Mushrooms can grow very quickly, with some of the fastest growing species ready for harvest in as little as 3 to 4 weeks from inoculation. The visible fruiting body can sometimes grow from pins to mature mushrooms in just a few days, often doubling in size within 24 hours. For example, oyster mushrooms can be ready to harvest in about 14 days, while shiitake mushrooms take longer, typically 6 months if grown on logs or 8 to 12 weeks on sawdust substrates. Morel mushrooms, in contrast, may take several years to fully develop from spores to mature fruiting bodies. The fast growth of mushrooms is due to their unique growing mechanism. After the initial formation of "pins" (the early fruiting stage), the cells rapidly absorb water and nutrients, causing the mushrooms to balloon in size rather than grow new cells through cell division, which takes longer. Factors influencing growth speed include species type, temperature, humidity, substrate quality, spawn type, and spawn rate. Warmer temperatures and optimal substrates like straw or sawdust can speed up growth, while starting with mushroom spawn rather than spores also accelerates development. In summary:
- Fast-growing mushrooms like oyster mushrooms can be harvested in about 14 to 28 days.
- Some mushrooms take months or even years, depending on species and growing conditions.
- Mushrooms can double in size within 24 hours during their fruiting stage.
- Optimal environmental conditions significantly affect growth speed.
