Mushrooms are gaining in popularity as people discover their unique flavors, nutritional value, and health benefits.
For many, the only way to get a regular supply of fresh gourmet mushrooms is to grow them at home.
You are reading: Best mushroom growing books
But growing your own gourmet or medicinal mushrooms can be a bit intimidating, especially if you’re a complete beginner and have no idea where to start.
One of the best ways to understand mushrooms and learn how to grow them is with a comprehensive book on mushroom growing.
In this article we take a look at 10 of the best mushroom growing books and explore how they will help you grow mushrooms successfully.
why a mushroom growing book is a useful way to learn
Personal experience is a great way to learn how to grow mushrooms. but why go through a lot of trial and error when you can learn from the success and failure of others?
A good book on mushroom growing, written by someone with experience, will help you avoid common mistakes and make the learning process easier.
Many of the best mushroom growing books have full instructions, step-by-step guides, and detailed pictures to help you through every stage of the mushroom growing process.
Having one of the best mushroom growing books handy to refer to when in doubt can save you a lot of time and money.
10 of the Best Mushroom Growing Books
every mushroom grower will benefit from the knowledge, tips and tricks provided by an excellent mushroom growing book.
The one you choose will depend on your current level of knowledge, what you hope to achieve, and exactly how far you plan to take mushroom farming.
Here, in no particular order, are 10 of the best mushroom growing books with information to help you decide which one is best for your needs:
1. “growing gourmet & medicinal mushrooms” by paul stamets
“Growing Gourmet & Medicinal Mushrooms” is an in-depth, comprehensive guide to growing mushrooms that any mushroom grower will find helpful.
The author, Paul Stamets, is a renowned mycologist and a pioneer in cultivation techniques for edible and medicinal mushrooms.
He has written several books on the subject.
This bestseller covers all aspects of mushroom growing and is relevant to all levels of mushroom growers.
everyone from small hobby growers to large-scale commercial operators will benefit from stamets considerable knowledge.
“growing gourmet and medicinal mushrooms” has 592 pages of information divided into 25 chapters that cover all aspects of mushroom growing in detail, including:
- choice of substrates and supplements
- contamination prevention
- making grain seed and sawdust
- production techniques
- growing containers
- harvesting, storing and packing mushrooms
- tips on building labs and grow rooms
- delicious mushroom recipes
This book is a must for anyone who wants to learn more about growing mushrooms.
You’ll find yourself turning to him often for information and solutions.
advantages
One of the most definitive guides to growing mushrooms, this book has numerous advantages, including:
- detailed information on all aspects of mushroom growing based on years of knowledge and experience
- a valuable troubleshooting guide and many tips and tricks
- more over 500 photos and illustrations to guide you through each stage of cultivation
- growth parameters for 31 species of mushrooms, including information on their mycelial characteristics, suggested substrates and yield potential
cons
because paul stamets goes into so much detail, beginners can find the amount of technical information overwhelming, and drawbacks include:
- not easy to read
- overwhelming amount of information for beginners
- most photos are black and white, and some are a bit dated, though they are still relevant.
2. “the essential guide to growing mushrooms” by stephen russel
“The Essential Guide to Cultivating Mushrooms” is an easy to read, beginner-friendly book that provides practical step-by-step guides.
Although less analytical and comprehensive than “growing gourmet and medicinal mushrooms,” it’s an excellent book for people who want to go beyond mushroom grow kits, and a great resource for small farmers.
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The book has three easy-to-follow sections: Basics for Beginners, Intermediate Methods, and Advanced Methods.
Beginner’s Basics section provides step-by-step photos and clear instructions on how to grow shiitake, oyster, lion’s mane, maitake, and portobello mushrooms at home.
The intermediate methods section covers slightly more complicated mushroom growing techniques, including:
- create grain seed from scratch
- use laminar flow hoods
- make fruiting blocks with supplemented sawdust
- build a fruiting chamber
The advanced methods section delves into working with agar and growing mushrooms on a larger scale using bulk substrates.
advantages
This book offers a lot of value and benefits, including:
- well designed and easy to follow for beginners
- lots of color photos, diagrams and illustrations
- detailed step-by-step guides and tips
cons
slightly more advanced growers may find it lacking, and drawbacks include:
- overlook some common practices
- beginner level content without detailed information on some of the methods
3. “running mycelium” by paul stamets
“Mycelium Running” is another excellent book by leading mycologist Paul Stamets.
While still a textbook, it is not as technical as “growing gourmet and medicinal mushrooms” and explores the role mushrooms play in our environment and their unique uses.
While not solely focused on growing mushrooms, it provides valuable information for beginning and intermediate growers on how and why to grow mushrooms outdoors.
The methods in this book do not require expensive equipment or stringent laboratory conditions, making them attractive to gardeners and permaculture farmers who prefer less technical methods of growing mushrooms.
