People often grow tomatoes, basil and mint at home, so why not give mushrooms a go? While you might think they'd require a lot of upkeep, you couldn't be further from the truth. Mushrooms are one of the easiest foods to grow, and with their supermarket price tag being relatively high (especially when it comes to more exotic varieties), you'll be saving yourself money with near to no effort on your part!
If this is your first time searching for a mushroom growing kit, don't worry. This buying guide details everything beginners need to know, including mushroom varieties such as shiitake, oyster and button, the skill level you need to be successful and how many harvests you can expect from your kit. We've also included a list of the 10 best mushroom grow kits available in the UK from Amazon. Happy growing!
For those after a quick look, here is our Top 5:
For a more in-depth look at the comprehensive top 10 selection, make sure to read on to learn more about the different mushroom growing kits available and understand how our ranking was determined.
This article's chosen EC site price listings are reflective of its publishing date.
Image | 1 ![]() Urban Farm-It | 2 ![]() Foragers Table | 3 ![]() Foragers Table | 4 ![]() Merryhill Mushrooms | 5 ![]() Carbeth Plants | 6 ![]() MerryHill Mushrooms | 7 ![]() Merryhill Mushrooms | 8 ![]() Urban Farm-It | 9 ![]() Urban Farm-It | 10 ![]() Espresso Mushroom Company |
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Name | XL Oyster Mushroom Growing Kits | Lions Mane Mushroom Growing Kit | Gold Oyster Mushroom kit | Shiitake Mushroom Growing Kit | White Button Mushroom Grow Kit | Chestnut Mushroom Growing Kit | White Mushroom Growing Kit | Shiitake Mushroom Log Growing Kit | Shiitake Plugs | Pearl Oyster Kitchen Garden |
Features | Complete Pink Oyster Mushroom Kit for a Delicious and Pretty Addition to Your Kitchen and Plate | An Unusual Variety Perfect for Vegans That Comes With Easy-to-Follow Instructions | Grow up to 4 Flushes of Golden Oyster Mushrooms With This Fully Colonised Kit | See Growth in as Little as a Few Days With This Shiitake Mushroom Grow Kit | Grow the Classic Button Variety in a Neat Mushroom-Shaped Container | Grow a Popular Mushroom Variety That Has a Deep, Nutty Taste and Plenty of Flavour | White Mushroom Grow Kit With Clear Instructions That Produces up to 4 Harvests | A Shiitake Growing Kit for Those Who Want a More Hands-on Experience | Fresh Shiitake Plug Spawn for Those Who Need to Top Up Their Stock | Complete Pearl Oyster Mushroom Kit That’ll Produce Up to 2 Crops |
Price | £23.50 | £24.00 | £17.50 | £19.85 | £16.99 | £18.65 | £18.65 | £19.99 | £9.50 | £18.95 |
Mushroom Variety | Pink Oyster | Lion's Mane | Gold Oyster | Shiitake | White Button | Chestnut | White mushrooms | Shiitake | Shiitake | Pearl oyster |
Skill Level | Easy | Easy | Easy | Easy | Easy | Easy | Easy | Hard | Hard | Easy |
Approximate Harvests | Up to 4 | Up to 4 | Up to 4 | 1-2 | - | Approx. 4 | Approx. 4 | Up to 8 years | Up to 6 years | Up to 2 |
Ideal Conditions | Avoid direct sunlight and temperatures above 28°C | Not suitable for direct sunlight or temperatures above 28°C | Not suitable for direct sunlight or temperatures above 28°C | Avoid direct sunlight, heat sources, and keep at a temperature of 12 - 20ºC | Cool, dark conditions | Out of direct sunlight, away from draughts and heat | Out of direct sunlight, away from draughts and heat | - | Partial shade, 14 - 17°C | - |
Dimensions | 30 x 25 x 16 cm | 15.5 x 10 x 27 cm | 16 x 10 x 27 cm | - | - | 17.78 x 17.78 x 17.78 cm | 17.78 x 17.78 x 17.78 cm | - | 24 x 16 x 2.5 cm | 11 x 10.01 x 27 cm |
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The first thing you need to think about when shopping is which variety to choose. While exotic mushrooms might sound appealing, it’s best to go for the type that you’re most likely to use. Unfortunately, while there are hundreds of mushroom varieties out there, the list of which ones are available in grow kits are not nearly half as extensive. These are the main types you'll find:
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Once you’ve decided on the variety of mushrooms you want to grow, you’ll need to look at the type of kit. Choose a growing kit based on how much effort you want to put into the experience.
