How long mushrooms take to grow depends on the species, substrate, and growing conditions, but most gourmet mushrooms grow surprisingly fast.
Typical Mushroom Growing Timeline
1️⃣ Colonization (Mycelium Growth)
After you mix spawn with substrate, the white mycelium spreads through the material.
Typical time:
- 7–14 days for fast growers like Oyster Mushroom
- 14–21 days for Lion’s Mane
- 3–6 weeks for Shiitake
2️⃣ Pinning (Baby Mushrooms Form)
Once the substrate is fully colonized and you introduce fresh air, humidity, and light, tiny mushrooms called pins appear.
Time:
- 3–7 days
3️⃣ Fruiting (Mushrooms Grow Full Size)
After pins appear, mushrooms grow extremely fast.
Typical time:
- 3–7 days to harvest
Some oyster mushrooms can double in size every day.
Total Time From Start to Harvest
MushroomTime to First HarvestOyster Mushroom2–3 weeksLion’s Mane3–4 weeksShiitake6–12 weeksChestnut Mushroom4–5 weeks
How Many Times They Grow (Flushes)
Most mushroom blocks produce multiple harvests.
Typical pattern:
- First flush: largest harvest
- Second flush: ~50% of first
- Third flush: smaller but still usable
Total production usually lasts 4–8 weeks.
💡 Fun fact:
Mushrooms are among the fastest growing organisms on Earth. Species like Oyster Mushroom can grow several inches in a single day under ideal humidity and temperature.
