Monotub Grow Kits

Q: What size monotub kit should I start with?

For your first grow, the 28Q or 44Q is the sweet spot — large enough to produce a real harvest, small enough to manage and store easily. Move up to the 66Q once you have completed a successful grow and want bigger flushes.

Q: How long does it take to grow mushrooms in a monotub?

Typical timeline: 2 to 4 weeks for full colonization, then 7 to 14 days from introducing fruiting conditions to harvesting your first flush. After that, expect a new flush every 7 to 14 days until the tub is exhausted.

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A monotub is the simplest, highest-yielding way to grow mushrooms at home — and a complete monotub grow kit takes the guesswork out of getting started. Everything you need ships in one box: a properly drilled and filtered tub, sterilized bulk substrate, colonized grain spawn, lighting, and step-by-step instructions.

Whether you're growing your first flush or scaling up production, our monotub kits are sized for every space and skill level. New growers can start with our compact 28Q or proven 44Q kits. Experienced growers move up to the Complete 66Q kit for bigger flushes, or the MycoClimate 44Q Automated Kit for hands-off temperature and air exchange control.

New to growing? Read our step-by-step monotub grow guide or browse the 2026 grow kit comparison to find the right fit.

How to Choose the Right Monotub Grow Kit

Monotub kits look similar from the outside, but the right size and type depends on your space, your experience level, and how much mushroom you actually want to harvest. Here's how to pick.

Brand-new to mushroom growing

Start with a smaller kit. The 28Q or 44Q monotub kits are easier to manage, fit on a shelf or in a closet, and use less substrate — meaning a smaller loss if your first grow doesn't go perfectly. They still produce real harvests (the 44Q regularly yields a pound or more of fresh mushrooms per flush), and the techniques you learn transfer directly to larger setups later.

If you want the absolute easiest entry point, the All-in-One Monotub Starter Kit combines a pre-inoculated substrate bag with a monotub — just wait for colonization and harvest. No mixing, no spawning, no separate steps.

Comfortable with the basics and want bigger harvests

Move up to the Complete 66Q Monotub Kit. It uses more grain spawn and substrate, produces noticeably larger flushes, and gives mycelium more room to colonize before pinning. Most experienced growers eventually settle on the 66Q as their go-to size.

You don't want to babysit temperature or fresh air

Standard monotubs work, but they require manual fanning, daily misting, and a stable room temperature. The MycoClimate Automated Monotub Kit handles temperature and fresh air exchange automatically — useful if your grow space gets cold in winter, hot in summer, or if you travel and can't fan twice a day.

What's actually inside a complete monotub kit

Every Midwest Grow Kits monotub kit includes everything you need to inoculate and fruit, except your culture (spores or liquid culture, sold separately). A typical kit contains:

Pre-drilled, pre-filtered monotub with lid
Sterilized bulk substrate (CVG or similar) sized to the tub
Colonized grain spawn or sterilized grain ready for inoculation
LED grow light with dual-spectrum diodes
Printed instructions and access to step-by-step grow guides

If you'd rather assemble your own setup, browse monotubs by themselves, grain spawn, and bulk substrate bags separately.

What you'll need in addition to a kit

A kit gives you the hardware and substrate. You'll also need:

A liquid culture syringe or spore syringe in your chosen species — see our full mushroom genetics selection
Isopropyl alcohol (70%) for sanitizing
A clean space to inoculate — a still air box works for most growers
Room temperature around 70–75°F for colonization (the MycoClimate kit handles this for you)

Frequently Asked Questions About Monotub Grow Kits

What is a monotub and why use one?

A monotub is a plastic tub modified with filtered holes that creates the humid, oxygenated environment mushrooms need to fruit. It's the most popular bulk growing method because it's cheap, scalable, and produces large flushes with minimal effort once set up. A complete monotub grow kit removes the modification and sourcing work — everything arrives ready to use.

How much mushroom will I harvest from a monotub kit?

Yields vary based on species, genetics, and conditions, but a healthy 44Q monotub typically produces 1–2 pounds of fresh mushrooms across multiple flushes. A 66Q can produce 2–4+ pounds over the life of the tub. Most monotubs produce two to four flushes before they're exhausted.

What size monotub kit should I start with?

For your first grow, the 28Q or 44Q is the sweet spot — large enough to produce a real harvest, small enough to manage and store easily. Move up to the 66Q once you've completed a successful grow and want bigger flushes.

Do I need anything besides the kit to start growing?

Yes — a liquid culture or spore syringe in your chosen species, 70% isopropyl alcohol for sanitizing, and a stable room temperature around 70–75°F during colonization. The kit includes everything else: tub, substrate, spawn, lighting, and instructions.

What's the difference between a standard kit and the MycoClimate Automated Kit?

A standard monotub kit relies on you to maintain temperature and exchange fresh air manually (by fanning). The MycoClimate kit automates both — useful if your grow space has temperature swings or you can't be home twice a day to fan the tub.

How long does it take to grow mushrooms in a monotub?

Typical timeline: 2–4 weeks for full colonization, then 7–14 days from introducing fruiting conditions to harvesting your first flush. After that, expect a new flush every 7–14 days until the tub is exhausted. See the step-by-step monotub guide for a full breakdown.

Can I reuse a monotub for multiple grows?

Yes — after your tub is exhausted, dispose of the spent substrate, sanitize the tub thoroughly with bleach solution or isopropyl alcohol, replace the filter disks if needed, and run a fresh grow. With proper sanitation, monotubs can be reused indefinitely.

What's the difference between a monotub kit and an all-in-one grow bag?

An all-in-one bag contains substrate, grain spawn, and a built-in filter all in one sealed bag — you inject your culture and grow inside the bag. A monotub kit uses separate components (grain spawn mixed into bulk substrate inside a tub), which produces larger yields and gives you more control, but takes a few more steps to set up.