As a long-time mushroom farmer and self-proclaimed "fungus fanatic," allow me to guide you through mushroom growing from start to finish!
Over the past decade, I‘ve tested countless cultivation methods and equipment. In my experience, North Spore reigns supreme for quality, consistency, and ease of use. Their innovative kits simplify mushroom growing for novices and help experts reach new levels of productivity.
In this comprehensive guide, you’ll discover:
- A 101 introduction to North Spore’s product lineup
- In-depth reviews of their best-selling mushroom grow kits
- Step-by-step instructions for Mushroom Growing 101
- Pro tips for maximizing fruiting and preventing contams
- The incredible health benefits of homegrown mushrooms
- Where to find North Spore’s kits and supplies
- How to save up to 25% on your North Spore purchases!
So what are you waiting for? Allow me to open up the magical world of mushrooms to you!
Why I’m Wild About Mushrooms (And You Should Be Too!)
While I dabbled in mold-ridden loaves of bread as a curious kid, my mushroom obsession truly blossomed in college. Tasked with building a miniature urban farm on campus, an oyster mushroom bucket emerged as my proudest achievement.
Visiting those pearly blue clusters tucked under the stairwell filled me with such joy and awe – I was hooked! Shortly after, I converted my basement into a mushroom sanctuary and the rest was history.
Now 10 years down the road, I still marvel at fungi everyday. Beyond a rewarding DIY project, there are so many reasons to jump on the mushroom bandwagon:
They’re Extremely Nutritious – Packed with proteins, vitamins, antioxidants, gut-friendly fiber…the list goes on! Studies show mushrooms boost immunity, heart health, brain function and more.
They’re Sustainable – Mushrooms transform waste (used coffee grounds, cardboard, etc) into gourmet food. Their cultivation leaves a small environmental footprint compared to meat.
They’re Medicinal – For centuries, cultures praised mushrooms as natural healers. Many varieties contain anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and cholesterol-lowering properties.
They’re Delicious – From meaty and savory to light and delicate, mushrooms enhance any dish! Homegrown mushrooms burst with orders of magnitude more flavor than the limp store-bought kind.
Beyond health benefits, mushrooms opened my eyes to nature‘s boundless beauty and complexity. Now I strive to teach others (that‘s you!) to cultivate their own mushroom magic at home.
Why North Spore‘s Grow Kits Can‘t Be Beat
Sourcing quality mushroom spawn and gear poses a notorious barrier for beginners. When I first started out, failures like contaminated syringes and non-fruiting blocks led to months of wasted effort.
Through years of experimentation with dozens of brands, North Spore stands head and shoulders above the rest.
What makes their grow kits so stellar?
Easy Self-Contained Kits – Just add water and harvested mushrooms practically grow themselves! North Spore handles the hard work of preparing sterilized, inoculated blocks optimized for newbies and pros alike.
Sterile Laboratory-Grade Spawn – With an in-house mycology lab pumping out ultra-clean liquid cultures and grain spawn, you skip straight to growing gourmet mushrooms without hassle.
Bountiful Yields & Reliability – While no method guarantees perfect results every time, North Spore‘s genetics and protocols nearly eliminate stalled growth or dreaded contamination in my experience. Expect epic harvests!
Top-Notch Customer Support – Questions or concerns? Their stellar customer service team helps troubleshoot any hurdles along the way.
While North Spore doesn‘t offer the cheapest mushroom growing kits around, their unparalleled quality and mushroom mastery easily justify the cost.
Take it from me – North Spore will launch your fungus-growing hobby to new heights!
Now that I‘ve sold you on North Spore‘s awesomeness, allow me to highlight the crème de le crème of their product line:
North Spore‘s Best Mushroom Grow Kits
I‘ve cultivated pounds of gourmet mushrooms thanks to North Spore‘s kits tailored to every experience level. Let‘s analyze my top picks:
Golden Oyster Grow Kit
Good For: Beginners
Key Traits: Fast-growing, extremely robust against contaminants, huge yields
For first-timers, friendly flocking Golden Oysters are the holy grail, erupting in vibrant yellow cones after just 14 days!
