Beginners almost always wait too long to harvest their mushrooms. Mushrooms tell you when they're ready — you just need to learn the signs. Most gilled species are best picked when the caps are half to two-thirds open, edges still curled under, before any spore dust appears below. Oyster clusters twist off whole at the base; shiitake are better cut with a clean blade. The window is short — often just a day or two — so a quick daily check matters once pins start forming. I've l … read more