The morphology and growth rate of over 70 strains of 20 species of edible and medicinal mushrooms from the culture collection of N.G. Kholodny Institute of Botany, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine were studied on 5 agar media. The optimal incubation time, temperature, and suitable media were determined for each culture. One natural and three synthetic liquid media with mineral and organic nitrogen sources were also tested. The effect of medium pH on the mycelial growth was determined by using phosphate buffers with pH values between 3.0 - 8.0. In each stage of inoculum preparation we used physiologically active mycelia. Factors affecting mycelial growth of some medicinal mushrooms in submerged culture were investigated. Inoculum size and composition and nutrient medium pH were important for maximising growth rate and biomass yield and minimising the duration of the lag phase of growth. Techniques for laboratory scale submerged culture of some medicinal mushrooms including Agrocybe aegerita (Brit.) Sing., Auricularia auricula (Bull.) Wettst., Flammulina velutipes (Curt.: Fr.) P.Karst., Ganoderma lucidum (Curt.: Fr.) P.Karst., Grifola frondosa (Dicks.: Fr.) S.F. Gray, Hypsizygus marmoreus (Bull.: Fries) Singer, Lentinula edodes (Berk.) Sing., Piptoporus betulinus (Bull.: Fr.) Karst., Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.: Fr.) Kumm. and others were determined.