Growing mushrooms outdoors
The main outdoor methods are logs, totems and beds. Shiitake on fresh logs is the most reliable, and logs typically fruit after about a year. Oyster is the pick for straw, and Clemson says it can fruit in as little as 3 months.
The outdoor methods
NC State Extension says the most common ways to grow mushrooms outdoors are on logs, on totems and in beds. North Spore's garden guide names beds, logs, straw bales and containers.
| Method | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| Logs | NC State says fresh wood is essential, and logs should be inoculated within a week or two of cutting. Logs 4 to 6 inches across and 3 to 4 feet long typically fruit after about a year. Shiitake is the most reliable. |
| Beds | NC State says wine cap grows on hardwood chips or straw. North Spore says wine cap prefers partial shade. |
| Straw bales and containers | North Spore says oyster is the best choice for straw. |
How long it takes, and how often it fruits
NC State says oyster can fruit up to 3 times in a season, while lion's mane fruits once a year, in the fall. Cornell says logs and stumps can take 6 to 18 months to fruit, wood chips 2 to 6 months, and straw and sawdust as little as 3 to 4 weeks. Clemson says oyster can fruit in as little as 3 months on logs, and shiitake can take up to 18 months.
The trade-off is time, because the first mushrooms from logs can be a year away.
Spent kits and outdoor growing
We did not find instructions from the sources for moving a spent kit outdoors, so we do not give any. For growing without a kit, see how to grow mushrooms without a kit. For the kit method, see how to grow mushrooms at home.
Keep reading
- How to grow mushrooms without a kit: spawn, substrate and what changes
- Mushroom pests: gnats and flies around a kit
- The mushroom life cycle: spore to mushroom and back
Back to How to grow mushrooms at home
Common questions
Which mushroom is easiest to grow outdoors?
NC State Extension says shiitake is the most reliable of the outdoor mushrooms. North Spore says oyster is the best choice for straw.
How long until outdoor logs produce mushrooms?
NC State says logs typically fruit after about a year, and Cornell gives a range of 6 to 18 months for logs and stumps. Clemson says oyster can fruit in as little as 3 months, and shiitake can take up to 18 months.
What kind of logs should I use?
NC State says the wood must be fresh, and logs should be inoculated within a week or two of cutting. It gives logs 4 to 6 inches across and 3 to 4 feet long as typical.
How often does lion's mane fruit outdoors?
NC State says lion's mane fruits once a year, in the fall.
Sources
- Outdoor Mushroom Cultivation, NC State Extension, Richmond County. Checked November 11, 2026.
- Producing Specialty Mushrooms: Outdoor vs Indoor Systems, Cornell Small Farms Program. Checked November 11, 2026.
- Specialty Mushroom Production for South Carolina, Clemson Cooperative Extension. Checked November 11, 2026.
- How To Grow Mushrooms Outside in Your Garden, North Spore. Checked November 11, 2026.
How this page is checked
Cedrick Reese wrote this page from NC State, Cornell and Clemson extension material and North Spore's garden guide. Timings differ between those sources, so the page shows each range with its source instead of picking one. Climate changes everything outdoors, so ask your county extension office about your own area before you cut any logs.