or keep a living culture to inoculate new kits).

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to grow mushrooms? From inoculation to first harvest typically takes 3–8 weeks, depending on the species and conditions. For example, oyster mushrooms might take as little as 3 weeks, while others (like reishi) can take 6+ weeks to colonize before fruiting. Most of that time is the mycelium colonizing the substrate; fruiting itself happens quickly once conditions are right (just days).
Are mushrooms hard to grow at home? Not necessarily. Once you understand the basic needs (cleanliness, moisture, and air flow), home cultivation is quite simple – especially with a mushroom kit or pod. These kits remove much of the guesswork (sterilization and substrate prep). The hardest part is often waiting patiently during colonization and then keeping up the humidity. With a little attention to those factors, even beginners can succeed.
Is growing mushrooms at home worth it? Absolutely, for many growers. You get ultra-fresh, flavorful mushrooms, and you can explore varieties that supermarkets don’t carry. It’s also a satisfying hobby that connects you with nature. Economically, a small kit might cost a bit upfront, but you get multiple meals out of it. Plus, you’ll know exactly what went into your mushrooms – no unknown chemicals or long shipping. Many find it very rewarding to watch a mushroom grow from a blob of mycelium and then cook with it.
Can I grow mushrooms from store-bought mushrooms? Generally, this is not recommended. Store-bought mushrooms are picked for selling, not for spawning new ones. They often lack viable spores, and even if you get a spore print from them, there’s a high risk of contamination. The easiest, most reliable way is to use a dedicated mushroom culture vendor for inoculants. These are designed for cultivation and have the right sterile medium for mushrooms to grow.
Can mushrooms grow back every year? Wild mushroom mycelium can fruit seasonally or yearly in nature. However, in a home kit or bag setup, you typically only get a few flushes. After that, the substrate is exhausted. To grow mushrooms again, you would start a new kit or use leftover mycelium to inoculate fresh substrate. In short, your homegrown mushrooms won’t pop up annually on their own – you’ll prepare a new setup for each harvest cycle.

Conclusion: Start Your Mushroom Growing Journey

We hope you’ve gotten an introduction on how to grow mushrooms. This hobby is a fun, educational pursuit with tasty rewards. By following this step-by-step guide – from inoculation through harvest – you’ll see how a little care and patience can turn tiny spores into a delicious meal. If you’re looking for an easy way to begin, consider trying a RyzaPod mushroom growing kit. Each RyzaPod comes with pre-sterilized substrate, a handy injection port, and a humidity dome with an FAE filter, so most of the hard work is already done. It’s a great example of a mushroom pod system that makes home cultivation straightforward for beginners.

Whether you start with a RyzaPod or another mushroom kit, the important thing is to have fun and learn along the way. Soon you’ll be enjoying the satisfaction of growing mushrooms from spore to table – fresh, flavorful, and homegrown. Happy growing!