Growing lion's mane
Lion's mane (Hericium erinaceus) is easiest to grow as a ready-to-fruit block. The first harvest follows after about 12 to 21 days. Harvest as soon as the spines are about 6 mm long and the mushroom feels spongy, before white spore dust appears.
Field & Forest Products (VS) · BS-10Mushroom Mania (BE) · BS-21Lion's mane is a wood-decay fungus. Outdoors on a log it usually fruits once a year, in autumn. Indoors, as a grow block, you have more control.
Cornell Small Farms Program · BS-03Field & Forest Products (VS) · BS-10Mushroom Mania (BE) · BS-21Which temperature?
The sources differ. Field & Forest gives 12.8–18.3 °C, the Belgian Mushroom Mania kit 15–24 °C. At 20 °C you are within the Belgian range but above the American one. Give the block indirect daylight or 8 to 12 hours of lamp light per day and regular fresh air.
Field & Forest Products (VS) · BS-10Mushroom Mania (BE) · BS-21Opening
Pull the plastic tight around the block and make a slit of 3–5 cm, or X-cuts of about 2.5 cm. Do not make them bigger: slits that are too large dry the block out.
Mushroom Mania (BE) · BS-21Field & Forest Products (VS) · BS-10When to harvest?
Harvest when the spines are about 6 mm long and the mushroom feels spongy when squeezed gently, before white spore dust appears. Harvesting too late is one of the two classic mistakes.
Field & Forest Products (VS) · BS-10Flushes and yield
Field & Forest mentions 4 to 6 flushes with 2 to 3 weeks of rest each time. The Mushroom Mania kit gives up to 3 harvests, on average 400–800 g in total. The 5 kg DIY pack gives up to 1.5 kg, in 2 to 3 flushes with 10 to 15 days in between.
Field & Forest Products (VS) · BS-10Mushroom Mania (BE) · BS-21Mushroom Mania (BE) · BS-29Outdoors on a log
On a log outdoors, lion's mane usually fruits once a year, in autumn, according to Cornell.
Cornell Small Farms Program · BS-03Growing safely
Harvest before the spores drop and do not grow in a bedroom. Eat the harvest cooked. This page is only about growing and makes no health claims about lion's mane.
NCBI Bookshelf · BS-60GroCycle (VK) · BS-43Voedingscentrum · BO-02Source
- Kan je champignons/paddenstoelen rauw eten? — Voedingscentrum
- Outdoor Production — Cornell Small Farms Program
- How to Grow Lion's Mane from Ready-to-Fruit Blocks — Field & Forest Products (VS)
- Lion's Mane – Growkit — Mushroom Mania (BE)
- Lion's Mane (Pruikzwam) – 5 kg kweekpakket — Mushroom Mania (BE)
- How to harvest mushrooms — GroCycle (VK)
- Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis (StatPearls, Chandra & Cherian, bijgewerkt 10-07-2023) — NCBI Bookshelf
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This is general growing information from the sources listed. Always follow the instructions of your kit or supplier. Only eat what demonstrably grows from your own culture of the bought, named species; if in doubt about colour, smell or shape, do not eat it.
This is not medical advice. If you repeatedly get a fever, a cough or shortness of breath while growing indoors, remove the culture and see your doctor.
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