The Best Mushroom Grow Kits: 4 Compared (and One to Skip)

RBE top pick

North Spore Lion's Mane Spray & Grow Kit

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North Spore's lion's mane is the kit to gift: gourmet variety, certified organic, spray-and-grow, a first flush the maker guarantees - mid-range from the specialists. The budget Back to the Roots kit is the grocery-store classic. Forest Origins' pink oyster is the it-depends. Skip the Midwest Grow Kits maitake as a gift - the maker rates it intermediate and wants a cool, very humid room.

A mushroom grow kit is a living gift - mist a block and harvest gourmet mushrooms within weeks. The divide is variety and how forgiving the grow is: an easy spray-and-grow oyster or lion's mane versus a fussier species. We looked at North Spore's lion's mane, Back to the Roots' box, Forest Origins' pink oyster and a Midwest Grow Kits maitake block, using each maker's own published figures.

RBE top pick

North Spore

North Spore Lion's Mane Spray & Grow Kit

Buy it

The gourmet grow kit - USDA certified organic lion's mane, spray-and-grow, from the mushroom specialists.

Best for: The foodie gift - the kit for someone who wants to grow a mushroom they can't buy at the store.

$$ · mid-range

Why we like it

• Lion's mane is the special variety - the gourmet 'crabmeat' mushroom you can't easily buy.
• North Spore is a mushroom-cultivation specialist, not a box brand.
• Spray-and-grow simplicity: mist daily with the included bottle; the maker says fresh mushrooms can come in as little as 7 days.
• USDA Certified Organic block, and the maker says kits are known for large flushes given adequate humidity.
• Multiple flushes possible - North Spore guarantees the first and says two or three are realistic with care.

Know before buying

• Mid-range money for one fruiting block.
• Lion's mane is picky about humidity - the maker warns it dries out in low-humidity homes and suggests generous misting or a humidity tent.
• The maker lists a 6-month refrigerated shelf life, so it is a gift to open soon, not to stash.

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Back to the Roots

Back to the Roots Organic Mushroom Grow Kit

Buy it

The budget box kit - open, mist, harvest pearl oyster mushrooms in about 10 days - the gateway kit.

Best for: The entry gift - the cheapest, easiest way to grow a mushroom, for kids and curious cooks.

$ · budget

Why we like it

• The cheapest real mushroom kit, and the one in grocery stores.
• Grows right out of the box - open, mist daily with the included mister, harvest in about 10 days (maker figure).
• 100% organic and non-GMO, made in Michigan, with a guaranteed-to-grow replacement promise.
• Pearl oyster mushrooms - fast and forgiving of imperfect conditions.
• The maker says each crop gives 3 to 4 servings and each box can grow up to two crops.

Know before buying

• Pearl oyster only - the basic variety, not the gourmet ones.
• Two modest crops - a taste, not a supply.
• Shown as sold out on the maker's own store at last look; retailers may carry it, but stock is not constant.

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Forest Origins

Forest Origins Pink Oyster Mushroom Grow Kit

It depends

The pink oyster kit - coral-pink clusters, bright indirect light, 10 to 14 days.

Best for: The novelty grower - someone who wants the prettiest mushroom, in a warm kitchen.

$$ · mid-range

Why we like it

• Pink oysters are the showiest mushroom - vivid coral clusters that photograph well.
• Simple routine: cut an X in the bag, mist twice daily, harvest in 10 to 14 days (maker figure).
• Handmade in small weekly batches and quality-checked before shipping, with a 30-day replacement policy for the first indoor harvest.
• Grows indoors in bright, indirect light, no darkness needed. The maker says the first flush can reach up to half a pound with proper care.

Know before buying

• Mid-range money for one block - more than the Back to the Roots for a similar oyster grow.
• The maker says pink oysters prefer warmer conditions and steady humidity, and dry or cold conditions can slow the grow.
• Owners report the pink fades once cooked - the visual is the novelty, not the plate.

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We'd skip it

Midwest Grow Kits

Midwest Grow Kits Maitake Mushroom Grow Kit

Skip it

A 5 lb pre-colonized maitake block - the maker rates it intermediate and wants a cool, very humid room.

Best for: An intermediate grower with a cool, humid spot such as a basement who wants a maitake. For a beginner gift, the spray-and-grow lion's mane or oyster is the answer.

$$ · mid-range

Why we like it

• Maitake (hen of the woods) is a distinctive gourmet mushroom; the maker describes a nutty, umami-rich flavor.
• The block ships fully colonized, so there is no sterile technique, with a mister and printed instructions in the box.
• The maker lists a 12-hour light cycle as helpful but not required, and says the block tolerates roughly 40 to 75 degrees F.

Know before buying

• The maker rates the skill level intermediate, saying it can take time and the right temperatures, so it is not a first-timer gift.
• It fruits best at 50 to 65 degrees F and wants about 90% humidity, and the maker says a warm, dry room will slow it down noticeably.
• The maker gives a typical yield of 1 to 2 lb per block, the lowest figure of any kit here with a published number.

