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Whether you opt for a mushroom growing kit or take on the challenge of growing lion’s mane mushrooms using your own substrate, the rewards are well worth it. Fresh lion’s mane mushrooms can be a great meat substitute due to their dense texture, which can mimic that of steak. The convenience of having a readily available stock at home is truly remarkable, especially considering their numerous health benefits. While growing lion’s mane mushrooms may pose a slightly greater difficulty compared to other varieties like oyster mushrooms or shiitake mushrooms, it is still an achievable endeavor. So, without further delay, let’s delve into the details so that you can embark on your journey of growing lion’s mane mushrooms at home!
What are Lion’s Mane Mushroom?
Lion’s Mane mushroom stands out as one of the most widely cultivated mushrooms available today. Its distinctively fuzzy texture resembles a fluffy pom-pom, and this white, furry appearance makes it highly sought after in culinary circles. However, its value extends beyond the kitchen, as it is also renowned worldwide as a medicinal mushroom.
The Lion’s Mane mushroom, scientifically known as Hericium erinaceus, has long been utilized in traditional medicine to address various health concerns such as anxiety, depression, inflammation, and digestive issues. However, harnessing its medicinal properties requires expert knowledge in extracting beneficial compounds and a comprehensive understanding of proper dosages. Prior to considering any Lion’s Mane supplements, it is advisable to consult with your doctor. Nonetheless, if your interest lies in learning about growing these mushrooms for culinary purposes, you’ve come to the right place.
These unusual mushrooms, which are native to Asia, Europe, and North America, flourish on dead hardwood trees and logs all over the northern hemisphere. In the wild, you can encounter them during temperate seasons and climates. The spores of lion’s mane mushrooms cling to downed branches and use the nutrients in the substrate to thrive, producing up to one pound of fruiting bodies.
Renowned for its gentle and slightly sweet taste with a soft and spongy texture, somewhat like cauliflower, many people like to use this delicious mushroom in their dishes. When cooked, the “teeth” of lion’s mane mushrooms yield a meat-like texture, making them an exquisite substitute for meat in vegetarian dishes.
Growing Lion’s Mane Mushrooms at Home
Embarking on the journey of growing lion’s mane mushrooms at home brings both convenience and great rewards. The process doesn’t demand extensive space, and the best part is that you can cultivate these nutritious mushrooms without dealing with messy soil.
Whether you opt for an outdoor setup, utilizing logs in a shaded area, or prefer an indoor approach, such as utilizing a spare room or basement, the possibilities are abundant. Even if you reside in a small apartment, you can still grow lion’s mane mushrooms by employing a shotgun fruiting chamber.
What You’ll Need
In this tutorial, we will provide the quantities required to produce a 2.8-kilogram fruiting block.
The substrate will weigh 2.5 kilograms, which will be inoculated with an additional 300 grams of grain spawn.
Here’s a list of the materials you will need:
- Pressure Cooker
- Filter Patch Grow Bags
- Kitchen Scales
- 600 grams of Soy Hulls
- 600 grams Hardwood Fuel Pellets (HWFP)
- 2.3 Liters Water
- Torch
- Metal Spoon
- Alcohol (Isopropyl or Methylated Spirits)
- Lion’s Mane Grain Spawn
No.1 Prepare the Substrate
With the assistance of kitchen scales, measure 600 grams of hardwood fuel pellets and 600 grams of soy hulls. Proceed to add these measured quantities to a filter patch grow bag.
Next, weigh 2.3 liters of water and carefully pour it into the grow bag containing the dry ingredients.
It is crucial to note that moisture content can exhibit significant variation in large batches if not thoroughly mixed immediately before packing. Therefore, it is highly recommended to individually weigh and pack each bag to ensure consistent moisture content throughout the process.
