Emma Wilson
Growing mushrooms at home is a rewarding project that offers fresh, organic, and pesticide-free produce. It is also an excellent educational opportunity to learn about the unique life cycle of fungi. When it comes to picking mushrooms, timing is critical. The optimal time to harvest is when the gills are exposed, but the cap margin is still curled under, ensuring quality and long-term storage. For most cap and stem mushrooms, this is when the thin veil under the cap just begins to tear open, as this is when the mushroom is mature and spores are released. One general rule to follow is that it is better to pick too soon than too late, as leaving it too late risks ruining the whole crop.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Mushroom type | Magic mushrooms, White button mushrooms, Portabella mushrooms, Crimini mushrooms, Oyster mushrooms, Lion's mane |
| Mushroom maturity | The veil under the cap should just begin to tear open, revealing gills |
| Cap | Still slightly curled down |
| Spine | Elongated |
| Size | Full size |
| Timing | Once every day, unless fruiting temperatures are below 60 degrees |
| Container | Plastic with holes, cardboard boxes, rigid containers like bulb crates |
| Season | Fall is a good time to start |
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What You'll Learn
The veil of the mushroom is lightly coloured
When it comes to picking mushrooms, timing is crucial. If you want to maximise future flushes and get the most out of your efforts, you need to identify the right time to harvest. This is especially important if you're growing mushrooms indoors, as the release of spores can reduce your yield for future crops.
The best way to determine when to pick mushrooms is to observe the veil, a thin membrane on the underside of the cap that covers the gills and keeps the spores in the mushroom. When the mushroom is mature, the veil tears, and the spores are released, ready to grow the next generation of mushrooms. If these spores are released onto the mycelium cake, it will result in fewer mushrooms in subsequent flushes. Therefore, it is essential to harvest mushrooms before the veil tears.
On juvenile mushrooms, the veil is fleshy and lightly coloured, usually grey-white. As the mushroom matures, the veil darkens and begins to sag before tearing. It is recommended that you harvest mushrooms while the veils are still lightly coloured. As soon as you notice any darkening, it is time to pick them.
The veil will drop down the stem once it tears, detaching from the underside of the cap and revealing a concave cavity and gills. The veil will turn black, followed by the cap and the rest of the mushroom. After this point, the mushroom will start to die. It will darken, wilt, and eventually break. As the spores spread, the cake will be covered in dark mushroom spore patches, which can reduce the yield of further flushes or stop new mushrooms from growing entirely.
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The mushroom reaches full size
Mushrooms are fast-growing and surprisingly easy to cultivate indoors. They grow well in a humid, cool, and dimly lit space. Mist them regularly to maintain moisture.
When the mushrooms reach full size, they can be picked by rotating and pulling them up gently. It is important to avoid cutting the stem, as leaving it in the growing medium can lead to rotting.
It is crucial to harvest at the right time to ensure the highest quality. With most cap and stem mushrooms, this is when the gills are exposed but the cap margin is still curled under. This is optimal for quality and long-term storage.
The harvest window can be short, and mushrooms should be harvested daily unless fruiting temperatures are below 60 degrees. Harvesting into a rigid container that allows breathing, such as plastic with holes or cardboard boxes, is recommended to protect the fragile mushrooms.
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The gills are exposed
Mushrooms are ready to be picked when the veil—located on the underside of the cap—just starts to break. The veil covers the gills, which produce spores. When the veil tears, it will detach from the underside of the cap, revealing the gills. The gills are an indication of the mushroom's ripeness, rather than its freshness. The more mature the mushroom, the more flavourful it will be.
However, if you are cultivating mushrooms, it is important to note that leaving the mushrooms to mature fully may result in a lower yield. This is because there is a threshold for psilocybin and psilocin production. As the fruiting body grows larger, the potency technically drops by weight. Therefore, it is recommended to harvest mushrooms just before the veil tears.
If you are picking immature mushrooms, you can collect spores by swabbing the gills with a sterile Q-tip. However, this is not necessary for all types of mushrooms, as some do not drop spores.
When harvesting mushrooms, it is important to do so gently and cleanly to avoid damaging the cake, which can cause contamination.
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The mushroom stops growing
The veil is a crucial indicator of when to harvest mushrooms. It is usually fleshy and light-coloured—a grey-white shade—on juvenile mushrooms. When the time comes for the veil to tear, it often darkens and begins to sag. Once the veil tears, it will drop down the stem and detach from the underside of the cap, revealing a concave cavity and gills. The veil will turn black, followed by the cap and the whole mushroom. After this point, the mushroom will soon start to die. It will darken, appear to wilt, and eventually break.
The timing of mushroom harvesting is critical to maximising future growth and getting the most out of your crop. If you are growing mushrooms indoors, it is undesirable to let the spores get released onto the mycelium cake, as it will produce far fewer mushrooms in the subsequent flushes, if any at all. Therefore, keeping the cakes spore-free is essential to ensure continuous mushroom growth.
The ideal time to plant mushrooms depends on whether they are being grown indoors or outdoors. Indoor growing can be done year-round in a climate-controlled room, and growers often plant regularly throughout the year to ensure a continuous supply. Outdoor growing is more dependent on the seasons and temperatures. Most mushroom varieties are perennial crops that can be planted throughout the growing season when temperatures are consistently 40°F or higher. In warmer climates, this means planting can be done throughout most of the year, while in cooler climates, it is best to plant in the spring or early summer to speed up the time to harvest.
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The mushroom's spines elongate
The process of growing mushrooms involves seven main steps: strain selection, substrate preparation, inoculation, incubation, initiation, fruiting, and harvest. The timing of the harvest is crucial to maximising future flushes and getting the most out of your efforts.
The optimal time to harvest mushrooms is when the "spines" of the mushroom elongate. At this stage, the mushrooms have reached full size or stopped growing. To harvest, grasp the cluster and twist, or use a sharp knife to cut at the base. Rotate and pull them up gently, being careful not to leave any stem behind.
It is important to note that the harvest window can be relatively short, especially during the summer or when temperatures rise above 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Mushrooms need to be harvested daily to ensure the highest quality, unless fruiting temperatures are below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. In such cases, it is possible to skip a day between harvests by picking some slightly premature mushrooms.
Additionally, careful observation of the veil, a thin membrane on the underside of the cap that covers the gills, is necessary to determine the optimal harvest time. The veil should just begin to tear open, and the gills should be exposed while the cap margin is still curled under. The veil will darken and sag before tearing, so it is important to harvest as soon as these signs appear.
By following these guidelines and paying close attention to the condition of the mushroom's spines, veil, and overall development, you can ensure that you harvest your mushrooms at the perfect time.
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Frequently asked questions
The best time to pick mushrooms is when the veil—the thin membrane on the underside of the cap—just begins to tear open. The veil covers the gills of the mushroom and when the mushroom is mature, the veil tears and releases spores for the next generation of mushrooms. If you're growing mushrooms indoors, it is undesirable to let the spores get released onto the mycelium cake as it will produce fewer mushrooms in the next batch. Therefore, it is essential to harvest the mushrooms on time.
On juvenile mushrooms, veils are fleshy and light-coloured—usually grey-white. When the time comes for them to tear, they often darken and begin to sag. As soon as you see any sign of darkening, it's time to harvest the mushrooms.
Rotate the mushroom a full turn and gently pull it up, taking care not to disturb neighbouring mushrooms. Avoid cutting the stem, as leaving it in the growing medium can lead to rotting.
