Introduction to Mushroom Cultivation
A practical first step into growing edible mushrooms, from fungal biology and substrates to fruiting, harvest and common beginner mistakes.
Programme identification
- 1.1Programme name
- Introduction to Mushroom Cultivation
- 1.2Type of qualification
- Course
- 1.3Provider / endorsing institution
- Fungaris – International Institute of Mycology, School of Mushroom Cultivation & Production. A Fungaris programme of its own, not endorsed by a university.
- 1.4Mode of study
- Online, with live sessions in a small group, recordings and a virtual campus.
- 1.5Duration (hours / ECTS credits)
- 3 months (12 weeks) · 72 hours in total · 6 modules of 12 hours · 12 live sessions of 2 hours. ECTS credits: not applicable (Fungaris own programme, not an official university degree).
- 1.6Language
- English
- 1.7Start and end dates / intake
- Next intake: 11 January 2027 to 2 April 2027. Enrolment closes on 4 January 2027. Following intake: 8 March 2027. How intakes work →
Overview
2.1Programme description
Introduction to Mushroom Cultivation is the starting point for anyone who wants to grow edible mushrooms with understanding rather than guesswork. Over six live modules you learn how fungi feed and grow, how a culture becomes spawn and then a fruiting block, and why hygiene decides whether a grow succeeds. The course compares common substrates and containers, explains the fruiting conditions that oyster mushrooms and other forgiving species need, and works through the mistakes beginners make most often.
Interest in home-grown and locally produced mushrooms keeps rising, yet much of the advice found online is contradictory. Taught by working growers, this course replaces that noise with a clear, tested framework. It suits complete beginners, hobby gardeners and anyone weighing a small growing project before investing in equipment. For the final project you plan and document your first grow, covering species, substrate, container, hygiene routine, fruiting set-up and harvest log, and your professor reviews it with practical feedback before you begin.
2.2Why it matters / what need it meets
It meets a practical need: applied, up-to-date knowledge in cultivation, useful in areas such as Home and hobby horticulture, Small-scale agriculture, Community and educational gardening, Local food production.
Mycology is moving fast and good practical training is still scarce. This programme gives you a structured path, taught live by people who work in the field, so you can apply what you learn with judgement and safety.
Objectives and competences
3.1General objective
To finish the programme able to apply its content professionally and with judgement. In short:
A practical first step into growing edible mushrooms, from fungal biology and substrates to fruiting, harvest and common beginner mistakes.
3.2Specific objectives
- Build the foundations: Fungal Biology for Growers; The Mushroom Life Cycle.
- Put them into practice: Spawn, Substrates and Containers; Hygiene and Contamination Basics.
- Apply everything to a real case: Fruiting Conditions and Harvest; Planning Your First Grow.
- Complete a final project reviewed by your professor.
3.3Competences you will gain
- Explain the mushroom life cycle from spore to fruiting body.
- Choose a suitable beginner species, spawn type and substrate.
- Prepare and inoculate a simple bucket or bag grow.
- Apply basic hygiene to reduce contamination in small grows.
- Set up fruiting conditions and harvest mushrooms at the right stage.
Student profile
4.1Who it is for (entry profile)
Beginners and hobby growers.
4.2Entry requirements
No prior knowledge is needed. A kitchen, a few buckets or bags and basic household tools are enough to follow the practical exercises.
4.3Career paths (exit profile)
- Hobby grower producing mushrooms for home use
- Small-scale grower supplying friends and local markets
- Assistant on a gourmet mushroom farm
- Community garden or school growing project coordinator
- Food entrepreneur testing a mushroom product idea
Outcomes depend on your experience and on your local market.
Study plan
5.1Overall structure (modules and workload)
| Module | Title | Phase | Topics | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Fungal Biology for Growers | Foundations | 3 | 12 |
| 02 | The Mushroom Life Cycle | Foundations | 3 | 12 |
| 03 | Spawn, Substrates and Containers | Practice | 3 | 12 |
| 04 | Hygiene and Contamination Basics | Practice | 3 | 12 |
| 05 | Fruiting Conditions and Harvest | Application & project | 3 | 12 |
| 06 | Planning Your First Grow | Application & project | 3 | 12 |
| Total | 72 |
6 modules × 12 hours = 72 hours: 24 hours of live sessions, and the rest for campus study, exercises and the final project.
5.2Content by module
Hover or tap a module to follow the path from the first session to the final project. Open a module to see the topics it covers.
- What fungi are and how they feed
- Mycelium structure and growth
- Edible species suited to beginners
- From spore to mycelium
- Colonisation and primordia formation
- Fruiting body development and spore release
- Grain spawn versus sawdust spawn
- Straw, sawdust and coffee-ground substrates
- Bags, buckets and tubs compared
- Where contaminants come from
- Simple cleaning and handling routines
- Recognising green mould and bacterial spoilage
- Humidity, fresh air and light
- Simple fruiting chambers
- When and how to harvest
- Choosing a species and method
- Building a timeline and shopping list
- Keeping a grow log
5.3Company placement
This programme does not include a company placement. Practice is built into every module through exercises, case studies and the final project.