No.2 Sterilize Grow Bags
Once the grow bags are filled with substrate, fold them and place them into the pressure cooker for sterilization. Sterilize for 90 minutes at 15PSI. After the sterilization process, it is important to allow the pressure cooker to depressurize naturally without any intervention. Do not attempt to open the pressure cooker until it has completely cooled down.
No.3 Inoculate the Substrate
After the grow bag has fully cooled down, it is ready to be inoculated with grain spawn. For each 2.5-kilogram grow bag, we will be adding approximately 300 grams of grain spawn.
Lion’s mane grain spawn is finely textured and may appear immature after being shaken. However, despite the appearance, each individual grain retains its colonization and viability.
Keep in mind that only objects that have been sterilized by flame should come into contact with the sterile media or grain spawn. While alcohol can be used to sanitize and clean surfaces from micro-particles, it is not suitable for achieving sterilization.
It is advisable to wear a face mask throughout the process. Work should be conducted within a laminar flow hood or in a still air box.
No.4 Colonization
Immediately after inoculation, it is crucial to seal the inoculated filter patch grow bag to prevent the entry of competing pathogens such as yeast and mold. The fully sealed fruiting block should be stored at room temperature, away from direct sunlight, for a period of two to three weeks or until it is completely colonized.
Lion’s mane mycelium, in comparison to other commonly cultivated gourmet mushrooms like oyster mushrooms, has a very fine texture. Consequently, it can be challenging to determine when a lion’s mane is fully colonized.
As the lion’s mane mycelium colonizes the grow bag, you may notice that it starts to feel firmer and undergoes a slight lightening in color. The mycelium itself will predominantly remain transparent, allowing the dark substrate to be visible. This phenomenon is often associated with the concentration gradient of supplementation within the bulk substrate.
The lion’s mane mycelium will only exhibit a visible white appearance once it begins to form knots and develop primordia. This typically occurs in areas where the substrate is in direct contact with fresh air.
No.5 Fruiting
Once the lion’s mane fruiting block is fully colonized, it can be opened. It is important to remove as much air as possible from the grow bag upon opening. The grow bag can then be tightly folded against the fruiting block and secured in place with tape.
To initiate fruiting, we recommend making a small incision, no longer than 5 cm, in the grow bag. While primordia may form in the humid space between the bag and substrate, they will not develop fully due to limited space and lack of fresh air exchange.
Transfer your lion’s mane to a greenhouse or fruiting chamber. A mini-greenhouse or a large plastic crate is commonly used to create a humid micro-climate. If you have limited space, we suggest constructing a shotgun fruiting chamber (SGFC) using a plastic crate and perlite.
To maintain the desired humidity level, mist the walls of your greenhouse at least twice daily. If you notice that the mushrooms are growing long and leggy, it may be beneficial to increase the amount of fresh air circulation they receive. Yellowing of the mushrooms is often a result of low humidity.
No.6 Harvest
The lion’s mane mushroom is deemed fully mature when it ceases to grow in size and the spines extend further. This maturation process typically takes around 2 to 3 weeks. One wonderful aspect of this stage is the ability to harvest lion’s mane mushrooms at various stages, allowing you to enjoy fresh mushrooms each time. Younger lion’s mane mushrooms hold just as much value as their larger, fully mature counterparts. It is ideal to harvest them while they are still fresh and before they start to turn golden and dry.
To harvest the lion’s mane mushroom fruit, use a flame-sterilized sharp knife and carefully cut them at the stem. Be cautious not to cut into the substrate or the area where the lion’s mane spawn is still fruiting. Your grow bag will continue to produce additional flushes, providing multiple harvest opportunities. Typically, you can harvest around 3 to 4 flushes from a kit or bag.
Final Word
Whether you choose to grow lion’s mane mushrooms using a mushroom growing kit or take on the challenge of creating your own substrate, the journey is worthwhile. Growing lion’s mane mushrooms requires slightly more effort compared to other mushroom varieties. However, the effort is worth the reward you will get after a successful harvest. Follow our comprehensive guide, and enjoy the mushroom growing process!