If you are interested in growing mushrooms to increase yields, control pests, or reduce water runoff on your farm or in your garden, this book is for you.
advantages
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This manual to heal the earth through the cultivation of mushrooms has numerous advantages, among them:
- you don’t want to grow mushrooms.
cons
This book contains a lot of information and its cons include:
- technical terminology that is difficult for beginners
- lots of information that can be overwhelming
4. “radical mycology” by peter mccoy
“Radical Mycology” is an inspiring, in-depth introduction to fungi full of exciting ideas and practical information for mushroom cultivators and other fungi enthusiasts.
This 650-page book by Peter McCoy, a self-taught mycologist with over 20 years’ experience, covers a wide range of topics.
covers all aspects of mycology in a fun and accessible way and focuses on human relationships with fungi.
“radical mycology” explores new ways to develop and maximize the use of fungi, whether as food or medicine or to help the environment.
starts with detailed chapters on the structure and life cycle of fungi, how to identify them, and their role in the environment.
Once this foundation is in place, a substantial portion of the book focuses on growing mushrooms.
starts with basic principles for beginners followed by detailed methods, tips and instructions with more advanced technical details.
The focus is on low-tech, low-budget, DIY ways to grow mushrooms.
The author provides practical advice on making, recycling, or obtaining low-cost supplies and equipment.
There’s also detailed information on something Peter McCoy calls “natural mushroom regenerative farming,” the science of mycoremediation, and psychoactive mushrooms.
advantages
This comprehensive book has something for everyone, and benefits include:
- covers all aspects of fungi
- quotes and interesting facts in the sidebar
- extensive lists of resources, appendices and references
- an engaging and quirky writing style that often uses human analogies to explain abstract concepts
- practical information and accessible techniques and ideas
cons
No one can fault the breadth of content and information in this book, but drawbacks include:
- the quality of the photograph and reproduction
- the solidity of the binding
5. “mushroom farming” by richard bray
“Mushroom Cultivation: 12 Ways to Become the MacGyver of Mushrooms” is perfect for urban homesteaders and mushroom enthusiasts who want to learn how to grow mushrooms at home.
This 148-page bestseller is ideal for beginners and provides comprehensive information on how to start growing mushrooms at home.
The book has 10 chapters and begins by providing information on the structure and life cycle of a fungus.
also includes information on the characteristics and growth parameters of several popular and easy-to-grow mushrooms.
once you know how to choose the mushrooms you want to grow, the book covers the stages of mushroom cultivation and the growth process.
also includes information on 12 different mushroom growing methods for growing mushrooms indoors and outdoors.
The last 2 chapters provide information to help you identify and overcome common problems and details on how to store and preserve your mushroom harvest.
advantages
This book is a great starting point for urban mushroom enthusiasts and its benefits include:
- Comprehensive beginners informative guide
- easy to read with troubleshooting tips
- detailed information on many of the easiest mushrooms to grow including oyster, shiitake, button, enoki, lion’s mane, maitake and mushrooms
- 12 different cultivation methods suitable for urban areas
cons
This book is not for experienced mushroom growers, and drawbacks include:
- does not cover slightly more advanced processes and sterile procedures
- needs more photos or illustrations to accompany explanations of the culture method
6. “The Mushroom Grower” by Paul Stamets and J.S. chiltón
“The Mushroom Cultivator: A Practical Guide to Growing Mushrooms at Home” is specifically for people who want to grow mushrooms in their homes.
Many people consider this 415-page book to be the best source of information available on growing mushrooms at home.
The authors, both experts in mushroom cultivation, hope to inspire and enable people to grow mushrooms so that they can enjoy the many health and nutritional benefits they offer.
Although the book contains many technical and technical specifications, they present the information in a clear and easy to understand manner so that anyone can master the art of mushroom growing.
covers everything from growing mushrooms on a kitchen table to sterile cultivation and seed production techniques.
also includes information on the life cycle of fungi and detailed growth requirements for various species of fungi.
advantages
This book contains a wealth of information for beginners and commercial growers alike, and its benefits include:
- comprehensive and detailed information on all aspects of small-scale mushroom cultivation
- well-illustrated practical guides with step-by-step instructions
- growth parameters for 15 species of different fungi
cons
As the book is almost 40 years old, it contains outdated information and its cons include:
- not an easy read due to all the technical information
- some growing techniques are outdated and there are now modern alternatives
- some of the methods used are a bit expensive for people just starting out
7. “organic mushroom cultivation and mycoremediation” by tradd cotter
“Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation” is a popular book that takes a holistic approach to mushroom growing and focuses on organic techniques.
emphasizes the role mushrooms play in today’s world and how we can use them to improve our lives.
tradd cotter is a passionate microbiologist, professional mycologist, and organic gardener.
has over 22 years of experience and a keen interest in low-tech growing strategies that allow people to grow mushrooms almost anywhere.
This 400-page book has 4 parts. The first part covers the basics of mushroom cultivation. helps readers choose which mushrooms to grow and which methods to use to get the best results.
