All you need to know about growing Lion's Mane Mushrooms
Lions mane mushrooms, also known as Hericium erinaceus, are a unique and fascinating fungi species that resemble a flowing mane of a lion, which is where they get their quirky name from. These highly sought after mushrooms have boomed in popularity recently and we are proud to have one of the best Lion's Mane Mushroom Growing Kits on the market available for you to grow yourself.
You just need to keep it indoors and out of direct sunlight, each kit having enough nutrition to produce multiple flushes of Lion's Mane.
How to Grow Lion's Mane Mushrooms
The fundamentals for growing Lion's Mane is the same as other species, avoid direct sunlight and provide a humid environment for fruiting. In the initial stages hygiene is very important, especially if you are working with agar cultures and subsequently grain in order to make a grain spawn. For peace of mind many growers choose fully colonised bags of substrate as the contamination risk is greatly reduced.
The three main ways of growing Lion's Mane are
- Growing from culture.
- An indoor mushroom cultivation kit.
- An outdoor log growing kit.
For first time and experienced mushroom growers
Each species of mushrooms will provide a different experience when growing, although some basic fundamentals will be consistent. When growing any species of mushrooms it is also worth checking our growing guides and FAQ pages, also we are always on hand for product support when needed.
⚠️ Important: Growing Environment
• Do not grow in view of direct sunlight
• Do not suffocate the kit as it grows, mushrooms require what's known as "fresh air exchange (FAE)"
Below we will detail how to grow your Lion's Mane Mushroom Kit with our special humidity bag, which offers protection whilst also allowing air to exchange so you do not end up with coral like mushrooms, but rather the desired tooth like structure.
Within the product box is a blend of highly nutritious growing medium, the medium has been fully spawn run and inoculated with Lion's Mane, its mycelium being a thin white web like strands and is much finer than some mycelium for example Yellow Oyster.
This network of mycelium is working hard to break down the nutrition within the growing medium and is converting this into energy in order to produce fruit bodies from the four growing holes.
The riskiest part of mushroom growing is at the start, when it can be prone to infection, which is why all our ready growing kits are sent out once the kit is fully colonised.
What to Expect: Day by Day
Every Lion's Mane kit develops at a slightly different pace depending on room temperature and humidity, but the milestones below show what typical growth looks like from setup to harvest.
Day 1 - Setup
Follow the instructions and set up the humidity bag. Position in a cool room (10 to 20 degrees) with indirect light. Begin misting the paper towels, not the block itself.
Day 4-5 - Pins Form
Often with a pinkish / yellow hue, these will form and quickly increase in size. This is the early fruit body.
Day 6-7 - Growth
A white, bulbous mass progresses out of the openings. If no growth by day 6, check the Lion's Mane tips.
Day 7-8 - Almost There
The mushrooms will expand in size rapidly with spines beginning to form.
Day 8-10 - Harvest
The clusters now have longer distinctive shaggy spines. Harvest while still white and firm. Late harvesting causes drying and yellowing. Twist and cut at the base.
Timelines are typical results at 10-20 degrees with regular misting. View full growing timeline with all varieties
How to set up your Lion's Mane Mushroom Growing Kit
The four growing holes have been already pre cut prior to arrival, so your first step is to place the kit within the humidity bag, it is important to set the bag up in a neat rectangle, folding the edges of the bag in on its self to aid in rigidity.
Place two pieces of paper towel folded flat either side of the two growing holes (do not let the paper touch the kit)
Lion's Mane Mushrooms grow best between 10-20°C. They like high humidity, fresh air exchange and a steady temperature in order to thrive. The better your growing environment the better your crops will be.
As Lion's Mane prefers humidity of80/90% it is important the two paper towels are kept damp at all times. This will provide an ambient humidity which is perfect for the mushrooms to fruit in, without limiting airflow. You can refer to our instruction guide to guide you through the process.
Initiating Pinning
In nature the fruiting process of this mushroom is triggered by environmental changes. The mycelium will grow towards ambient light and fresh air.
To replicate this environment, our humidity bag is clear to allow light, whilst still offering protection from draughts.
Lions mane is a Saprotrophic fungi which means that it breaks down dead or decaying organic material such as wood.
In nature this process takes much longer, as the material is harder to break down, however with our Lion's Mane growing kit this process is much quicker as the substrate is more like sawdust so it is easier to breakdown.
