How Long Does It Take To Grow Mushrooms?

I really enjoy mushrooms. There are so many different things you can do with them. They’re a great addition to a garlicky, creamy chicken recipe and make a pretty mean soup.

When you’ve got mushrooms, there are endless possibilities for what you can do with them. 

And no vegetable tastes as good as when it’s homegrown. 

But I bet you already knew that. What you might not know, though, is what kind of commitment is required to bring these bad boys to life.

Are they easy to grow yourself? Do they take ages to harvest? These are all important questions to ask yourself before you dedicate time to growing them. 

And luckily for you, I have all the answers to the questions swirling around your head. 

Now, it’s important to remember that there are many different varieties of mushrooms. And not all mushrooms were created equal. Each kind of mushroom will have its own time scale.

You’ll be happy to know that almost all mushrooms take a few months to get from start to finish. Some are even ready in just a matter of a few weeks! 

So, if you’d like to learn more about how long you can expect your mushrooms to take while growing, you’ll want to keep reading! If you want to learn more about growing veg, read here.

How Long Do Mushrooms Take To Grow

The answer to this question depends on when you consider the growing process to begin.

Take Pink Oyster mushrooms, for example; it takes 4-5 days to grow from when the pins begin to form. 

Of course, there is a growth period before the pins start to form since they must be inoculated from the substrate with mushroom spawn first.

A mushroom’s growth begins with the spawn run and incubation for its early stages of life. Then it grows into that versatile and delicious vegetable we’ve all come to know and love. 

So, just how long does the entire process take? Let’s take a look at the five most popular varieties of mushrooms. 

• Oyster Mushrooms – As little as 2 weeks when grown in bags
• Shiitake Mushrooms – 8-12 weeks when grown on sawdust/6 months in or on logs.
• Wine Cap Mushrooms – 4-6 weeks when grown in bags/2-8 months in outdoor beds.
• Pioppino Mushrooms – 4-6 weeks when grown in bags.
• Lion’s Mane Mushrooms – 4-6 weeks when grown in bags/1-2 years if grown in or on logs.  

Does It Require A Lot Of Effort To Grow Mushrooms? 

Growing mushrooms can be easy and effortless if you’ve done the prior research. And since you’re here right now, you’ll be absolutely fine.

As long as you follow the right instructions, it literally couldn’t be any easier. 

In fact, for newbie growers, mushrooms are one of the first vegetables I’d recommend since they have such a high yield even from the smallest of spaces.

If you are a beginner, I would advise opting for Oyster mushrooms as your first port of call because they are one of the easiest varieties to grow. 

Let’s look at some of your options for growing your own mushrooms. 

Grow Kits

If you’d like to speed up the process or want a helping hand with learning how to grow your mushrooms indoors. Then, a Mushroom Grow Kit might be the way forward. 

These take much less effort than growing mushrooms from start to end, all by yourself. And with this kit, you can harvest your gourmet mushrooms in as little as 10 days.

The kit is totally organic and is not genetically modified, so you’ll still get that great home-grown flavor. 

It also means that rain, wind, or shine, you can still grow your favorite veggie. 

Beds & Boxes

You can grow your mushrooms in either beds or boxes, too.

You’ll need a rich, fertile, moisture-retentive growing medium inside your box or bed, such as horse manure available at most local garden centers. 

Then, you’ll spread the spawn across the surface and ensure it’s mixed around 5-8 cm deep. It’s best to then cover the area with damp newspaper.

You’ll then wait a couple of weeks for the mycelium to appear and replace the newspaper with a 50/50 mixture of soil and lime. 

Water regularly, and within a couple more weeks, they should start to appear and be ready to sow. 

Logs

Growing mushrooms on logs requires little attention once the dowels are inserted, which makes it a great method. You’ll simply cut a piece of hardwood from some healthy wood.

The best wood types are chestnut, hazelnut, birch, holly, and maple. Ensure that they have a diameter of approximately 10-15 cm and a length of around 45-60 cm. 

Then, using a drill, create holes along the length of your log around 15 cm apart from one another. Insert your impregnated dowels into the holes and then seal them with wax. 

All that is left is to place it in a cool, shady spot and moisten it.

This method takes a little longer than the others, so you can expect to wait up to around a year/year and a half before your mushrooms start appearing. 

Final Thoughts

The time it takes to grow mushrooms can vary depending on the method you use to grow them.

You can opt for grow kits and bags with mushrooms ready in as little as a few weeks or less, or you can grow them on logs, which can take up to a year before you’ll see those scrumptious veggies appear. 

Regardless of the growing time, though, mushrooms are quite easy to grow; all they really require is a cool and damp environment and there you have it – mushrooms will start to appear! 

Further Recommendations:

• When to plant Strawberries in Seattle
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• The ultimate guide to growing Serrano Peppers in pots
• How to grow mushrooms in Georgia
• Are Potatoes Legumes?

Video: How Long Does it Take to Grow Mushrooms?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiaWQRSm2w0&ab_channel=Mycophilia