Shiitake and Lion's Mane Mushroom Farm Setup
Lentinula edodes & Hericium erinaceus
Premium block-based exotic mushrooms sharing identical infrastructure. Both target nutraceutical and HoReCa premium fresh markets.
Shiitake (Lentinula edodes)
Climate
- Spawn run temperature
- 22 to 26 deg C
- Spawn run humidity
- 65 to 70 percent
- Fruiting temperature
- Optimal 16 to 18 deg C, range 10 to 28 deg C
- Cold-shock trigger
- Temperature drop of 5 to 10 deg C required for fruiting
- Fruiting humidity
- 80 to 95 percent
- Fruiting CO2
- 800 to 1200 ppm
Substrate & Cycle
- Substrate
- 80 percent hardwood sawdust (oak, beech, maple) plus 20 percent wheat bran
- Sterilisation
- Autoclave at 121 deg C for 90 minutes in PP bags
- Cycle duration
- 90 to 120 days
- Flushes
- 3 to 5 per block
- Yield (BE)
- 25 to 30 percent biological efficiency on synthetic block
Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus)
Climate
- Spawn run temperature
- 18 to 24 deg C
- Spawn run humidity
- 85 to 95 percent
- Fruiting temperature
- 18 to 24 deg C (single zone)
- Fruiting humidity
- 85 to 95 percent
- Fruiting CO2
- 600 to 800 ppm (low CO2 tolerance, high fresh air exchange)
Substrate & Cycle
- Substrate
- Hardwood sawdust + wheat bran OR sunflower seed hulls + wheat bran
- Cycle duration
- 55 days (10 days first flush, 30 days second flush)
- Flushes
- 2 to 3 per block
- Yield (BE)
- Approximately 25 to 35 percent biological efficiency
Shared Infrastructure
- Vertical autoclave 100 L (cost in capex range)
- Spawn lab with laminar flow cabinet
- Block-based vertical racks (replacing horizontal compost beds)
- Dual climate zones (incubation room and cold-shock fruiting room) for shiitake
- Standard footprint: 18 ft by 30 ft
Capex Estimate Range
Capex estimates are indicative ranges. Final quotation requires site-specific design and BOQ. GST 18 percent extra. Transport and civil work at actuals. Quote validity 5 days from issue date.
How This Compares to Button Mushroom
| Dimension | Button | Shiitake / Lion's Mane |
|---|---|---|
| Production model | Compost-based | Block-based on sterile sawdust |
| Spawn lab | Optional | Required (sterile) |
| Autoclave | Not required | Required (100 L vertical) |
| Cycle length | 55 to 60 days | 55 to 120 days |
| Market | Mass / mandi | HoReCa premium fresh + nutraceutical |
| Per-kg price | Standard | Significantly higher |
About Shiitake & Lion's Mane Cultivation in India
Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) and Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus) are premium block-based exotic mushrooms that share identical sterile-room infrastructure — which is why MushroomWale builds them as a single combined SKU. Both target HoReCa premium-fresh and nutraceutical buyers, where per-kg realisations are several times higher than button or oyster.
The production model is fundamentally different from compost-based mushrooms: substrate is hardwood sawdust plus wheat bran, sterilised in a 100 L vertical autoclave, inoculated in a sterile spawn lab using a laminar air flow cabinet, and incubated as solid blocks on vertical racks. Shiitake requires a 5 to 10 deg C cold-shock to trigger fruiting (90 to 120 day cycle), while Lion's Mane is single-zone at 18 to 24 deg C (55 day cycle).
Capex is Rs 9 to 14 lakh ex-GST for a complete 18 ft by 30 ft setup including dual-zone HVAC, autoclave, and laminar flow cabinet. The higher capex versus oyster is offset by significantly higher per-kg pricing and a more defensible market position — there are very few certified commercial producers in India.
Shiitake & Lion's Mane — Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions? Browse all varieties or contact our team.