Morel mushrooms take a long time to establish but grow relatively quickly once fruiting begins.
- If growing morels outdoors from spawn or spores, it can take 2 to 5 years before you get your first morel mushrooms, due to their complex life cycle and environmental needs
- Once the baby morel "pins" appear, the mushrooms grow fast and can be harvested in less than 2 weeks , often around 6 to 10 days to reach full size
- Under ideal conditions of temperature and moisture, morels can grow rapidly, sometimes maturing in 2 to 4 days after pinning starts
- The growth rate depends heavily on temperature, humidity, and soil moisture; morels require cool, moist conditions typically in spring, with temperatures around 43–70°F (6–21°C) for fruiting
- Morels do not literally "pop up overnight" but grow steadily over several days, with daily growth of about 0.2 to 0.4 inches
In summary, while the initial establishment phase takes years, the visible mushroom growth from pinning to harvest is usually about one to two weeks, sometimes as fast as a few days under optimal conditions.
