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- ❄️ Winter means less chance of contamination because there are fewer competing microbes.
- 🐛 Cold weather means fewer pests. This gives mycelium a better place to grow.
- 🍄 Oyster, Enoki, and Shiitake grow well in cold weather and produce a lot in winter.
- 🏠 Indoor mushroom growing in winter lets you control how much you grow. This is because humidity and temperature are steady.
- 💧 Keeping 80–95% humidity is important for mushrooms to fruit well indoors when it's cold.
Winter and Mushrooms
You might think winter is the worst time to grow mushrooms—but think again. Many types of fungi love cool, damp conditions and can thrive even when temperatures drop. With the right setup, such as Mushroom Grow Bags or a Monotub, you can grow mushrooms indoors all winter long and get impressive yields. Whether you grow them outside in a sheltered area or inside where conditions stay steady, winter is a great time to see just how resilient fungi can be.
Why Winter Is a Good Season for Growing Mushrooms
Winter has many good points for growing mushrooms. Most garden plants hide when it freezes. But some fungi see winter as a good time to grow. Winter weather can give fungi a growing advantage. This is true whether they are in a log pile outside or a grow box inside. They don't get this in warmer times.
Lower Contamination Chances
Mushroom mycelium often has to fight bacteria, molds, and other fungi for space. These other tiny living things are much less active in winter. This is because it's colder. This means mushroom cultures, especially slow growers like Shiitake, can grow without stopping. Dix & Webster (1995) say cold stops many common problems. These include Trichoderma and Penicillium. Otherwise, these would take over new growing material.
Fewer Pests and Insect Problems
Insects like fungus gnats, mites, and flies grow in warm weather. They can quickly ruin your mushrooms. In winter, these pests die or go to sleep. So, there is much less danger. Because there is less activity outside, you don't need to control pests as much. This makes winter a good time for new growers to try things.
How Nature Helps Outside
Winter weather is often like what many wood-loving mushrooms would find in nature. Cold, wet places with rotting plant material help mushrooms like Oyster and Wine Cap fruit. You can find these places at forest edges or in mulch beds that are breaking down. The sleeping forest has less competition. And then, it gets steady water from rain or melting snow. This makes it a great, easy place to grow mushrooms.
Best Winter Mushroom Types to Grow
Not all mushrooms can handle cold weather. But some types grow very well in chilly places. You can grow them inside or out. These winter mushrooms are tough, produce a lot, and taste good.
Oyster Mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus)
Oyster mushrooms are common in starter kits and commercial farms. They are useful and grow fast. They grow very well in winter, especially kinds that like cooler weather.
- Best Temperature: 10–18°C
- Growing Material: Straw, sawdust, coffee grounds, or cardboard
- Good Points: Grow a lot, spread quickly, and have little risk of contamination.
- Winter Note: Cold-hardy types can fruit outside when winter weeks are not too harsh.
Stamets (2005) says Oyster mushrooms are some of the easiest to grow in the cold. This is true especially in pasteurized indoor buckets or growing tubs.
Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus)
Lion's Mane is known for its health benefits for the brain and body. It has become very popular with home growers. It looks fluffy, like icicles. This look fits well with winter.
- Best Temperature: 15–21°C for fruiting, slightly more flexible for growing
- Needs High Humidity: High; foggers or closed growing boxes help a lot.
- Growing Material: Hardwood sawdust or blocks with extra nutrients.
- Note: Needs extra care with humidity, especially in heated indoor places.
Lion's Mane fruits well indoors in winter. But steady growing conditions are important. This helps prevent badly shaped or dry mushrooms.
Shiitake (Lentinula edodes)
Shiitake is perhaps the most famous mushroom grown on logs. It is very good for starting in winter. It needs a "cold shock" to start fruiting. So, winter is the best time for it.
- Best Temperature: Cold shock below 10°C, then 13–21°C for fruiting
- Growing Material: Hardwood logs or sawdust blocks
- Adding to Logs: Best done in winter for spring-summer production
- Upkeep: Takes a long time to grow (up to 12 months). But once it starts, it needs little daily care.
Shiitake needs patience. But it gives great mushrooms for eating. They can grow for years from one log you started.
