Free grow tool
Mushroom grow timeline calculator
Updated
Pick a mushroom and the day you start, and this calculator lists the date each stage begins, the temperature, humidity, fresh air, and light to use, and your first harvest window. Totals run from 20 days for pink oyster to 78 days for turkey tail. You can save every stage to your calendar as an .ics file.
Pearl Oyster: about 29 days. First harvest window: day 20 to day 29.
| Stage | Days | Length (days) | Temperature | Humidity | Fresh air | Light |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colonization | Day 1 to 14 | 14 | 24 °C (75 °F) | 90% | fan 15 s every 60 min | dark |
| Pinning | Day 15 to 19 | 5 | 18 °C (64 °F) | 93% | fan 35 s every 15 min | 12 h light a day |
| Fruiting | Day 20 to 29 | 10 | 16 °C (61 °F) | 88% | fan 40 s every 10 min | 12 h light a day |
Numbers from the free Pearl Oyster grow profile. Mushrooms run on their own clock, so move to the next stage when you see the signs, not only when the date comes.
How does the grow timeline calculator work?
Each free grow profile lists its stages and how many days each one lasts. The calculator adds those days to your start date. Day 1 is the day you start. For most species the stages are colonization, pinning, and fruiting. Shiitake adds browning and a cold shock, which is why it takes longer than the rest.
The fruiting stage is your first harvest window. Pick each cluster when it is ready, which is often before the stage ends.
What if my kit is already colonized?
Choose "A fully colonized kit or block". The calculator skips colonization and starts at pinning. Most store bought kits arrive fully colonized, so pins usually show within a week or two of opening them in good conditions. A pre browned Shiitake block also skips browning and starts at the cold shock.
How long does each mushroom take to grow?
| Mushroom | Total days |
|---|---|
| Pink Oyster | 20 |
| Golden Oyster | 24 |
| Blue Oyster | 25 |
| Pearl Oyster | 29 |
| Elm Oyster | 31 |
| Pioppino | 31 |
| Lion's Mane | 33 |
| Chestnut Mushroom | 34 |
| Button / Cremini | 36 |
| King Oyster | 38 |
| Wood Ear | 38 |
| Nameko | 39 |
| Beech / Buna Shimeji | 40 |
| Wine Cap | 40 |
| Enoki | 43 |
| Maitake | 54 |
| Cordyceps militaris | 57 |
| Shiitake | 74 |
| Reishi | 77 |
| Turkey Tail | 78 |
See how long mushrooms take to grow for each stage, and the time from a kit.
Why might my dates be different?
Colonization speed depends on temperature, how much spawn went into the block, and the strain. A cool room can add a week or more. Pins need humidity, fresh air, and light at the same time, and they stall without them. If nothing has happened by the end of a stage, read grow kit not growing or mushrooms not pinning.
How do I add the dates to my calendar?
Press "Add to calendar". Your browser saves an .ics file with one all day event per stage. Open it with Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, or Outlook to import the events. Each event lists that stage's temperature, humidity, fresh air, and light.
FAQ
How long does it take to grow mushrooms at home?
From the start of colonization to the end of the first harvest, the free profiles run from 20 days for pink oyster to 78 days for turkey tail. Most oysters finish in under five weeks.
Does the calculator work for a grow kit?
Yes. Choose a fully colonized kit or block and the timeline starts at pinning instead of colonization.
Can I save the timeline to my calendar?
Yes. The Add to calendar button downloads an .ics file with one all day event per stage, which Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, and Outlook can import.
Where do the numbers come from?
From the free Shroom Labs grow profiles, the same stage lengths, temperatures, humidity, fan cycles, and light hours shown on each species page.
Sources
- UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, Cultivating Mushrooms on Small Family Farms
- SARE and FungiAlly, Growing Oyster Mushrooms
- Shroom Labs grow profiles