Mushroom grow kits, compared by price, size and harvest time
Seller-stated prices and harvest times for oyster, lion's mane and shiitake kits, with a source and check date on every figure. Free, no sign-up.
Oyster10 to 15 days
Days to first harvest as sellers state it: North Spore, Back to the Roots and Far West Fungi. Checked November 11, 2026.
Lion's mane10 to 14 days
Days to first harvest as sellers state it: North Spore and Far West Fungi. Checked November 11, 2026.
Shiitake10 to 14 days
Days to first harvest as sellers state it: Far West Fungi and Field & Forest. North Spore and Back to the Roots do not state one. Checked November 11, 2026.
Oyster
Oyster has the shortest stated times to harvest. North Spore calls its blue oyster kit one of its easiest and most reliable. It fruits from a box or bag on a kitchen counter.
- FIRST HARVEST
- 10 to 15 days
- FLUSHES
- 1 guaranteed, up to 4 stated
- BLOCK
- 4 lb boxed kits
- PRICE
- $19.99 to $34.99
Lion's mane
Shaggy white clusters that North Spore suggests as a crab cake substitute. The seller warns it can dry out when the air is dry, so plan on daily misting.
- FIRST HARVEST
- 10 to 14 days
- FLUSHES
- 1 guaranteed, up to 4 stated
- BLOCK
- 4 to 5 lb
- PRICE
- $25 to $34.99
Shiitake
A meatier, savory mushroom that asks more of the grower. One seller says the block has to come out of the bag to fruit.
- FIRST HARVEST
- 10 to 14 days, where stated
- FLUSHES
- 1 guaranteed, up to 4 stated
- BLOCK
- About 5 lb
- PRICE
- $25 to $39.99
Questions people ask first
- How do I tell mycelium from mold?
White, fuzzy growth on a fresh block is usually mycelium. The guide shows what to look for before you throw a kit out.
- When should I harvest oyster mushrooms?
Pick them while the cap edges are still curled down, before they flatten and drop spores. The guide covers the signs.
- What is popcorning on a shiitake block?
Bumpy, lumpy growth that one writer describes as showing up on shiitake sawdust blocks before pins form. The guide covers what the seller says to do with a shiitake block.
- Is a smart grow box worth it?
It depends on how much you want to automate misting and airflow. The comparison lays out the trade-offs.
Kits side by side
Scroll sideways to see every column.
| Kit | Species | First harvest | Stated yield | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Spore Organic Blue Oyster Spray & Grow Boxed kit, spray and grow | Blue oyster | 10 to 15 days | 0.5 to 2 lb in the first flush | $34.99 as of November 11, 2026 | |
| Back to the Roots Organic Mushroom Grow Kit (pearl oyster) Boxed kit, spray and grow | Pearl oyster | About 10 days | 3 to 4 servings per crop | $19.99 (regular price $24.99) as of November 11, 2026 | |
| Far West Fungi Mini-Farm (tree oyster) Boxed Mini-Farm kit | Tree oyster | 10 to 14 days | 1 to 2 lb across 3 to 4 harvests | $25 (less per kit in multi-packs) as of November 11, 2026 | |
| North Spore Organic Lion's Mane Spray & Grow Boxed kit, spray and grow | Lion's mane | About 14 days | 0.5 to 2 lb in the first flush | $34.99 as of November 11, 2026 | |
| Far West Fungi Mini-Farm (lion's mane) Boxed Mini-Farm kit | Lion's mane | 10 to 14 days | 1 to 2 lb across 3 to 4 harvests | $25 (less per kit in multi-packs) as of November 11, 2026 | |
| North Spore Organic Shiitake Fruiting Block Fruiting block in a bag | Shiitake | Not stated by the seller | 1 to 2 lb per flush, less in later flushes | From $34.99 as of November 11, 2026 | |
| Far West Fungi Mini-Farm (shiitake) Boxed Mini-Farm kit | Shiitake | 10 to 14 days | 1 to 2 lb across 3 to 4 harvests | $25 (less per kit in multi-packs) as of November 11, 2026 | |
| Field & Forest Shiitake Table Top Farm Ready-to-fruit kit | Shiitake | 10 to 14 days | Up to 1.5 lb | Not shown on the page checked as of November 11, 2026 |
Want a ranking with reasons? See the best mushroom grow kits or the best kits for beginners.
How we check
Cedrick Reese put this page together as a short way into the site, so it shows eight kits from North Spore, Back to the Roots, Far West Fungi and Field & Forest rather than the full set. Price, weight and yield figures are copied from each seller's page, which is linked in the Sources list with the date it was checked. We have not grown these kits, so yield and timing are the sellers' claims. Stock and prices change, so confirm them on the seller's page.
Quick answers
What is the difference between a grow kit and a spawn kit?
A grow kit arrives with the block already colonized by mycelium and ready to fruit, so you open it and keep it moist. Spawn, such as grain spawn, sawdust spawn or plugs, is not a kit. It has to be mixed into a separate substrate first, which is a different and more involved project.
How long until I can harvest?
Sellers of the oyster kits listed here state about 10 to 15 days from opening to first harvest. Lion's mane kits are stated at 10 to 14 days, and shiitake kits that give a figure state 10 to 14 days. These are the sellers' claims.
Can I get more than one harvest from a kit?
Usually, yes. Most sellers guarantee one flush and say more are possible with care, and each later flush tends to be smaller. Far West Fungi states 3 to 4 harvests for its Mini-Farm kits, and North Spore says 1 to 3 fruitings for its larger fruiting blocks, depending on species.
Are the mushrooms from a grow kit safe to eat?
Cook gourmet mushrooms before you eat them, follow the seller's instructions, and do not eat anything that looks or smells off. Our guide on telling mycelium from mold covers what is normal on a fresh block.
Sources
- North Spore Organic Blue Oyster Spray & Grow product page, North Spore. Checked November 11, 2026.
- North Spore: spray grow mushroom kits page, North Spore. Checked November 11, 2026.
- Back to the Roots Organic Mushroom Grow Kit (pearl oyster) product page, Back to the Roots. Checked November 11, 2026.
- Far West Fungi Mini-Farm (tree oyster) product page, Far West Fungi. Checked November 11, 2026.
- North Spore Organic Lion's Mane Spray & Grow product page, North Spore. Checked November 11, 2026.
- North Spore Organic Shiitake Fruiting Block product page, North Spore. Checked November 11, 2026.
- North Spore: fruiting block kit faq page, North Spore. Checked November 11, 2026.
- Field & Forest Shiitake Table Top Farm product page, Field & Forest. Checked November 11, 2026.
- Fruiting Block Kits FAQ, North Spore, North Spore. Checked November 11, 2026.