Enoki (Flammulina velutipes)
Enoki mushrooms have long stems and a special look. They are popular in East Asian food. They grow naturally in snowy places, like parts of New Zealand.
- Best Temperature: 5–15°C
- Often Found: At the base of trees, logs, or mulch beds during winter
- Likes to Grow: Wet, rotting wood in places that stay warm.
- Indoor Tip: To make them look like wild ones, fruit them in closed containers with little light.
Enoki naturally grows well in places most people stay away from. This makes it a good choice for new growers. They can make it feel like a forest floor, either inside or outside.
Wine Cap (Stropharia rugoso-annulata)
This is a bigger, tougher mushroom. People often grow it next to vegetables in sustainable garden systems. It does not like deep winter freezing. But it grows well in early spring or late fall. And then, it can survive winter to fruit in spring.
- How it Fruits: Starts to fruit when temperatures change and snow melts in spring.
- Growing Material: Layers of straw, wood chips, or mulch gardens
- Where it Grows: Outside beds; some shade helps keep them wet.
- When to Plant: Best planted in late autumn. This helps them stay protected through winter.
You might not see fruits until late winter or early spring. But Wine Caps are worth the effort for your garden. They act like a strong worker for outside mycelium.
Indoor Mushroom Growing: Making a Steady Place to Grow
If you have little outdoor space or hard winters, growing mushrooms inside can make the best small growing place. This works for many types of mushrooms. This way of growing is especially good in winter. And then, your home's heat might already keep the inside temperature right.
Choosing the Right Location
Good places to grow mushrooms inside are:
- Bathrooms: Naturally wet; needs little light.
- Closets or pantries: Easy to control and cover.
- Basements: Usually cool with steady air flow.
- Garages or sheds (if heated): Big enough for many setups.
- Grow tents: With shiny walls and built-in humidity and air control.
No matter where you choose, it must be clean. And then, the place needs to have steady conditions.
Good Things About Indoor Winter Growing
- You can grow all year.
- You can control temperature and wetness exactly.
- Fewer things can go wrong and fewer pest problems.
- You can get a good return on your money with special mushrooms like Lion's Mane.
New growers often find grow kits helpful. Stores like Zombie Mushrooms sell good ones. These kits have blocks that already have mycelium growing. This makes learning to start much easier.
Why Humidity Matters: Keeping Things Wet but Not Too Wet
If humidity isn't right, mushrooms won't fruit. Or worse, they will fruit badly. This means they will be dry or misshapen.
How to Keep Humidity Right
- Goal: 80–95% when fruiting ([McCoy, 2020])
- Misting Schedule: Mist 2–3 times a day. Or you can use foggers to do it automatically.
-
Tools:
- Mist machines
- Reptile foggers
- Small greenhouse tents
- A tool that shows temperature and humidity.
Keeping Things Wet Without Mold
Dry When:
- Mushrooms don't start to grow.
- Mushrooms are dry and break easily.
- The mycelium on top looks faded.
Too Wet When:
- Mycelium turns yellow or gray.
- The growing material smells sour.
- Water collects in puddles.
Always checking stops problems from being too dry or too wet.
Winter Temperatures: A Help or Problem?
Temperature is key at every step of mushroom growing. In winter, it can be your biggest help. But then, it can also be your biggest problem.
Important Temperatures
| Stage | Best Temperature |
|---|---|
| Growing Mycelium | 21–24°C |
| Fruiting | 10–18°C (depends on mushroom type) |
| Cold Shock | Below 10°C (Shiitake, Enoki) |
You can use tools like heat mats with thermostats, fish tank heaters, or covered grow tents. These help with different temperatures. But if you make it too warm, humidity can drop. So, always keep warmth and wetness even.
Outdoor Growing in Winter: How to Make It Work
You don't have to stop growing mushrooms outside when it freezes. With good planning and a helpful small growing place, outdoor setups can grow well. And then, they will need little help.
Good Ways for Outdoor Growing
- Cold Frames: Use old glass or clear plastic to hold the sun's heat.
- Frost Cloth or Row Covers: Protect spawn beds from hard frost. And then, they also keep the beds wet.
-
Pick the Best Growing Material:
- Wood chips for Wine Cap
- Straw logs for Oyster
- Hardwood logs for Shiitake
- Where to Put Things: Shady spots keep water from drying up. And then, trees nearby block wind.