Thanks to speedy colonization times, Golden Oyster kits build confidence while you hone skills for raising fancier species. I regularly harvest 1-2 pounds per 6-8 week flush on these kits alone.
From stir fries to next-level pesto, plump Golden Oysters shine like edible sunshine in the kitchen too.
My Yield: 9 robust flushes and 3+ pounds of mushrooms over 4 months
Chestnut Grow Kit
Good For: Intermediate cultivators
Key Traits: Unique nutty flavor, cool weather lover
Unlike warmer-climate oysters, temperamental Chestnuts thrive in cool 60°F weather with high humidity. Putting this kit near the AC vent pumps out perfect harvests!
Resembling portabellos in look and taste, meaty Chestnuts lend rich umami flavors to pastas, gravies and more. Consider it the ideal mushroom to convert mushroom-phobes!
While this kit proves slightly more hands-on, Chestnuts will enthrall experienced plant parents with their otherworldly alien aesthetic.
My Yield: 1.5 pound over 3 months
Lion‘s Mane Grow Kit
Good For: All experience levels
Key Traits: Guaranteed to impress, rich crab-like flavor
Renowned for their show-stopping pom pom shape, Lion‘s Manes draw gasps of delight from every guest. With their low-maintenance cultivation, Lion‘s Mane kits offer dramatic eye candy for newbies and veterans alike.
Beyond gorgeous growing habits, Lion‘s Manes deliver supreme taste and nutritional value. Their meaty texture mimics seafood in the pan. Science confirms brain-boosting and neural regeneration abilities.
I enjoy sauteing Lion‘s Mane mushrooms in butter and wine with shallots and garlic for a gourmet feast. But their versatility shines in recipes from tacos to homemade cream of mushroom soup.
My Yield: 14 ounces per week over 3 months
King Trumpet Grow Kit
Good For: Advanced cultivators
Key Traits: Size matters! Impressive scale and rich flavor
While extremely gratifying for seasoned growers, King Trumpets prove persnickety to fruit for beginners. But investing time into mastering these beauties brings huge rewards!
Delivering massive clusters of substantial mushrooms, each King Trumpet bears over half a pound of edible fruit. Their faint anise kick enhances seafood, poultry and savory Mediterranean cuisine beautifully.
Achieving the King‘s optimum 90-95% humidity took several custom humidity tent renditions before I dialed it in. But their grand stature and delicate taste makes the effort oh so worth it!
My Yield: 11 king-sized mushrooms over 2.5 months
Have I tempted you to grab a kit yet? Let‘s equip you with the fundamentals of mushroom magic!
Mushroom Growing 101
While mushrooms largely tend to themselves, following this simple guide sets your grow up for prosperity:
Choose An Easy Strain – Consider mellow Oyster varietals or showy Lion‘s Manes before attempting persnickety kinds demanding perfect conditions.
Read Instructions Carefully – Mushroom cultivation seems complicated but just requires attention to detail! Following North Spore‘s enclosed guide prevents easily avoided missteps.
Start Small – Trying wholesale grain spawn on your first attempt may end in tears. Stick with user-friendly kits to establish fundamentals before expanding your operation.
Monitor Conditions Closely – Mushrooms thrive in higher humidity around 75-100% and consistent 70ish °F temperature, avoiding direct sun. Make adjustments to your setup as needed.
Have Patience! – Mushrooms grow on their own timeline, less rushed than traditional gardening. Mycelium colonizing substrates may take weeks before those first flush pins appear. But good things come to those who wait!
While paying close attention is key, don‘t panic over encountering bumps in the road. Even experienced growers deal with the occasional headaches:
Common Mushroom Growing Pitfalls & Fixes
Follow my advice to nip issues in the bud before they ruin your harvest!
