Days to first harvest as sellers state it: Far West Fungi and Field & Forest. North Spore and Back to the Roots do not state one. Checked November 11, 2026.
Kits side by side
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Specs are the sellers' stated figures. Prices checked on November 11, 2026.
Kit
Species
First harvest
Stated yield
Price
Buy
North Spore Organic Blue Oyster Spray & Grow Boxed kit, spray and grow
Kits are picked for a home grower with a kitchen counter and a spray bottle, and each pick is tied to something you can check: the days to first harvest the seller states, the price on the seller's page, the block size, and the guarantee. We have not grown these kits for this page. A kit that gives no figure is shown with "Not stated by the seller" and no bar on the ruler.
Kits that arrive ready to fruit are the focus. Spawn, plugs and log kits are a different project, and we cover them elsewhere.
The picks
North Spore Organic Blue Oyster Spray & Grow
BLUE OYSTER
Pick for a first grow, by stated days to first harvest and a first-flush guarantee
PRICE
$34.99 as of November 11, 2026
BLOCK
4 lb
STATED YIELD
0.5 to 2 lb in the first flush
FLUSHES
1 guaranteed, more possible
GUARANTEE
First flush guaranteed. Free replacement within 30 days of receipt if damaged, contaminated or unusable.
First harvest10 to 15 days
0102030 days
Pins in 6 to 10 days, then 4 to 5 days to a full flush. The product page also says as little as 7 days.
Listed as in stock, shipping in 2 to 5 business days.
Specs from the seller's page, checked on November 11, 2026.
Who it suits. A beginner with a kitchen counter, a spray bottle and about two weeks. The seller says to spritz daily with the included mister, 5 to 10 sprays each time, and more often if the block looks dry.
Who should skip it. You travel often or live somewhere very dry. The seller recommends a humidity tent if you run AC or live somewhere arid.
Back to the Roots Organic Mushroom Grow Kit (pearl oyster)
PEARL OYSTER
Pick for the lowest listed price
PRICE
$19.99 (regular price $24.99) as of November 11, 2026
BLOCK
Not stated by the seller
STATED YIELD
3 to 4 servings per crop
FLUSHES
Up to 2 crops
GUARANTEE
Replaced free of charge if it does not grow as described.
First harvestAbout 10 days
0102030 days
The seller says harvest in 10 days.
USDA organic. Made in Michigan.
4.8 out of 5 from 524 reviews on the seller's own site.
Sold out when checked.
Specs from the seller's page, checked on November 11, 2026.
Who it suits. Someone who wants a cheap trial of the hobby, or a kit for a child. The seller says harvest in 10 days.
Who should skip it. You need a kit today. It was sold out when we checked, and the page gives no block weight or total yield, only 3 to 4 servings per crop.
Far West Fungi Mini-Farm (tree oyster)
TREE OYSTER
Pick for the most harvests stated
PRICE
$25 (less per kit in multi-packs) as of November 11, 2026
BLOCK
Not stated by the seller
STATED YIELD
1 to 2 lb across 3 to 4 harvests
FLUSHES
3 to 4 harvests
GUARANTEE
At least one harvest guaranteed if cared for as instructed. Replaced if it still does not fruit.
First harvest10 to 14 days
0102030 days
Pins usually appear in 5 to 8 days, and most kits are ready to harvest in 10 to 14 days.
CCOF certified organic, grown on the seller's California farm.
Specs from the seller's page, checked on November 11, 2026.
Who it suits. A grower who has, or will build, a monotub or martha tent. The seller says blocks can out-produce its boxed kits.
Who should skip it. You only have a counter and a spray bottle. The seller recommends a fruiting chamber for blocks, and the page gives no days to first harvest.
North Spore Organic Shiitake Fruiting Block
SHIITAKE
Pick for shiitake in a block
PRICE
From $34.99 as of November 11, 2026
BLOCK
About 5 lb (the seller says blocks tend to be 5 lb)
STATED YIELD
1 to 2 lb per flush, less in later flushes
FLUSHES
1 to 3, depending on species
GUARANTEE
Not stated by the seller
First harvestNot stated by the seller
The seller says shiitake has to come out of the bag before fruiting and should not go back in after a soak.
The shiitake page we checked gives no weight, timing or skill level.
Specs from the seller's page, checked on November 11, 2026.
Who it suits. A grower ready for a more hands-on kit. The seller says the block has to come out of the bag before it goes into a fruiting chamber, which is an extra step.
Who should skip it. This is your first kit. The page states no days to first harvest, and shiitake blocks dry out more easily once out of the bag, per the seller.
Field & Forest Shiitake Table Top Farm
SHIITAKE
Pick for a plain shiitake kit with stated timing
PRICE
Not shown on the page checked as of November 11, 2026
BLOCK
Not stated by the seller
STATED YIELD
Up to 1.5 lb
FLUSHES
Not stated by the seller
GUARANTEE
First fruiting guaranteed. Later harvests depend on your care.
First harvest10 to 14 days
0102030 days
10 to 14 days after the kit comes out of cold storage and reaches room temperature.
Fruiting temperature 55 to 70°F.
Open the package right away and refrigerate the kit if you are not starting it. The seller says it stays dormant for up to 10 days.
Specs from the seller's page, checked on November 11, 2026.
Who it suits. A grower who wants a shiitake kit with a stated 10 to 14 days and a temperature range of 55 to 70°F.
Who should skip it. You want the price before you click. The page we checked did not show one.
How to choose between them
Start with the species. Oyster has the shortest stated times and is the easiest place to start. Lion's mane and shiitake are worth it if you already know you like the taste, but both ask a bit more of you. North Spore warns lion's mane can dry out, and says shiitake blocks come out of the bag to fruit.
Then check the format. A boxed kit grows on a counter with a spray bottle. A bagged fruiting block is larger and does better in a monotub or martha tent. Our guide to how to grow mushrooms at home covers the setup for either.
Last, check stock and price on the seller's page. Kits sell out, and sellers change prices without notice. If you want a single species, go straight to the oyster, lion's mane or shiitake roundup.
What is the best mushroom grow kit for a first grow?
For a first grow, a boxed oyster kit has the shortest stated time to harvest, between about 10 and 15 days, and needs only a spray bottle. North Spore's Blue Oyster Spray & Grow is the one listed here with a full set of stated figures and a first-flush guarantee. Check stock first, since sellers sell out.
Is a bigger block worth the extra money?
A larger block can give a bigger harvest, but it also asks more of you. North Spore says its roughly 5 lb fruiting blocks can produce more than its boxed kits and do best in a fruiting chamber such as a monotub or martha tent. If you only have a kitchen counter, a boxed kit is the simpler fit.
Do these kits come with a guarantee?
Some do. North Spore guarantees the first flush of its Spray & Grow kits and replaces damaged, contaminated or unusable kits within 30 days of receipt. Back to the Roots says it replaces a kit that does not grow as described. Far West Fungi and Field & Forest guarantee the first harvest. Read each seller's terms for the conditions.
Are the yields on this page real?
They are the sellers' stated figures, not our results, and real harvests vary with temperature, humidity and how often you mist. We have not grown these kits for this page.
Cedrick Reese chose the seven kits on this page from four sellers, North Spore, Back to the Roots, Far West Fungi and Field & Forest, and ranks them from what each seller states: days to first harvest, what is in the box and whether a guarantee is written down. The order is a judgment from those figures, not a grow test, and the page says so where a seller leaves a figure out. Every number is linked to the seller's page in Sources with the date checked, and prices and stock move, so check before you buy.