The 7 Basic Steps of Mushroom Cultivation (How Most Mushrooms Are Grown)

Video credit : Freshcap (Web, Youtube)

If you’ve ever wondered how gourmet mushrooms like shiitake, lion’s mane, or oyster mushrooms make their way from farm to plate, you're not alone. At our mushroom farm in Prague, we specialize in cultivating high-quality, fresh mushrooms and delivering them directly to home cooks and top restaurants across the city.

Whether you’re curious about growing your own or simply want to understand the care that goes into the food you eat, here’s a breakdown of the 7 basic steps of mushroom cultivation — the tried-and-true process followed by farms around the world, including ours right here in Prague.

1. Selecting the Right Mushroom Species

The first step is choosing the mushroom species to grow. At our Prague mushroom farm, we focus on:

• Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) – prized for their meaty texture and deep umami flavor

• Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus) – known for its brain-boosting benefits and crab-like texture

• Oyster Mushrooms (Pleurotus spp.) – fast-growing and versatile, perfect for stir-fries and soups

Each type has its own growing preferences, so species selection determines the rest of the cultivation process.

2. Creating or Sourcing the Substrate

Mushrooms don’t grow in soil—they thrive in substrates rich in organic material. We tailor our substrates for each mushroom type:

• Shiitake grows well on sterilized hardwood sawdust blocks.

• Lion’s Mane prefers a mix of hardwood sawdust and soybean hulls.

• Oyster mushrooms are more forgiving and grow on straw, coffee grounds, or even paper waste.

Our farm uses locally sourced, eco-friendly substrates that support sustainable growing practices in Prague.

3. Inoculation: Adding the Mushroom Spawn

Once the substrate is ready, it’s time to inoculate—this means mixing in mushroom spawn, which contains the mycelium (the vegetative part of the fungus).

• The inoculated substrate is packed into bags or containers.

• We seal and label each batch for traceability and quality control.

This step is done in a sterile environment to prevent contamination and ensure healthy growth.

4. Incubation: Letting the Mycelium Grow

During incubation, the bags are stored in a warm, dark space where the mycelium colonizes the entire substrate. This phase can last 2–4 weeks, depending on the mushroom species.

• For lion’s mane and shiitake, patience is key—they need a little longer to fully colonize.

• Oysters grow fast and usually colonize in under two weeks.

We monitor temperature and humidity carefully to ensure the healthiest growth possible.

5. Initiating Fruiting: Triggering Mushroom Growth

Once colonisation is complete, we move the blocks into our fruiting chambers—climate-controlled rooms that mimic natural growing conditions.

• Fresh air, light, and high humidity signal the mycelium to start producing mushrooms.

• Within days, mushrooms begin to form and grow rapidly.

This is the most visually exciting phase for visitors at our Prague farm!

6. Harvesting at Peak Freshness

Timing is everything. We harvest our mushrooms at their peak, ensuring maximum flavor, texture, and nutritional value.

• Oyster mushrooms are harvested daily, sometimes twice a day.

• Lion’s mane is carefully trimmed to keep its delicate spines intact.

• Shiitake are picked when their caps are perfectly shaped and gills are just exposed.

Our harvest is packed and delivered the same day to homes and restaurants in Prague, ensuring unmatched freshness.

7. Cleaning, Packaging, and Delivery

After harvesting, mushrooms are gently cleaned, sorted, and packaged—ready to be enjoyed.

We offer:

• Delivery boxes for Prague home cooks

• Bulk orders for restaurants, chefs, and caterers

• Seasonal specials and recipe ideas on our website : Kitchen & Recipes

Everything we grow is 100% fresh, chemical-free, and locally produced with care and passion.

Why Choose Our Prague Mushroom Farm?

We're proud to be part of Prague’s growing local food movement. By buying from our farm, you’re not only getting delicious mushrooms—you’re supporting:

• Local, sustainable agriculture

• Zero-waste growing methods

• Small-batch freshness and quality

Whether you’re a curious home cook or a chef looking for the finest ingredients, we’re here to deliver mushrooms you’ll love.

📦 Ready to Taste the Difference?

Order your fresh shiitake, lion’s mane, or oyster mushrooms today—direct from our urban farm in Prague to your kitchen.
👉 https://bohemianfungi.com/en/products

And we wanted to say a big thank you to Freshcap for this lovely video : https://freshcap.com/