Our grow kits will begin to pin up in 1-2 weeks since placing the kit within the humidity bag. As the kits are ready growing, it is important you start the kit on time. see our storage guide for more information on this.
Handy growing guide - Coral like growth?
Signs of low fresh air exchange (FAE): If you have set the bag up incorrectly, or are limiting air exchange in someway, your mushrooms will grow abnormal as they are searching for air. To rectify this, ensure your bag is correctly set up (as above) and the bag opening is not restricted in any way.
When to harvest Lion's Mane mushrooms?
Lion's mane will be edible at any stage of the growing process, however most people wait until it is fully grown, you will know this is the case when the spines or teeth have reached a length of 2-3cm. The goal is to pick your mushroom before it spores. If you notice white powder on the tip of the spines or on the inside of the plastic humidity tent, this is an indication it is ready to pick. If the mushrooms have begun to sporate, the mushrooms will still be perfect to eat but they should be harvested.
Harvesting and future crops.
Growing Tips
With one hand, gently grip the entire fruit body and gently twist to pull the entire mushroom fruit body off at the base.
Ensure all of the mushroom has been removed, you should see brown substrate, from which the next crops will grow. With one hand, gently grip the entire fruit body and gently twist to pull the entire mushroom fruit body off at the base.
Clean the mushrooms of any substrate that may be present. You can store your mushrooms in the fridge for up to a week wrapped in paper towel.
The next crop will grow out of the same holes, so there is no need to make new holes. All you have to do is follow the steps as before, spraying the paper towel each day and await another 2-3 weeks for your next crop. You can expect 2-3 crops over the kits life cycle. The kits will continue to yield until the nutrition is exhausted.
FAQ's
We are always on hand for product support, you can either reach us direct for information on how best to grow your lion's mane mushrooms, or we have common issues with growing lion's mane (common issues)
Lion's Mane benefits
Read more about Lion's Mane benefits here.
Lion's Mane culinary uses
Lions mane mushrooms are highly prized in the culinary world for their delicate and savory flavor, often described as tasting like lobster or crab meat, making an ideal choice for vegetarians and vegans (check out our recipe here for crispy Lion's Mane nuggets).
With their impressive flavor profile and booming popularity, lions mane mushrooms are a versatile and valuable addition to any diet. Whether sautéed, roasted, or added to soups and stir-fries, these mushrooms are a delectable and nutritious choice for any meal.
How to grow Lion's Mane Mushrooms Outside.
Outdoor Growing Options.
Lion's Mane Mushrooms can also be grown outside, in fact this is the only way you are allowed to obtain these mushrooms outdoors, as to forage them when they are wild grown is illegal under UK law.
However do not worry, these laws and rules do not apply if you are growing your own, using a Mushroom log inoculation kit, we offer Shiitake, Lion's Mane and White Oyster mushroom spawn plugs for our outdoor mushroom growing kits.
Lions Mane Mushrooms: Frequently Asked Questions
Lions Mane mushrooms (Hericium erinaceus) are distinctive, white spines / teeth, named as such because of their resemblance to a lion's mane. They are valued for their unique appearance, rarity and gourmet status.
When growing Lion's mane it is important to avoid certain things such as an incorrect humidity bag setup and not picking the mushrooms when they are ready, we have a guide for what to avoid when growing Lions Mane
Lions Mane mushrooms can be prepared in various ways, including sautéing, grilling, roasting, or pan-frying. Their texture and ability to absorb flavours make them an excellent meat substitute in dishes like stir-fries, soups and even sandwiches!
Lion's Mane mushrooms can be eaten raw, however we do recommend cooking for best results.
In the wild you will find Lions Mane mushrooms growing on hardwood trees, particularly in North America, Europe and Asia. They can also be easily grown at home using our Lions Mane ready-growing kits, which provide everything you need to cultivate them indoors, which is the best way to obtain a good source of this gourmet mushroom.
Yes, Lions Mane mushrooms can be dried for later use. Once dried, they can be rehydrated by soaking in water before cooking or ground down and used as a powder in recipes / drinks such as coffee. Please see our guide on dehydrating mushrooms.
Within the UK it is illegal to forage Lions mane, so the best way to obtain is to grow it your self. Occasionally you can find it in supermarkets but it is very rare. You can also purchase extracts and tinctures.