If you’ve never tried growing mushrooms before and don’t consider yourself to be blessed with a green thumb, opt for a kit that is ready to go straight from the box. These will simply require you to create an opening on the box for the mushrooms to grow through, then add a little water to get things moving.
However, if you want a bit more of a hands-on experience, there are some kits that come with all the elements separately, leaving you to find your growing log, drill the holes and insert the mushroom plugs yourself. While it is a good idea to know a little about which logs are best and how to drill the holes, the kits should provide clear instructions to guide you.
Beginner gardener? Check out our list of the most easy-to-grow vegetables.
When spending a fair amount of money on growing food, you’ll want to know how many mushrooms your kit will produce. While it's almost impossible to tell the exact amount, the instructions should be able to give you at least a rough idea of how many harvests you’re likely to get.
Obviously, you will need to take this information with a pinch of salt as it all depends on how the kit was stored and how you care for it once you receive it. But, knowing an estimated amount will give you a rough idea of the value of the kit itself. Most advertise the yield as approximately 4 harvests, but some promote that a single kit can produce for up to 8 years!
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Lastly, take a look at the ideal conditions your kit needs to thrive. While the majority of the kits provide the same advice (indoors, away from drafts, direct sunlight and heat sources), some companies advise on specific temperatures and areas they should be placed. Your chances of success are significantly improved if you can ensure your mushrooms will be growing in their ideal climate.
This ranking has been compiled by the writing team at mybest UK via careful evaluation of the points made in the buying guide and thorough research of each product and comparing multiple verified customer reviews across the EC sites used.
Pink- Pleurotus djamor
£23.50
Mushroom Variety | Pink Oyster |
---|---|
Skill Level | Easy |
Approximate Harvests | Up to 4 |
Ideal Conditions | Avoid direct sunlight and temperatures above 28°C |
Dimensions | 30 x 25 x 16 cm |
£24.00
Mushroom Variety | Lion's Mane |
---|---|
Skill Level | Easy |
Approximate Harvests | Up to 4 |
Ideal Conditions | Not suitable for direct sunlight or temperatures above 28°C |
Dimensions | 15.5 x 10 x 27 cm |
Pleurotus citrinopileatus
£17.50
Mushroom Variety | Gold Oyster |
---|---|
Skill Level | Easy |
Approximate Harvests | Up to 4 |
Ideal Conditions | Not suitable for direct sunlight or temperatures above 28°C |
Dimensions | 16 x 10 x 27 cm |
£19.85
Mushroom Variety | Shiitake |
---|---|
Skill Level | Easy |
Approximate Harvests | 1-2 |
Ideal Conditions | Avoid direct sunlight, heat sources, and keep at a temperature of 12 - 20ºC |
Dimensions | - |
£16.99
Mushroom Variety | White Button |
---|---|
Skill Level | Easy |
Approximate Harvests | - |
Ideal Conditions | Cool, dark conditions |
Dimensions | - |
£18.65
Mushroom Variety | Chestnut |
---|---|
Skill Level | Easy |
Approximate Harvests | Approx. 4 |
Ideal Conditions | Out of direct sunlight, away from draughts and heat |
Dimensions | 17.78 x 17.78 x 17.78 cm |
£18.65
Mushroom Variety | White mushrooms |
---|---|
Skill Level | Easy |
Approximate Harvests | Approx. 4 |
Ideal Conditions | Out of direct sunlight, away from draughts and heat |
Dimensions | 17.78 x 17.78 x 17.78 cm |
£19.99
Mushroom Variety | Shiitake |
---|---|
Skill Level | Hard |
Approximate Harvests | Up to 8 years |
Ideal Conditions | - |
Dimensions | - |
£9.50
Mushroom Variety | Shiitake |
---|---|
Skill Level | Hard |
Approximate Harvests | Up to 6 years |
Ideal Conditions | Partial shade, 14 - 17°C |
Dimensions | 24 x 16 x 2.5 cm |
£18.95
Mushroom Variety | Pearl oyster |
---|---|
Skill Level | Easy |
Approximate Harvests | Up to 2 |
Ideal Conditions | - |
Dimensions | 11 x 10.01 x 27 cm |
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