Down to Earth - Merryhill Mushroom Kit Review

8th January 2026

Down to Earth Reviews Our Mushroom Growing Kits

Alan Down shares his foraging journey and mushroom growing success with our Pink Oyster and Chestnut kits

We're thrilled to share this wonderful review from Alan Down at Down to Earth, who tested our Pink Oyster and Chestnut mushroom growing kits. After years of trying different kits without great success, Alan found our kits transformed his mushroom growing experience. Here's his journey from cautious forager to successful home grower.

From Foraging Fan to Home Grower

Alan begins his review with a confession many of us share: "I love foraging for mushrooms! Nothing very adventurous you understand as I'm not experienced and knowledgeable enough to know what is safe to eat and what is definitely not!"

After trying various mushroom kits over the years without much success, Alan found that our Merryhill Mushrooms kits completely changed his experience. He tested both our Pink Oyster and Chestnut mushroom growing kits, finding them remarkably easy to set up and maintain.

The Pink Oyster Experience

Alan positioned his Pink Oyster kit in his large back porch on the north side of his property - with his two flat-coated retriever dogs keeping a watchful eye on progress! This location provided the perfect conditions: away from direct sunlight and requiring no additional heat.

Lightning-Fast Results

"I was surprised at how soon mushrooms appeared! In fact our first harvest was after just ten days!"

The setup couldn't have been simpler - just open three small tabs and mist water into the holes twice daily. Alan's first harvest came after just 10 days, though he notes that harvesting after 8 days might have yielded more tender mushrooms.

Multiple Harvests Keep Coming

The productivity didn't stop with the first flush. Alan's second harvest of pink oyster mushrooms appeared after a month, with expectations of more to come. His daughter, a vegetarian, gave the mushrooms rave reviews, declaring them "just great!"

Video: Alan's Growing Experience

Watch Alan Down showcase his mushroom growing journey on Instagram:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Alan Down (@alanedown)

The Chestnut/White Mushroom Success

The Chestnut mushroom kit proved equally rewarding, though with a slightly different growing process. Alan positioned this kit in his heated utility room, maintaining the ideal temperature range of 14-21°C.

Setup process: Cut off the box top (keeping it as a temporary lid), wet the included topsoil, and spread it over the compost. After 8 days, Alan discovered a mesh of white mycelium - the fungal root system - covering the soil surface.

Impressive Yields

The results speak for themselves:

First Harvest - Day 20

The initial crop of chestnut mushrooms was ready after just 20 days of care.

Second Flush - Two Weeks Later

An even heavier crop appeared just two weeks after the first harvest.

Continuous Production

More little mushrooms continued to appear, providing ongoing harvests.

"As you would expect these were delicious and especially tasty. This was most probably due to them being exceptionally fresh!"

What Made the Difference

Alan highlights several factors that set our kits apart from his previous mushroom-growing attempts:

Crystal Clear Instructions

All kits come with easy-to-follow instructions that make setup foolproof.

Personal Support Available

Merryhill Mushrooms are keen to talk customers through any part of the process if needed.

Convenient Daily Care

"There's no great hardship to remembering to mist them a couple times a day," especially when positioned along daily routes.

Comprehensive Online Resources

Detailed variety-specific information available on our website for deeper guidance.

The Perfect Gift Idea

Alan's recommendation couldn't be clearer: "Whether you buy these for yourself or buy them as a gift for a friend or relative, I strongly recommend Merryhill Mushroom kits."

Alan's Verdict

"They are the best mushroom kits I have ever grown!"

About Down to Earth

Down to Earth is a respected gardening and travel blog run by Alan Down, whose lifelong career in horticulture and passion for the natural world brings authentic expertise to every review. Growing up on a farm where boyhood days were filled with discoveries of wildflowers and wildlife, Alan's deep connection to plants and nature shines through in his writing.

Alan's practical, hands-on approach to product testing - complete with his canine assistants keeping watch - provides genuine insights that gardeners trust. His honest reviews help readers make informed decisions about gardening products, from traditional tools to innovative growing solutions like our mushroom kits.

Experience Speaks Volumes

When someone with Alan's horticultural background and previous mushroom-growing struggles declares our kits "the best mushroom kits I have ever grown," it truly means something. His transformation from unsuccessful attempts with other kits to harvesting multiple flushes of delicious mushrooms showcases exactly what we aim to deliver - reliable, productive, and genuinely easy-to-use growing kits.