Get 20% off All Fall Mushroom Cultivation Products

Beds, Logs, and Blocks - there are a TON of ways to grow this fall. Start now and harvest for years!

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Log Kit Mushroom Log Beginner Bundle Log Kit Mushroom Log Beginner Bundle

Why grow mushrooms outside?

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Future Harvests, Year After Year

Fall mushroom cultivation lets you prepare mushrooms to overwinter and fruit for seasons to come.

A detailed black and white drawing of a mushroom surrounded by plants and soil, with a circular arrow looping around it from right to left.

Fast Yields This Season

By burying blocks of Blue Oyster, Snow Oyster, Chestnut, Nameko, and Black King you can see mushrooms in as little as 2 weeks! Some may even return in spring, rewarding you sooner than you think.

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Low maintenance

After you set up your first logs, all you have to do is keep them in a shady humid spot.

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Beginner-friendly

You don't need to know much to get started. We make it easy with high quality spawn and top-notch tools.

A cluster of dark brown oyster mushrooms grows on a mulched forest floor with small green plants in the background.

What's the easiest way to grow mushrooms outside?

The SIMPLEST way to grow mushrooms outdoors is to use a North Spore 'Plant & Grow' block.

Bury it, keep it damp, and enjoy fresh mushrooms in as little as two weeks!

Use code FALLGROW for 20% off for a limited time

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Plant & Grow Mushrooms

1

Choose your species

We offer many species, but the best ones to start with are Blue Oyster, Italian Oyster, and Chestnut.

2

Bury your block

Each block is ready to be buried. Remove it from the bag and bury it with about an inch of soil or woody material on top.

3

Wait

In as little as two weeks you will begin to see results. Keep the area moist and shaded to ensure the best results.

Close-up of small, pale mushrooms with gills visible, growing on a dark branch over a green, mossy background.

We make mushrooms easy.

North Spore was launched in 2014 by a mycologist, an organic farmer, and a photojournalist -- three college friends brought together through their shared love of the mycological world.

A person inserts a tool into a hole in a tree log, possibly inoculating it with mushroom spawn or performing woodworking.

Inoculate logs for long-term harvests

How to make mushroom logs

1

Source logs

Pick your mushroom species depending on which log species you have available. See this chart for details.

2

Inoculate

Using either the plug method or sawdust method, drill holes and inoculate the log with mushroom spawn. See this video for more info.

3

Store

Store your logs in a place that receives high humidity and shade. Your logs may require additional water dunking depending on your home climate. It may take up to 1 year before you see mushrooms.

Testimonials

  • Cliff P

    Totally hooked

    We had a lot of fun harvesting logs and inoculating them with friends at our homestead. Then last summers weather made them go bonkers and we had logs fruiting in a steady stream for weeks at a time! We are expanding our log set up and plan to bring in more friends and family to spread the productive fun around!
    —Cliff P
  • Lindsey J

    Amazing flushes

    We had a lot of fun harvesting logs and inoculating them with friends at our homestead. Then last summers weather made them go bonkers and we had logs fruiting in a steady stream for weeks at a time! We are expanding our log set up and plan to bring in more friends and family to spread the productive fun around!
    —Lindsey J
  • Nathan S

    Reliable spawn

    We had a lot of fun harvesting logs and inoculating them with friends at our homestead. Then last summers weather made them go bonkers and we had logs fruiting in a steady stream for weeks at a time! We are expanding our log set up and plan to bring in more friends and family to spread the productive fun around!
    —Nathan S
Several brown mushrooms with white stems growing among wood chips and green plants in an outdoor, natural setting. The image has a faded, sepia-like filter.

The best way to get the MOST mushrooms

Mushroom bed breakdown

1

Prepare your space

Find a partially shady spot on your land. In most cases the paths between beds or the base of trees will work well.

2

Layer in Spawn

Break up sawdust spawn into gumball-size chunks and layer it into woodchips or straw. Don't leave any spawn exposed at the top. Keep the area damp if you're in a dry climate.

3

Wait 6-12 months

Fall is a perfect time to make mushroom beds. If your climate is chilly, do this process 1 month before frost hits. In a few months you'll have fresh mushrooms popping up out of the ground.

Full Mushroom Bed Tutorial

Mushroom beds are the best way to get an abundance of mushrooms from your land with little upfront work and investment.

What our customers say

  • Z S.

    First flush!

    The sawdust spawn was easy to work with and the instructions were very clear and easy to follow. I used a mix of store-bought straw and wood chips from the local waste center. I started the bed in may or June and this sept have enjoyed a lot of mushrooms! One was as big as my 5 year olds head! I am so excited to be growing these (and very successful first year oysters too). What an easy thing to do with spaces under ornamental or food plants that would be mulched anyway.
    —Z S.
  • Mike Chen

    My first harvest: Colorado 7500 feet

    I thought I’d give it a try. I live in dry ponderosa pine forest and I honestly didn’t think it would work. I planted the spawn in straw and hardwood bbq pellets around a small Japanese maple tree in my garden. 7 weeks later, these beauties popped up. So happy with the crop. Great product and support. Look for the four leaf clover!
    —Mike Chen
  • Tatiana

    Amazing harvest

    The most easiest and rewarding job!
    —Tatiana

Which mushroom should I grow?

A close-up of a white, fluffy lion’s mane mushroom growing on a tree trunk, with shaggy, hair-like spines covering its surface.

Lion's Mane

Beginner-Friendly Fan Favorite

Lion’s mane, despite being tough to find in grocery stores, is highly versatile, contains brain-supporting compounds, and can be enjoyed in a myriad of recipes (and teas!). Use the log cultivation method for best results.

A cluster of light brown mushrooms with white edges growing on a tree trunk, surrounded by green fern leaves.

Shiitake

Beginner-Friendly Best on logs

Shiitake mushrooms are also perfect for log cultivation. They are huge and meaty with a flavor that's rich, savory, buttery, and umami. Plus, they contain immune-boosting compounds!

Spray & Grow Kit Organic Blue Oyster ‘Spray & Grow’ Mushroom Growing Kit

Blue Oyster

Beginner-Friendly Chefs choice

Blue oysters are velvety and mild. They pair perfectly with just about any mushroom recipe! They’re true all-rounders and a North Spore team favorite. Try burying a block for quicker results.

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