5.4Final project
A documented plan for a first home grow, including species choice, substrate, hygiene routine, fruiting set-up and harvest log template.
Methodology
6.1How it is taught
- Live online sessions, usually weekly, with a working professional and a small group.
- Recordings of every session, so you can catch up if work or time zones get in the way.
- Exercises and real case studies in every module.
- Tutoring: your professor answers questions and gives feedback on your exercises and project.
6.2Platform and resources
A Moodle virtual campus with session recordings, readings, exercises and forums for each module. You need a computer, an up-to-date browser and a stable connection; a webcam and microphone are recommended.
Technical requirements →6.3Estimated weekly workload
About 6 hours a week for 12 weeks: one 2-hour live session on a weekday evening, plus study and exercises on the campus at your own pace.
Assessment
7.1Assessment system and weighting
Progress is assessed through participation in live sessions and short exercises after each module. The final project is reviewed by the professor with written feedback.
7.2Requirements to pass
- Complete every module, by attending the live sessions or watching the recordings.
- Hand in the module exercises.
- Have your final project approved by your professor.
Teaching team
8.1Academic direction
The Cultivation at Fungaris coordinates the content and quality of this programme. The academic director of each intake is named in the intake guide.
8.2Faculty
Taught by professionals who work in the field. The professor of each intake is confirmed before the start.
Meet our faculty →Certificate
9.1Certificate awarded
Course Certificate
On completing the programme and its project, Fungaris issues a Course Certificate. Accreditations are assessed according to the training completed and the local regulations of each country.
9.2Issuing body / recognition
Issued by Fungaris (operated by Nexora Generation, S.L.) as a digital certificate. It is a Fungaris certificate of its own: it is not an official university degree and does not award ECTS credits.
About our certificates →Admission and enrolment
10.1Admission process (steps)
- Send your request through the form or write to admissions.
- Admissions reviews your profile and confirms the start date, the session schedule and the fee.
- You secure your place with full payment or a 40% reservation.
- You receive your campus access and welcome guide before the first session.
10.2Documents required
- A valid identity document.
- Contact and billing details (personal or company).
10.3Deadlines
Enrolment for the intake starting on 11 January 2027 is open until 4 January 2027, or until the group is full (maximum 20 students).
10.4Fee and payment options
Fee: £340
- Full payment before the start: £272 (20% reduction).
- 40% reservation (£136) and 3 monthly instalments of £68.
10.5Grants, discounts and funding
Discounts: 10% for Fungaris alumni and 15% for groups of three or more people from the same organisation. Discounts cannot be combined with each other or with the full-payment reduction.
Your employer can pay for the programme and receive the invoice in the company name. Whether a public or employer training budget can cover the fee depends on your country, so check with them.
10.6Cancellation policy
The conditions for cancelling, withdrawing or moving to a later intake are explained in our cancellation policy and in your enrolment confirmation. Nothing there limits your rights under the consumer law that applies to you.
Cancellation and refunds →Additional information
11.1Frequently asked questions
Do I need experience to study Introduction to Mushroom Cultivation?
No prior knowledge is needed. A kitchen, a few buckets or bags and basic household tools are enough to follow the practical exercises.
How is Introduction to Mushroom Cultivation taught?
Live online, in 6 modules with a working professional, a small group and a final project.
How am I assessed?
Progress is assessed through participation in live sessions and short exercises after each module. The final project is reviewed by the professor with written feedback.
What is the final project?
A documented plan for a first home grow, including species choice, substrate, hygiene routine, fruiting set-up and harvest log template.
What certificate do I get?
On completing the programme and its project, Fungaris issues a Course Certificate. Accreditations are assessed according to the training completed and the local regulations of each country.
What can I study after Introduction to Mushroom Cultivation?
The natural next step is Diploma in Gourmet Mushroom Production.
11.2Alumni testimonials
We only publish verified testimonials from real students. This programme does not have any published yet; they will appear here once its first intakes finish.
11.3Admissions contact
Write to info@fungaris.institute or use the contact form. Admissions answers in your language.
Read before you start.
CultivationHow to Grow Shiitake on Logs: A Step-by-Step Outdoor GuideLog-grown shiitake takes patience, but a well-made stack of logs can fruit for several years. Here is how to do it step by step, from cutting wood to harvest.Read the article 
CultivationHow to Grow Oyster Mushrooms at Home: Step-by-Step GuideOyster mushrooms are the most forgiving gourmet species to grow. This step-by-step guide takes you from straw and spawn to your first harvest, and on to a small farm.Read the article Keep branching.
From our species guide.
Join the next intake.
Pay in full with a 20% reduction, or reserve your place with 40% and pay the rest in monthly instalments. All prices are stated in pounds sterling (GBP).