Introduction

Lion's Mane ( Hericium erinaceus ) is a remarkable mushroom known not only for its unique appearance, reminiscent of a lion's mane, but also for its potential health benefits, including promoting brain and nerve health. Growing lion's mane from scratch can be a challenging undertaking, but thanks to grow kits, you can enjoy these delicious mushrooms right at home without the complexity of traditional cultivation. In this blog post, we'll explore the key steps to successfully growing lion's mane using a grow kit.

Step 1: Purchase a Lion's Mane Grow Kit

The first essential step is to get a Lion's Mane grow kit. You can easily find them online in our shop . Make sure the kit contains substrate colonized with Lion's Mane mycelium and detailed growing instructions.

Step 2: Preparing the Growing Area

1. Choose a suitable growing location. A well-ventilated area indoors with indirect light is ideal. Avoid direct sunlight and excessively strong drafts.
2. Prepare your grow area by cleaning and sterilizing any equipment or surfaces that will come into contact with the kit or mushrooms.

Step 3: Activate the Kit

1. Make sure the mycelium is evenly distributed throughout the substrate. Lion's Mane mycelium is very fine; it won't be completely white and dense, but rather somewhat transparent.
2. Follow the kit's instructions to activate it. If you're using our locking kit, simply make a horizontal cut about 10-15 cm into the side of the kit.
3. Place the kit so that all the excess plastic at the top of the bag is folded. The block should only receive air through the cut; all other sides should be in direct contact with the plastic as much as possible.

Step 4: Proper Maintenance

1. Maintain humidity. Lion's Mane requires a humid environment to grow successfully. Use a spray bottle to keep the kit moist without saturating it.
2. Adjust the temperature. Lion's Mane grows best at temperatures between 18°C ​​and 24°C. Make sure your grow space maintains these more or less constant conditions. Our kits will grow well at both higher and lower temperatures.
3. Provide fresh air. Maintain good air circulation in the growing area, but avoid direct drafts on the kit.
4. Check the lighting. Lion's Mane doesn't require much light, but it's important to provide indirect light to stimulate growth. Ambient outdoor light is fine.

Step 5: Observe Growth

1. After a few days, you should begin to see the first signs of growth: small white bumps. These are the mushroom primordia.
2. Continue to maintain humidity and observe carefully. The primordia will gradually grow and develop into mature mushrooms.

Step 6: Collect the Mushrooms

1. Once the Lion's Mane mushrooms reach a suitable size and you see the characteristic hairs forming, you can begin harvesting them. Use clean scissors or a knife to carefully cut them close to the substrate. You can also remove them by hand, being careful not to remove too much substrate.

Step 7: Enjoy Your Lion's Mane

1. Now that you've harvested your fresh lion's mane, you can cook them however you like. You can grill them, sauté them, or use them in a variety of creative recipes.

Step 8: Subsequent Harvests

1. Lion's Mane is a mushroom that can produce a huge harvest! Be sure to keep spraying the cut you made earlier; once you've harvested the first mushrooms, you'll see new ones developing after a while!

Conclusion

Growing Lion's Mane with a grow kit is a fun and accessible way to experiment with growing gourmet mushrooms at home. With constant care and attention, you'll soon be enjoying the delicious fruits of your labor. Happy growing and bon appétit!