Merryhill Mushrooms Chestnut Mushroom Growing Kit

Grow your own chestnut mushrooms at home, no garden needed. This ready-to-grow kit from Merryhill Mushrooms in West Sussex arrives with the hard work already done, so you can go from box to first harvest in a few weeks.

Chestnut mushrooms have a firmer bite and a richer, nuttier flavour than the pale buttons you find in the supermarket. They are brilliant pan-fried with a little butter, tossed through pasta, or piled onto toast.

What's in the box

• Pre-spawned compost block (mycelium already established)
• Sealed bag of casing soil
• Full growing instructions
• Illustrated bookmark

You only need a clean spray bottle from home.

How it works

Open the box, rehydrate the casing soil, and spread it loosely over the compost. Rest the lid on for about 8 days, then mist twice a day. Keep the kit somewhere cool and shaded (around 14 to 21°C). First mushrooms usually appear 16 to 24 days after setup.

How much will you get?

Expect 3 to 4 harvests over 5 to 7 weeks, adding up to roughly 1 to 1.5kg of fresh mushrooms. Each flush follows about 10 to 14 days after the last pick.

Shelf life

Leave the kit unopened and it will keep for 2 to 3 months before you start it, which makes it a lovely gift. Once opened, follow the instructions and begin misting as directed.

Hand-planted in small batches on a family farm in Storrington, West Sussex. Suitable for beginners, and a gentle project for children with a bit of adult help.