The Urban Veg Patch - Merryhill Mushrooms Growing Kit Review
The Urban Veg Patch Reviews Our Mushroom Growing Kits
Award-winning garden blogger Caro shares an honest, hands-on account of growing Lion's Mane and White mushrooms at home — mistakes, corrections and all
We're thrilled to share this wonderfully candid review from Caro at The Urban Veg Patch — Garden Media Guild Blog of the Year 2018 — who trialled our Lion's Mane and White mushroom growing kits. As a complete novice to mushroom growing, Caro's honest account of early mistakes and eventual success makes for both an entertaining and genuinely useful read.
A Childhood Love of Foraging
Caro's connection to mushrooms runs deep. Growing up, her father — a Royal Navy helicopter pilot — would take her and her siblings out onto the airfields at Culdrose in Cornwall on misty early mornings to forage for field mushrooms for breakfast. That early treasure hunt, as she describes it, inspired a lifelong love of mushrooms and the outdoors.
So when the opportunity arose to trial a couple of home growing kits, the answer was never in doubt. What followed was an honest journey through the learning curve — and ultimately, a very successful harvest.
Unboxing: Two Kits Arrive
A large box arrived from Merryhill Mushrooms containing two kits — one primed to grow Lion's Mane, the other to produce White mushrooms — along with clear setup notes. The outer packaging carried an instruction to open immediately, which Caro did. Inside, the Lion's Mane kit was already primed and ready to fruit, with the notes indicating it should be started as soon as possible.
Mistake Number One
Caro gave the notes a cursory glance and set both boxes to one side, earmarking them as a new year project. "I blame Christmas," she admits. A week later, she discovered the Lion's Mane had already started fruiting unaided — the kit was that eager to grow.
Getting the Lion's Mane on Track
The early start proved easy to remedy. The kit needed humidity, a steady temperature of 10–20°C, and an indirect light source. Caro set it up inside the large plastic bag supplied, adding moist wads of kitchen towel to create a damp environment and misting them twice daily — particularly important to counteract occasional blasts of central heating in her flat, which usually sits at a comfortable 17°C.
Mistake Number Two
Caro initially tried to stop the plastic bag from flopping inward over the mushrooms using paper clips as a makeshift canopy — before learning from our customer service team that the bag needed to stay open at the top to allow a fresh exchange of air. A classic beginner's misunderstanding, easily resolved.
Customer Service Made the Difference
Throughout the process, Caro found our customer service team invaluable. When some of the Lion's Mane mushrooms began developing a pinkish, coral-like colouring, a quick exchange with the team reassured her that this was likely due to lower light levels and that the fruits were still perfectly edible. The kit was moved to a slightly brighter spot and from that point on, the growing was straightforward.
Success!
With the bag upright and open, the kitchen towels kept damp and clear of the box sides, and the kit in a brighter position, beautiful Lion's Mane teeth grew. Within a few short weeks, Caro harvested a big handful of mushrooms.
How Did They Taste?
Lion's Mane has a meaty texture and absorbs flavour exceptionally well. We recommend cooking slices in butter and garlic — Caro went her own way and fried hers in olive oil and soy sauce, with very tasty results.
Storage Tip
Unused mushrooms can be stored in a paper bag in the fridge for up to a week, or dried in a dehydrator or very low oven and kept in an airtight jar for future use.
Sustainability Bonus
Once the last harvest is done, don't discard the compost — break the block up and bury sections in garden soil or raised beds. It boosts soil health and may even produce more mushrooms in the months ahead.
The Health Benefits of Lion's Mane
Caro notes that taste alone would be reason enough to grow Lion's Mane — but the added health benefits are remarkable. This remarkable fungus is reputed to support brain function, memory, mood and mental health, as well as the immune system and heart health, while also offering anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Caro's Summary
Easy to grow — just pay attention to ambient light, moisture and temperature during setup.
The kits take up very little room — ideal for flats and smaller homes.
Everything needed is in the box — you just need a spray bottle.
Helpful, friendly customer service available by email or phone if needed.
A great way to try unusual varieties like Lion's Mane, Oyster or Shiitake.
Makes a useful and fun gift for adults and supervised children alike — and spent compost is a brilliant bonus for garden soil.
"I also thought that a kit would be an intriguing present for a curious child as it's quite fun to watch the mushrooms grow — educational with a sense of anticipation, just the sort of thing I'd have given my son in his formative years."
About The Urban Veg Patch
The Urban Veg Patch is an award-winning gardening blog run by Caro Shrives, who has been writing since 2009. Garden Media Guild Blog of the Year 2018, the blog chronicles Caro's journey from balcony grower to communal garden cultivator — covering vegetables, herbs, fruit, flowers and honest product reviews throughout.
Caro's lifelong passion for plants and the natural world, combined with her willingness to document both mistakes and successes, makes her reviews exceptionally trustworthy. Her readers know they're getting an unvarnished, practical account — and her experience with our kits is no exception.
Honest Experience, Real Results
Caro approached our kits as a complete novice, made a couple of understandable early errors, called on our customer service team for support, and ended up with a beautiful Lion's Mane harvest. Her account demonstrates exactly what we believe about our kits: they're forgiving, well-supported, and genuinely rewarding — even when things don't start perfectly.
Ready to Grow Your Own?
Join Caro and countless others who've discovered that growing mushrooms at home is easier — and more rewarding — than they ever expected.
Explore Our RangeRead the Full Original Review
Visit The Urban Veg Patch's complete review for Caro's full write-up including photos documenting her growing journey from first fruits to final harvest.
Published by Merryhill Mushrooms
Sussex, UK | Six generations of mushroom growing excellence