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The second part of the book takes an in-depth look at how mushrooms fit into our world and their potential uses.
part three explores more advanced techniques for experienced mushroom growers interested in a commercial-scale mushroom growing business.
The final part of the book is a comprehensive guide to commonly cultivated mushroom species.
advantages
This mushroom growing book takes a different approach than many others, and its advantages include:
- organic farming practices and off-grid farming ideas
- lots of interesting information and details on groundbreaking research
- fantastic photos and illustrations
cons
This book is more of an informative and inspirational reference book than a detailed practical guide and its cons include:
- not covering some farming techniques in depth
- tradd cotter, in his enthusiasm, tends to veer off into interesting but non-essential topics
8. “home mushroom growing” by willoughby arevalo
“DIY Mushroom Cultivation” is a book for beginners that offers a less intimidating introduction to growing mushrooms at home than many other mushroom growing books.
uses clear language and focuses on growing mushrooms at home on a small scale and on a low budget.
willoughby arevalo is a mycologist and educator with over 10 years of experience growing and cooking mushrooms.
This 208-page book is not for people interested in starting a large-scale mushroom farming business or farm.
provides many current, accessible, and easy-to-follow mushroom growing techniques that anyone can try with very little equipment.
“growing mushrooms yourself” provides step-by-step instructions for various mushroom growing techniques, both indoors and outdoors, accompanied by wonderful full-color photos.
advantages
This urban mushroom cultivation manual has many advantages, including:
- easy to follow, clear instructions and great photos
- ideas for urban growers with little space
- low budget tips and ideas to help people get on the road march
- is practical and inspiring.
cons
This introduction to mushroom growing focuses on small-scale home techniques, and its cons include:
- not a detailed guide
- not for enthusiasts who want to grow mushrooms on a larger scale
9. “mushroom farming” by travis lynch
“Mushroom Cultivation: An Illustrated Guide to Growing Your Own Mushrooms at Home” is another book aimed at beginners interested in growing mushrooms in their homes.
Written by Travis Lynch, a mycologist with years of experience who owns and operates a large-scale mushroom farm, the book begins by helping readers understand how mushrooms grow.
This expertly written book focuses on shiitake, oyster, wineglass, hericium, blewit, and agaricus mushrooms and begins with the conditions each needs to thrive.
In later chapters, the book provides information on how to grow mushrooms on logs, straw, sawdust or wood chips, and compost with step-by-step instructions.
the last 3 chapters of the book cover:
- common problems encountered and their solutions,
- processing and preparing your mushrooms
- cooking tips with 8 tasty recipes
after reading “growing mushrooms”, you will learn that growing mushrooms is no more difficult than growing most vegetables. mushrooms just require a different set of skills.
advantages
This beautifully illustrated guide has benefits including:
- an easy to follow layout aimed at beginners
- information that is not too technical
- wonderful full color photos
- detailed information with tips practical
- ideas on how to use mushrooms for both culinary and medicinal purposes
cons
a very informative book for beginners whose cons include:
- information on a limited selection of mushrooms
- that does not cover more advanced mushroom growing techniques
- images that are pretty but do not show the processes as well as could
10. “The Psilocybin Mushroom Bible” by Dr. k mandrake and virginia haze
No mushroom growing book collection is complete without a book on growing magic mushrooms.
There are numerous books on the subject, but “The Psilocybin Mushroom Bible: The Definitive Guide to Growing and Using Magic Mushrooms” tops the list.
This book is an easy-to-read collaboration by virginia haze, writer, photographer, and mushroom grower, and dr. k. mandrake who did his PhD on psilocybe cubensis, the most commonly grown psychedelic mushroom.
“The Psilocybin Mushroom Bible” is a comprehensive 380-page book that guides you through every step of the psilocybin mushroom growing process.
although he focused on growing psilocybe cubensis, he has information and techniques relevant to all mushroom species.
With over 40 step-by-step photo how-to guides, it teaches beginners everything they need to know.
including how to prepare a magic mushroom growing medium, build a simple glove box, and grow magic mushroom crops.
There is also a guide to consuming magic mushrooms safely.
advantages
This popular book has many advantages, including:
- easy to read with detailed instructions
- excellent color photos and diagrams that clearly show each step of the process.
- humorous style with minimal technical terminology
cons
good book as a general guide, but drawbacks include:
- information that is useful but sometimes a bit disorganized
- not deep enough for advanced mushroom growers
final thoughts
We hope the information in this guide will help you decide which mushroom growing book is best for you.
but while every mushroom grower needs a good book, a mushroom growing course is definitely the best way to learn.
We have taught thousands of people around the world to grow mushrooms through our online courses and face-to-face workshops.
With our mushroom growing courses, you get ongoing support, advice, and a community of like-minded people, invaluable benefits you don’t get from a book.
We offer mushroom growing courses for all levels of mushroom growers, so you’ll easily find one that suits your needs.
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