Grow Your Own Gourmet Mushrooms with a Manure Loving Mushroom Grow Kit

Mushrooms that thrive on manure substrates offer an easy, beginner-friendly way to grow your own gourmet mushrooms right at home. Popular manure-loving varieties like oyster, shiitake and lion’s mane mushrooms don’t require complex fruiting chambers or expensive equipment. With a simple all-in-one mushroom grow kit designed for manure lovers, even first-time cultivators can enjoy a bountiful harvest of fresh mushrooms.

An Overview of Manure Loving Mushroom Varieties

Many of the most delicious and sought-after edible mushrooms happen to love growing in manure-based substrates. Here’s an overview of some of the easiest manure-loving mushrooms you can grow yourself:

• Oyster mushrooms – This fast-growing gourmet mushroom thrives on straw and manure. Oysters are known for their mild, seafood-like flavor and meaty texture. They grow in dense clustered directly on the substrate surface in as little as 3-4 weeks.

• Shiitake mushrooms are native to Asia. They grow naturally on hardwood logs, but they can also quickly take over sawdust, straw, and manure mixes that are kept inside. They have a rich, smoky umami flavor and chewy texture.

• Lion’s mane mushrooms – Named for their long, shaggy tendrils, lion’s manes have a seafood-like flavor and texture similar to crabmeat. They grow well on hardwood sawdust and straw.

• Button mushrooms – The most familiar grocery store mushroom also thrives on composted manure and straw. Buttons have a mild flavor and firm, meaty texture.

• Maitake mushrooms – Also called Hen of the Woods, maitakes form a rosette cluster at the base of trees outdoors. They also fruit nicely on sawdust or straw substrates indoors.

Why Use a Manure Loving Mushroom Grow Kit?

All-in-one mushroom grow kits provide the easiest method for beginners to cultivate mushrooms at home using pre-pasteurized manure and straw substrates Here are some key benefits of using a kit

• No prep work – The substrate is pre-pasteurized and ready to inoculate right out of the bag No need to prepare your own substrate,

• Less contamination risk – Careful sterilization by the supplier minimizes risks. Kits colonize faster than homemade substrates.

• Easy and clean growing—you don’t have to soak, boil, or mix the substrates yourself. The grow bag contains everything needed.

• Optimized moisture content – Substrate moisture is ideal for colonization and fruiting.

• Small footprint – Grow kits take up very little space compared to trays or tents.

• Multiple harvests – Most kits produce 2-3 flushes before depleting the substrate.

Choosing the Right Manure Loving Mushroom Grow Kit

When selecting a mushroom grow kit, consider:

• Mushroom type – Kits are available for oyster, shiitake, lion’s mane and other manure loving varieties. Pick your favorite edible.

• Kit size – Kits range from 1-5 lbs of substrate. Larger kits yield more mushrooms per grow. A 2-3 lb kit is a good start.

• Growing method – Some kits use vertical hanging bags, others use short squat bags.

• Substrate composition – Look for kits using composted manure, straw, corncobs or sawdust.

• Extra features – Upgrade options like grow lights and heating mats can optimize fruiting conditions.

A 2-3 lb mushroom grow kit offers a balance of decent yield potential and manageable size for beginners.

Setting Up Your Manure Mushroom Kit for Success

Here are some tips for getting your manure mushroom kit off to the right start:

• Select a warm growing area around 70-80°F. Mushrooms thrive in this temperature range.

• Carefully inject the grow kit with mushroom grain spawn using sterile procedure.

• Keep the kit in complete darkness for the first 2 weeks to avoid stunting growth.

• Check for full substrate colonization. Growth happens from the inside-out.

• Once fully colonized, expose the kit to 12 hours of light daily to trigger fruiting.

• Maintain proper moisture and humidity. Mist the kit daily without over-saturating it. Allow for fresh air exchange.

• Harvest mushrooms as they mature by cutting at the stem base. Enjoy several flushes!

Growing Shiitake, Oyster and More at Home

If you use the right manure mushroom grow kit and make sure the plants have the right conditions, you could be picking your own gourmet oyster, shiitake, lion’s mane, and other mushrooms in 4 to 6 weeks. Using an all-in-one kit to grow mushrooms at home makes it easy and accessible for even complete beginners. Taking care of your own fresh mushroom crop will be a rewarding experience.

Frequently Asked Questions About Manure Loving Mushroom Grow Kits

Are mushroom grow kits worth buying?

Yes, mushroom grow kits allow beginners to easily produce gourmet mushrooms at home year-round. But not all kits are equal in quality. Do research to find a reputable supplier with excellent reviews and satisfaction guarantees.

How long will a mushroom grow kit produce?

Most kits produce at least 2 harvests’ worth of mushrooms before depleting the substrate, often more. You can get multiple flushes of mushrooms from one kit before needing to replace it.

Where is the best place to put a mushroom grow kit?

A warm area around 70°F away from direct sunlight is ideal, like a kitchen counter or shelf. Airflow is also important to prevent CO2 buildup. Avoid small enclosed spaces.

What’s the difference between a mushroom grow bag and grow kit?

Grow bags just contain a pre-pasteurized substrate. Grow kits include the bag plus mushroom grain spawn and detailed instructions for a full grow from start to harvest. Kits are more beginner-friendly.

Can I use a mushroom grow kit without the bag?

You can break up a spent mushroom kit and use the substrate to make your own monotub or mushroom growing chamber. But kits are designed to be grown in the bag they come in.

Growing gourmet oyster, shiitake and other manure loving mushroom varieties from an all-in-one kit allows even novice gardeners to experience the magic of mushroom cultivation. In just a month or two, you could have fresh mushrooms ready for cooking!