Speaking from over 20 years of growing gourmet mushrooms (and wildcrafting), I would say that fall is NOT a good time to start mushroom projects, at least in the Pacific Northwest where I live. In fact, I've had several failures trying to start mushroom projects in the fall. Mid-fall is when the colorful catalogs from
Fungi Perfecti arrive and I would order various kits from them, none of which grew mushrooms, partially because the spawn did not have the right outdoor temperatures for rapid growth. In the Northwest, the fall is the best time to HARVEST most mushrooms from the wild and to haul wild oyster mushroom logs back to your
yard for extended harvests.
From my
experience, I would say that late winter and early spring are the best times to start mushroom projects, at least where I live. For example, late last winter, I ordered a bunch of spawn from Field & Forest products. I started the projects in mid-spring and I successfully grew oyster mushrooms and winecap stropharia on
wood chips outside this summer. I also grew almond agaricus (delicious!) on leached cow manure
compost in boxes inside my house this summer and had great success as well. In fact, I've got a another batch fruiting upstairs right now. Late winter/ early spring is also the best time to cut hardwood
trees for log culture for shiitake and oysters.
Morels can be started outdoors this time of year from spawn in the NW, but keep in mind that the success rate for growing morels by beginners is not very good, no matter when you start them.
Results can vary depending where you live. The fall might be a good time to start some mushroom projects in Hawaii or Florida, for example. Good luck!
2
