Growing mushrooms at home can be a fun and rewarding way to increase your personal food sovereignty, expand your palate, and educate yourself and your family about these fascinating organisms. 

If you’re already keen to grow mushrooms at home, your next question will likely be: which mushrooms should I grow? With more and more growers offering a wider variety of mushrooms than ever before, choosing the right kit can be determined via a variety of factors. 

From taste to health benefits, to cultivation timeframes, this blog will take a closer look at some of the most popular mushroom varieties available in grow kits to help you make an informed decision.

Why Mushroom Grow Kits?

While growing mushrooms from scratch can be tricky if you’re not experienced in mushroom cultivation, mushroom growing kits make it easy to grow mushrooms at home, thanks to the pre-colonised blocks they contain. These kits thrive even without special equipment or technical knowledge, making them perfect for first-time growers, culinary enthusiasts and families alike.

Portobello Mushrooms

Portobello mushrooms are the mushrooms that likely come to mind when we think of culinary mushrooms. What many people don’t realise is that the majority of supermarket mushrooms, including button (small), cremini (medium) and portobello (large) varieties, are in fact the same mushroom at different stages of maturity. 

Portobello mushrooms are the most common mushroom option available in supermarkets for several reasons. Not only are they versatile in the kitchen, their robustness also makes them very easy and cheap to grow at scale. Due to their ubiquity in supermarkets, they’re less likely to be found in increasing kits, though some are available on the market, using animal litter or peat as a substrate. In the case of peat, this use of a fossil fuel makes portbellos a less environmentally friendly choice, due to the increased output of CO2.

Flavour profile

In terms of flavour profile, chestnut mushrooms have a very mild, slightly earthy flavour profile, which is largely what makes them so popular, capably bringing an extra layer of ‘umami’ depth.

At home in soups and stews, through omelettes and pastas or topping pizzas or salads, there’s scarcely a dish that can’t welcome these kinds of mushrooms in some form.

This versatility also makes them a popular meat alternative, capable of being used as a direct replacement in a burger, or to bulk out typically meatier dishes such as bolognese and chilli con carne.

Health benefits

The health benefits of mushrooms are widely known. Like many species, oyster mushrooms can be a smart addition to any diet due to the myriad of vitamins, minerals, and other health benefits they offer. This includes B Vitamins such as riboflavin and niacin, Vitamin D (if exposed to sunlight/UV), and minerals such as selenium and copper. Mushrooms are also high in fibre, making them a welcome addition for those seeking to improve gut health.

Mushrooms contain all nine essential amino acids, but in small amounts, so they’re best used as a complement to other protein sources rather than a primary one, especially in vegan and vegetarian diets.

Growing time

In the commercial mushroom farming world, portobello mushrooms are harvested at different stages in their life cycle, with each increment yielding a slightly different texture and flavour profile. Fully grown portobello mushrooms will take four to six weeks to grow, while cremini will take three to five. Button mushrooms will take two to four weeks to grow enough to be ready for harvest.

Oyster Mushrooms

Oyster mushrooms are a gilled mushroom that are currently taking the culinary world by storm thanks to their pleasant flavour and intriguing visual appeal. Arguably the most popular commercially grown mushroom other than chestnut mushrooms, oyster mushrooms come in over 40 varieties, and, thanks to their relatively short growing time, make them a popular choice for mushroom growing kits. 

While there are several strains available to home-growers, native UK strains such as Tarragon and Phoenix oyster mushrooms are an excellent choice, as their eventual disposal will not harm local ecosystems. Tropical strains such as golden oyster and pink oyster are considered potentially invasive species that could cause biological harm.

Flavour profile

In terms of flavour, oyster mushrooms have a slightly light, more delicate profile than portobello varieties. Savoury, slightly sweet, and offering a nutty umami note, oyster mushrooms lend themselves well to many different dishes, including soups, pastas and pizzas. 

Thanks to their texture and slightly anise-like notes, they make a particularly excellent pairing with seafood dishes.

Health benefits

Much like portobello mushrooms, oyster mushrooms bring with them several health benefits, from vitamins and mineral content to gut-supporting fibre. 

Interestingly, studies indicate that, alongside the health benefits of oyster varieties found in other mushrooms, they also show a positive impact on cancer patients and support intestinal microbiota.

Growing time

From pinning to harvest, oyster mushroom growing kits can fully mature in 10–21 days.

Lion's Mane Mushrooms

One of our favourite mushrooms to grow at Caledonia Mushrooms, lion's mane mushrooms are currently taking the culinary and health world by storm for their myriad of enticing properties.

So called for its rather striking appearance, this mushroom grows in clumps with soft, dangling spines that resemble the eponymous lion's mane. Interestingly, its German name, igel-stachelbart, directly translates to ‘hedgehog goatee’ - which also feels fitting!

Although the UK is home to native strains of Lions Mane, it is critically endangered and legally protected under The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 For this reason, it should never be foraged if found. Luckily, despite this fragility, they’ve never been more popular as a foodstuff, and, as well as in mushroom grow kits, can increasingly be found in boutique grocery shops, and even some mainstream supermarkets.

Flavour profile

Like most mushrooms, Lion’s Mane is versatile, thanks to its relatively mild, slightly sweet flavour that delivers big hits of umami savouriness. Lion's mane, in particular, has a buttery texture that effectively mimics softer meats like crab and lobster.

However, one attribute that separates it from many mushrooms is its size. Larger and more robust than many other commercially available mushrooms, chefs such as Derek Sarno have pioneered techniques that make it an attractive alternative to steaks. By pressing the mushroom to release its water, it can be marinated before searing, creating a seriously satisfying steak-night experience.

Health benefits

We can confirm that lion’s mane mushrooms contain all the typical benefits that mushrooms generally possess. To recap, that’s B vitamins, helpful minerals, fibre for gut health, and even vitamin D if they’ve had some light exposure.

However, on top of all that, lion’s mane mushrooms have received extensive press in recent times for how they may benefit brain health. Non-human studies indicate that these mushrooms contain compounds that can effectively stimulate nerve growth factor, potentially improving memory retention and overall focus.

This has made them a popular choice in all manner of health products, including supplements and even coffee, with human tests indicating that supplements can have a noticeable positive effect on cognition.

While initial studies into their efficacy for conditions such as cancer and gut health are ongoing and therefore can’t be guaranteed as a benefit, lion’s mane mushrooms are understandably exciting many people as research continues to hint at promising developments.

Growing time

Lion’s mane mushroom growing kits can be ready to harvest within 10-14 days of activation. This makes a relatively quick and easy option for those wanting to grow at home. 

Now that we’ve covered the top three mushrooms available to grow from kits in the UK, we hope you’re feeling educated and inspired to grow your own! 

With so many great options available, we’re here to help you grab a kit and get started. We are always happy to answer questions & offer advice to budding mushroom enthusiasts, so if you're on your mushroom-growing journey and having difficulties, please get in touch with us!

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