What to grow?

Oyster mushrooms have a delicate flavour and soft, velvety texture. They cook quickly so are great in stir-fries or soups, or sautéed with spring onions and garlic, and are easy to grow. Straw kit with spawn, breathable bag of straw and tie, £16.99 Dobies 0844 967 0303; www.dobies.co.uk Book spawn. Pour boiling water over a thick old book and add spawn, £9.99 for 50g spawn Suttons 0844 326 2200; www.suttons.co.uk

Chestnut mushrooms are a dark-capped, strong-flavoured mushroom that’s great eaten raw or cooked in omelettes and casseroles. Windowsill kit with tray, lid and pre-spawned substrate, £9.99 Dobies 0844 967 0303; www.dobies.co.uk Ready-growing kit with teeny ‘pinhead stage’ mushrooms, £9.65 Merryhill Mushrooms 01903 743238; www.merryhill-mushrooms.co.uk

Shiitake mushrooms have a meaty texture and a smoky rich flavour. Use stems in stocks and caps in stir-fries and pasta dishes. Ready-prepared kits are a major advantage since shiitake are slower to grow, £12.45 Merryhill Mushrooms 01903 743238; www.merryhill-mushrooms.co.uk Windowsill kit with tray, lid and pre-spawned substrate, £9.99 Dobies 0844 967 0303; www.dobies.co.uk