See our pick instead Find it on Amazon anyway Read our detailed assessment ↓

How we judged the field

A mushroom grow kit should fruit - open it, mist it, harvest within a couple of weeks. The divide is variety and how forgiving the grow is: an easy spray-and-grow oyster or lion’s mane versus a fussier species. We looked at North Spore’s lion’s mane, Back to the Roots’ box, Forest Origins’ pink oyster and a Midwest Grow Kits maitake block on variety, published yield and effort. Every figure comes from the maker’s own page.

The North Spore kit grows lion’s mane, a gourmet mushroom that is often compared to crab and is not common in stores. It is USDA Certified Organic, mid-range in price, and the routine is spray-and-grow: mist daily and wait. North Spore says fresh mushrooms can come in as little as 7 days.

It’s the specialist’s kit, not a box brand. The maker guarantees the first flush and hopes you will try for two or three. The block is 10 by 5 by 5 inches and about 4 pounds, with a 6-month refrigerated shelf life. The main demand is humidity: North Spore warns lion’s mane can dry out when humidity is low and recommends watering generously. For a foodie who wants to grow something they can’t buy, it’s the gift.

The Back to the Roots kit is the budget classic: open the box, mist daily with the included mister, harvest pearl oyster mushrooms in about 10 days by the maker’s count.

It’s the foolproof entry - 100% organic and non-GMO, made in Michigan, kid-friendly, backed by a guaranteed-to-grow replacement promise, and in grocery stores for a reason. The maker says each crop yields 3 to 4 servings and each box can produce up to two crops, so it is a taste rather than a supply, and pearl oyster is the plainest variety here. One caveat: the maker’s own store currently shows it as sold out, so stock can be patchy. For the cheapest way to grow food in a box, it is still the safest gift here.

The pink oyster kit grows the showiest mushroom, with first harvest typically around days 10 to 14. Mid-range price, and the routine is slightly more demanding than the others: cut an X in the bag and mist twice a day, 10 to 12 sprays each time.

Whether it works depends on the kitchen. Forest Origins says pink oysters prefer warmer conditions and need bright indirect light and steady humidity. The maker says the first flush can reach up to half a pound with proper care and covers the first indoor harvest with a 30-day replacement policy. The block is handmade in small weekly batches, and holiday supply typically sells out in early December. Owners report the pink fades once cooked, so the visual is the point more than the plate. A striking novelty for a warm kitchen; a gamble in a cold one.

The Midwest Grow Kits maitake is a fully colonized 5 lb block that grows hen of the woods, a mushroom the maker describes as nutty and umami-rich, with dense feathered fronds. It sits in the mid-range tier, and the box includes a mister and printed instructions.

The catch is how much the maker asks of the room. It rates the skill level intermediate, saying the grow can take time and the right temperatures. It fruits best at 50 to 65 degrees F with about 90% humidity, and the maker says a warm, dry room will slow it down noticeably. It also publishes a typical yield of 1 to 2 lb per block, the lowest figure of any kit here with a published number. For a grower with a cool, humid basement it is a fair way to try maitake; for a gift to a beginner in a heated kitchen, it is the wrong pick, so skip it for gifting.

North Spore vs Back to the Roots: which should you buy?

The North Spore lion’s mane is the mid-range gourmet kit; the Back to the Roots box is the budget entry.

Buy the North Spore for the foodie - lion’s mane is the special mushroom and the published yield is bigger. Buy the Back to the Roots for the cheapest, easiest grow - the stocking-stuffer that works.

What to look for

• Variety is the point: oyster is easy; lion’s mane is gourmet; pink oyster is pretty. Pick for the eater.
• Spray-and-grow is the gift tier: a pre-colonized block is simple, but check the maker’s skill rating, since a fussier species like maitake wants a cool, humid room.
• Heat and light matter: pink oysters prefer warmth; follow your kit’s light instructions.
• One block is a taste, not a supply: expect a meal or two, maybe a second flush - not groceries. Check the maker’s yield figure.
• Check the certification: North Spore lists USDA Certified Organic and Back to the Roots says 100% organic; Forest Origins does not state it on its page.

Our final take

The North Spore lion’s mane is the mushroom kit to gift - gourmet, certified organic, spray-and-grow, mid-range. The Back to the Roots box is the budget gateway for kids and cooks. The Forest Origins pink oyster is the pretty it-depends for a warm kitchen. Skip the Midwest Grow Kits maitake as a gift - the maker rates it intermediate and wants a cool, very humid room. Buy the lion’s mane for the foodie, the oyster box for the beginner.

Deciding between the top two? See our head-to-head: North Spore Lion's Mane Spray & Grow Kit vs Back to the Roots Organic Mushroom Grow Kit.

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