Our Native Lion's Mane mushroom grow kits are an exciting introduction to cultivating your own fungi! Lion's Mane is one of the most distinctive gourmet mushrooms, producing beautiful cascading white spines with a flavour and texture often compared to crab or lobster.
It’s also incredibly endangered in the UK- the mushrooms in your kit were found in a rare sighting in Brighton! While it’s illegal to pick wild Lion’s Mane in Britain (one of only three mushrooms like this in the country), these genetics were harvested responsibly by our friends at Jurassic Coast Mushrooms
Step 1: open up
Within 24–48 hours of receiving your box, tear open the perforated window on the front to reveal the grow block — a plastic bag full of nutrient-rich woodchips, now colonised by white mycelium (the mushroom "roots").
Use a clean knife or scissors to cut a large "X" (about 3–5 cm across) into the plastic where the mycelium is visible. Try to only slice the plastic and avoid disturbing the block while cutting - a deep cut will make growing take longer. A Stanley knife works perfectly for this.
Once sliced, do not peel back the plastic - Lion's Mane is surprisingly strong and will push through the plastic once it's ready to grow. Keeping the plastic in place lets fresh air reach the block to tell the mycelium it's time to fruit, without any risk of drying out.
Step 2: Air, warmth, light, water and time
Mushrooms need five things to fruit: fresh air, warmth, light, moisture, and time. Your job is to choose a good spot that provides all five:
Air: Mushrooms breathe oxygen (just like us!) and release CO₂. Keep them in a well-ventilated spot, not inside a cupboard or a sealed container.
Warmth & Light: Lion's Mane grows best between 15°C and 20°C. A bright room with indirect light is perfect - like a kitchen counter near a window or a bathroom shelf - but avoid hot direct sunlight and keep it away from radiators.
Water: Mist the cut ("X") with a few sprays of clean water 2–3 times daily. Aim for light, even moisture — it should stay damp, not soaking wet.
Time: Mushrooms grow in stages — and they take the time they need! Be patient and consistent.
Tip: Once you place your kit, try not to move it around too much. Mushrooms are sensitive to their environment and sudden changes can confuse them and slow growth.
Step 3: Watch it grow - knots and pins
Days 7–10: Look for small white clumps forming inside the plastic. These are hyphal knots - early signs of your Lion's Mane starting to form.
Days 10–14: The clumps will begin to develop into a small fluffy white ball before gradually producing the characteristic soft spines that give Lion's Mane its name.
If you see growth away from the "X", don't be tempted to cut more holes - the mushroom will find its way out of the bag just fine!
Keep misting regularly and avoid letting the kit dry out - you're almost there!
What If Nothing Happens?
If you don't see any signs after two full weeks:
Go back to Step 2 and double-check your setup:
Is your block getting enough fresh air and indirect light?
Are you misting consistently without overwatering?
Is it cool enough? (Lion's Mane prefers slightly cooler conditions than many other mushrooms.)
Wait another 5–7 days.
Still nothing? Email woodkinmushrooms@gmail.com so we can help diagnose!
Step 4: Harvest!
Once your Lion's Mane begins developing, it can take just 3–5 days to reach harvest size. During this time, it'll absorb as much moisture as possible - so keep misting regularly. You can gently mist the developing mushroom directly as it grows - it loves the humidity!
Your Lion's Mane is ready to harvest when:
It's bright white all over.
The soft hanging spines have grown to around 5–10 mm long.
Before it starts turning cream or yellow.
Tip: The best harvest time is just before the mushroom begins to discolour. This is when flavour, texture and shelf life are at their peak.
To harvest, grasp the mushroom at the base, then twist and pull gently. Alternatively, use a sharp knife to cut it cleanly from the block. Trim off any bits of substrate before storing or cooking.
What next?
Either Fruit again or leave for the garden!
You can get three harvests from a block (and sometimes even more than that!!) with the harvests getting smaller each time. For best results tape over your harvest area with duct tape, turn the bag around and create a new cut - then repeat from step one!
To dispose place in your regular rubbish bin - or (more excitingly) remove from the plastic and either bury or sprinkle your block in your garden. It will help improve soil quality, and because we work with native spores you may end up with ethical and eco-friendly mushrooms growing in your flower beds!
Storage Tips
Eat it as soon as possible for the best flavour and texture.
If storing, keep it in an open paper bag or container in your fridge for up to 5 days.
Avoid sealing it in plastic - mushrooms like to breathe!