If you’ve ever thought about growing mushrooms, you’ve probably seen terms like “mushroom spawn” and “liquid culture” pop up in your research. While both are major parts of the cultivation process, they have very different purposes. Let’s clear up the confusion so you can decide which one fits your growing goals.

What is Mushroom Spawn?

Mushroom spawn is the foundation of any successful growing setup. It’s the living fungal culture, also called mycelium, that is grown into a substrate – a material, like grains, sawdust, or woodchips. Spawn is to mushrooms, what seeds are to plants.

What is a Liquid-Based Culture?

A liquid-based culture is a nutrient-rich solution containing actively growing mushroom mycelium. This method involves a water-based medium enriched with ingredients like malt extract, which provides the nutrients the mycelium needs to thrive.

Using a nutrient-rich liquid solution lets the mycelium develop faster than starting from spores. The process skips the germination phase, meaning the mycelium is already primed for growth when introduced to a substrate.

Liquid Culture vs Mushroom Spawn: What are the Benefits?

Using a liquid solution to introduce active mycelium into your substrate has one major benefit – it allows for faster colonisation and gives the mycelium a head start. This can lead to quicker fruiting times and healthier growth overall.

That said, mushroom spawn remains the go-to choice for most casual growers. It’s easy to use, available right here on our site, and great for growing in small spaces (like our mushroom grow kits!). Spawn also tends to have a longer shelf life compared to pre-prepared syringes of liquid mycelium.

Start Growing Amazing Mushrooms Today with Urban Farm-It

Ready to start your mushroom-growing journey? A mushroom grow kit is the easiest way to dive in. These kits come pre-prepared with everything you need to grow delicious varieties like lion’s mane, shiitake, or oyster mushrooms right at home. Perfect for beginners and seasoned growers alike, they take the guesswork out of creating the ideal environment for your mushrooms – browse our range today!

How to Avoid Contamination Risks When Growing

One challenge every grower faces is contamination. Whether you’re using spawn, spores, or liquid cultures, keeping sterile conditions is key. Contaminants like mould and bacteria can ruin your setup before you see any mushrooms.

• Work in a clean environment or use a flow hood to minimise airborne contaminants.
• Always sterilise your tools, jars, and substrates.
• Watch for discolouration or foul smells.

Liquid-based systems are often less prone to contamination than spores, but they’re not immune. Proper sterile techniques are important at virtually every step of the growing process.

Which Method is Best for You?

If you’re just dipping your toes into mushroom cultivation, spawn is the easiest way to get started. It’s beginner-friendly and works well for growing delicious gourmet mushrooms.

If you’re a grower who wants to refine your techniques, a liquid culture system is worth exploring. Its efficiency and consistent results make it a favourite among serious cultivators and those producing mushrooms in bulk.

Whichever method you choose, mushroom growing is a rewarding hobby that lets you enjoy everything from freshly picked oyster mushrooms to exploring the fascinating world of fungal mycelium.

Feature Comparison

• Mushroom Spawn: Colonised grains or sawdust with mycelium. Best for beginners and casual growers. Growth speed is moderate, easy to use, with low to moderate contamination risk. Its main advantage is being affordable and easy to use.
• Liquid-Based System: Nutrient-rich solution with active mycelium. Best for faster colonisation and consistent results. Growth speed is faster, though it requires sterile techniques. Contamination risk is lower than spores but needs care. Its main advantage is speeding up growth and improving efficiency.

Your Mushroom-Growing Adventure Awaits

Whether you’re experimenting with mushroom spawn or exploring liquid culture techniques, there’s no better time to grow your own fungi. At Urban Farm-It, we have everything you need to enjoy the world of mushrooms, from mushroom spawn and liquid cultures, to ready-to-use grow kits and even fresh lion’s mane – the possibilities are endless! Browse our range today to get started.