Sporulation
Sporulation is the natural way mushrooms reproduce. When a mushroom is fully mature (past its peak for eating), it releases a fine, dust-like powder called spores to spread its genes. Think of it like a flower releasing pollen.
While this is a normal and fascinating part of the mushroom lifecycle, it's something we advise avoiding with your homegrown kits to get the best experience.
Why You Should Harvest Before Spores Drop
Harvesting your mushrooms at the right moment is the secret to a perfect harvest. Here are three key reasons why you should always pick them just before they release their spores:
For the Best Flavour & Benefits: A mushroom's taste, nutritional value, and medicinal properties are at their highest right before sporulation. After spores drop, the mushroom quickly loses its quality and delicious flavour.
For More Future Harvests: Releasing spores signals to the mycelium that its job is done. By harvesting early, you encourage the mycelium to produce more flushes, giving you more mushrooms from your box.
For Less Mess & Irritation: The spore dust can create a big mess around your kit. In large amounts, this fine powder can also cause respiratory irritation for some people.
How to Know When to Harvest
So, how do you know the perfect time? The rule is simple: harvest your mushrooms when they're still young and growing.
A great guide is to harvest when the mushroom cluster is roughly the size of a closed fist, or just as the caps begin to flatten out (before the edges start to curl upwards).
The "moral" of the story: a timely harvest leads to tastier mushrooms and more future harvests!