Overly Dry Climate
Ramp up humidity levels to 80% or above. Group multiple containers together, use a humidifier, or build a simple DIY humidity tent to combat mushroom dessication.
Poor Air Circulation
While moisture is mandatory, poor air exchange breeds disaster through suffocating mycelium or promoting mold. Fan or gently rotate containers daily to refresh oxygen.
Temperature Fluctuations
Consistent 70-80°F ambient temperatures prevent stalled mushroom growth. Move containers away from drafty areas, vents, exterior walls.
Contamination
Reign in mold growth by lowering humidity, increasing airflow, using bleach to sterilize surfaces and tools, and immediately isolating contaminated blocks outside. Act fast before contamination spreads!
Low Yields
Assuming all conditions are dialed in, troubleshoot poor performance by switching mushroom strains, spawning techniques, or nutritional substrates. Or Accept not all flushes fruit evenly.
See? With attentive care and rapid response if needed, you‘ll have pounds of succulent mushrooms erupting in no time!
Now that we laid the groundwork, let‘s dig into the fascinating health perks homegrown mushrooms offer:
The Incredible Health Benefits of Mushrooms
Beyond basic nutrition, extensive research confirms mushrooms go above and beyond:
Heart Health – Complex carbohydrates called beta-glucans lower LDL “bad” cholesterol levels significantly. (1)
Cancer Fighting – Compounds like polysaccharides limit tumors‘ blood supply to restrict growth and replication of cancerous cells. (2)
Immune Boosting – Certain species enhance production of virus-quelling interferon supplies, natural killer cell activity and more. (3)
Brain Function – Nourishing nerve growth factors bolster neuron regenesis over time, combatting cognitive decline. Lion’s Mane Mushrooms especially shine, improving memory and focus. (4)
Blood Sugar Control – Vinegar extracts help modulate insulin responses, lowering diabetic risks and complications long term. (5)
Anti-Inflammatory – Through regulating cytokines and other signaling proteins, inflammation driving chronic disease is suppressed. (6)
See why I‘m so wildly enthusiastic about functional fungi? Let‘s get you started on your health and happiness mushroom journey!
Where To Buy North Spore Grow Kits & Supplies
While variety online retailers offer mushroom growing kits, head straight to the source for North Spore‘s full catalogue:
NorthSpore.com – Purchase any kit or accessory highlighted here including substrates, lab equipment, medicinal mushrooms and more.
Beyond their website, you may find select popular North Spore kits like Grow Your Own Lion‘s Mane Mushrooms via online marketplaces like Amazon or Etsy.
However their website provides the complete product selection, newest releases, plus discount codes and special sales open only to direct customers.
For seamless shipping and customer service, I strongly recommend buying directly from NorthSpore.com whenever possible.
How To Save on North Spore Purchases
While North Spore kits fetch justified premium pricing, you can offset costs through:
- Site-wide sales around major holidays (July 4th, Labor Day, etc)
- Spinning their wheel for instant discounts up to 25% off
- Bulk order bundles that unlock free shipping and tiered savings
- Joining their email newsletter for special subscriber-only promotions
- Earning Spore Rewards points on every order to redeem later
Personally I like to stock up during seasonal sales, freeze extra grain spawn bags for long term storage, and leverage loyalty points towards free substrates. Purchased judiciously, North Spore kits pay for themselves tenfold!
Ready To Fruit Fly With Your Own Fungus Amongus?
As you discovered, mushroom cultivation unlocks a world of benefits for health, sustainability and simply enjoying nature‘s strangest creations thrive.
I hope my first-hand guidance gives you confidence to dive headfirst into mycelium magic without hesitation!
When sourcing your mushroom gear, choose North Spore for their sterling reputation backed by flawless performance time and time again.
Here‘s to reveling in weird mushrooms side by side someday! Feel free reach out if any questions pop up along your fungus-growing adventure.
Happy harvests!
