How My Mushroom Growing Journey Really Began

When I first started this journey, I honestly had no idea where it would take me or what paths I would end up walking. I didn’t have a master plan. I more or less fell into it.

After watching the Netflix documentary Fantastic Fungi for what felt like the hundredth time, and dabbling with various adaptogenic mushrooms, I decided to take things a step further and try growing my own.

“How hard can it be?” I thought.

Mushrooms grow everywhere, right? In all kinds of conditions. I pictured it being as simple as harvesting Turkey Tail from a fallen tree. Grab some substrate, inject some spores, forget about it, and wait for magic to happen.

I was wrong. Very wrong.

Being Humbled by Mould (Repeatedly)

It quickly became clear that growing mushrooms wasn’t a case of “inject and forget.” There was far more to it than I’d expected—at least, that’s what I kept telling myself as bag after bag succumbed to mould.

“It’s just one degree away from fruiting,” I’d mutter optimistically, staring at another failed grow.

In reality, I was learning the hard way that mushrooms are both resilient and unforgiving. They thrive when conditions are right—and punish you when they’re not.

Finding the Right People at the Right Time

Everything changed when I discovered a small company called Martian Mushrooms.

At the time, they were operating out of a garage somewhere in Kent (or at least that’s how I remember it). What stood out immediately wasn’t just their products, but their attitude. They weren’t in it purely for profit—they genuinely cared about the craft of growing mushrooms and, more importantly, they were willing to share what they knew.

They patiently helped me grow my first successful flush of incredibly tasty King Oyster mushrooms. And when things inevitably went wrong—as they often do when you’re learning—they helped me work out why.

That support made all the difference.

From First Flush to Real Progress

Since then, I’ve had consistent success using their inject-and-forget bags (although I’d advise not totally forgetting them). Their monotubs are excellent, and the larger king-size monotubs in particular offer a generous growing surface that makes a real difference to yields.

More importantly, using reliable equipment gave me the confidence to keep going, keep learning, and keep improving.

Coming Full Circle

When I started Everything Mushroom, I reached out to Martian Mushrooms without really expecting a reply. To my surprise, they got back to me—and that conversation turned into a partnership.

Today, I’m genuinely proud to be able to offer their products directly through the Everything Mushroom shop.

What began as a small garage-based operation around five years ago has grown into one of the largest mushroom growing supply companies in the UK. More than that, they remain one of the kindest, most knowledgeable, and most supportive.

Passing It On

My hope is to return the generosity and knowledge that was given to me—to help others avoid the same early mistakes, and to make mushroom growing feel accessible rather than intimidating.

Whether you’re looking for grow kits, spores, substrates, monotubs, or simply the confidence to get started, you don’t have to figure it all out alone.

We all start somewhere. This was my start.