Get your materials ready in fall. Let the mycelium grow indoors. And then, move them outside with enough cover to last through winter.
Indoor vs Outdoor Winter Growing
| Factor | Indoor | Outdoor |
|---|---|---|
| How Much You Control | A lot (best temperature & wetness) | Depends on the weather |
| How Steady It Is | Better for new growers | Changes with seasons and not always the same |
| Cost to Start | More (need gear) | Low to medium |
| Daily Care | Check every day | Set it and forget it |
| Good For | People in flats, new growers | Sustainable gardeners, small farmers |
If you really want to grow a lot in winter, indoor ways give faster results and more exact control.
What You Need for Winter Growing
To start your winter mushroom project, get these things:
- 🧴 Clean growing material (straw pellets, sawdust with extra food)
- 🧫 Starter (spawn/culture) (grain spawn or liquid starters)
- 🏠 Fruiting box (monotubs, grow tents, or small greenhouses)
- 🌡️ A tool for humidity and temperature (important for checking)
- 💦 Mist machines or spray bottles (automatic ones are better)
- 📦 Grow kits for easy growing (like from Zombie Mushrooms)
Make your first grow easy. Save the fancy lab methods for later fun.
Common Winter Growing Mistakes (and How to Stop Them)
Even experienced growers can make these errors:
- Making it too hot: High indoor temperatures dry growing material quickly. Aim for 18–22°C.
- Not enough air flow: Good air movement stops CO₂ from building up and keeps out bad germs.
- Picking the wrong type: Only grow mushrooms that like cold weather.
- Not enough humidity: Winter heating makes homes dry fast. Use foggers to fight this.
- Not cleaning the material: Cold does not mean clean. Get your growing material ready the right way.
Knowing these things can make you much more successful.
Finding Wild Mushrooms in New Zealand Winters
Many people think fall is the best time to find wild food. But New Zealand's cold forests have some edible mushrooms even in winter.
What You Can Find in Winter
- Enoki (Flammulina velutipes): Found on rotting tree trunks.
- Wood Ear (Auricularia spp.): Common on wet hardwood. People like it in soups.
- Velvet Shank: Yellow-orange caps with soft, velvet-like stems.
Always check mushroom ID guides or ask experienced local people who look for wild food. The NZFungi online database and Landcare Research's guides are very helpful (Landcare Research, 2021).
Beyond Just Fruiting: Winter is for Starting
Winter is not only for fruiting. It's also for planning ahead. Many types, especially those that grow slowly, like to be started in colder months. This makes them ready when spring comes.
Things to Start in Winter
- Start logs: Place Shiitake/Oyster plugs into logs.
- Grow more grain spawn: For bigger grows in spring/summer.
- Keep cold: Store agar or grain spawn in the cold so it lasts a long time.
- Plan and learn: Read, plan, and try small tests.
This way, winter helps you build up for later. It is not a time to stop.
Is Indoor Mushroom Growing for You This Winter?
Growing mushrooms is not for everyone. But it could be great for:
- 🌱 Gardeners who want fresh food when it's not growing season.
- 🧠 Health fans interested in brain boosters like Lion's Mane.
- 🍽️ Food lovers who want special ingredients at home.
- 🏙️ City people with little yard space.
- 🧘♂️ People who like a quiet, hands-on hobby.
Winter is a great time to grow this often forgotten farm plant.
Grow Mushrooms Even with Frost
Don't let winter cold stop your growing plans. You can grow winter mushrooms like Oyster, Enoki, and Shiitake. And then, growing inside is flexible. So, cold-weather growing is not just possible—it can be very lively. You might build a closet grow box or cover a log pile outside. Mushrooms bring beauty and good food. And then, they connect you to nature even when everything else sleeps under the snow.
Citations
- Dix, N. J., & Webster, J. (1995). Fungal Ecology. Springer Science & Business Media.
- Landcare Research New Zealand. (2021). New Zealand’s native fungi: A guide to common wild mushrooms.
- McCoy, J. (2020). Growing mushrooms at home: An introduction to indoor mushroom cultivation. Journal of Urban Agriculture, 12(3), 44–50.
- Stamets, P. (2005). Mycelium Running: How mushrooms can help save the world. Ten Speed Press.
