Mushroom grow kits make for a fun and unique gift for the mushroom enthusiast in your life. The kits are easy to use, but you must follow the instructions closely to see results. Some of the simpler kits only require gentle misting twice a day, while others may need to be soaked over a period of six to 12 months for them to fruit. The kits can be used indoors or outdoors, and most will produce multiple flushes of mushrooms.
Most of these kits come with pre-sterilized spawn and substrate, eliminating the time-consuming and potentially dangerous process of mixing in mushroom spores on your own. The kits also help with the growing process, removing some of the guesswork involved in growing mushrooms. This saves both time and effort, especially for beginners who want to try their hand at mushroom cultivation but lack the space or resources to set up a full home lab.
The kits from North Spore are some of our favorites, as they offer the most detailed instructions and a higher fruiting percentage. The company’s Lion’s Mane kit produces a large amount of mushrooms and has a high yield at the end of each growth cycle. The Wine Cap kit is another option, with its mild nutty flavor and multiple flushes of mushrooms.
Other brands have different variations of these kits, including a log-style kit that produces shiitake and other gourmet mushrooms. Some offer specialty varieties, like enokitake, which have a meaty texture that adds richness to soups and stews. Others offer a variety of oyster mushroom species or even more exotic options, such as the prized wild mushroom called morels.