How to Grow the Mushroom Hericium Erinaceus

Hericium erinaceus, or lion's mane, is a toothed fungus that is edible and coveted for its lobster-like flavor when prepared in butter. Easily grown indoors in a substrate of sawdust and rice, wheat or other grain bran, lion's mane produces a clump of white spines as the fruiting bodies and, when grown from reputable kits, may be ready for harvest in as little as a week.

Mushroom growing kit or packaged substrate and inoculate
Spray bottle

Instructions

- 1
  Purchase a kit or sterilized substrate, usually packaged in a plastic bag. If you prefer not to use a kit, you can purchase the substrate, usually a mixture of sawdust and grain bran, and inoculate it with mycelia yourself. It is very important that the substrate be sterile, and sterilizing your own requires expensive equipment and a controlled environment.
- 2
  Inoculate the substrate by injecting the mycelia into it.
- 3
  Incubate the bag of inoculated substrate at 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit and 95- to 100-percent humidity for 10 to 14 days. Keep it in a bright spot, but out of direct light.
- 4
  Mist regularly with water to keep the humidity levels high.
- 5
  Harvest lion's mane about once every 14 days when growing conditions are ideal.

How to Harvest Climbing Spinach

How to Grow Chicken of the Woods Mushrooms on Live Trees

Growing Edibles