Michael Davis
Mushrooms are unique organisms that are neither plants nor animals. They are a type of fungus that lives underground and grows in the same location year after year. Mushrooms reproduce by releasing thousands of spores into the environment, which, when they land in the right conditions, grow into white, stringy, root-like structures called hyphae or mycelium. The mycelium then fruits and produces the fungi, or the mushroom. This process can be replicated at home by setting up a mushroom fruiting chamber, which involves creating the right conditions of temperature, moisture, and darkness for the mycelium to fruit and produce mushrooms.
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What You'll Learn
Mushrooms are a type of fungus
Mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of fungi, which often live underground. They reproduce by releasing thousands of spores into the environment, each carrying unique genetics. These spores become mycelium, the cottony structures that produce the fungi. The mycelium remains intact below ground after the mushroom is picked, continuing to spread and producing more mushrooms.
The mushroom's mycelial network has been compared to a nervous system, acting as a biochemical conduit for interspecies communication between plants. Fungi contain chitin, a compound found in arthropod exoskeletons, and their cell walls are bound by a membrane, like plants and animals.
Fungi are incredibly biodiverse, with up to 12 million species. They can be grown at home, with the most challenging aspect being the creation of a fruiting chamber. Mushrooms can be grown from store-bought stems, which is quicker than starting from spores as the mycelium is already present.
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Mushrooms grow from spores
The first step in growing mushrooms from spores is to purchase spores from a reputable company with a short shipping time to ensure freshness. The next step is to prepare the substrate, which is the material that the spores will grow on. Different mushrooms grow better on different substrates, and the ideal conditions will vary for each type of mushroom. However, the most common substrate for home-growing is compost.
To prepare the compost substrate, fill a plastic tray with about 10 cm of compost, then distribute the spores on top. Mix it well and cover with a damp newspaper, ensuring that a little air can still get in. Keep the temperature around 23°C/73°F for the first 2-3 weeks. During this time, the spores will germinate and the mycelium will begin to grow.
Once the surface is covered with mycelium, remove the newspaper, wet the surface well, and then cover it with another layer of a different material called the casing. At this point, the mycelium is ready to fruit. To encourage fruiting, keep the environment moist and humid, with temperatures between 65 to 75 degrees F (18-23 C). After about two to four weeks, the mushrooms should be ready to harvest.
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Mushrooms can be cloned
Mushrooms can indeed be cloned, and it's a relatively simple process to perform at home. Cloning is a way to guarantee that the genetics of your culture will be the same as the original mushroom. This is in contrast to growing from spores, which is unpredictable as new strains can be formed.
To clone a mushroom, you will need a fresh, healthy mushroom fruiting body, ideally a relatively large one, as smaller mushrooms are harder to obtain clean tissue samples from. Wipe the mushroom with an alcohol-soaked cloth to clean it, and then tear it in half in a sterile environment. You will also need an agar plate, which is a petri dish containing a sterile nutrient-rich agar solution. The agar solution provides the nutrients required for the mycelium to grow in the sterile environment inside the petri dish. Place the mushroom tissue on the agar plate, and the cells will spring into action, propagating mycelium across the plate.
Cloning allows you to reproduce store-bought or homegrown mushrooms, saving you time and money. It can also be useful for growing mushrooms with hard-to-find spores or those with a low germination rate. However, it is important to note that cloning cannot be sustained indefinitely, as over time, genetic drift and senescence can lead to the weakening of the strain or loss of desirable traits.
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Mushrooms grow in specific locations
Mushrooms are fungi and require very different conditions to grow than plants. They grow from fungal spores that thrive in damp, dark, cool, and humid conditions. They require a medium that is high in decaying plant matter. They often spring directly from dead trees. Mushrooms can grow on many types of common materials, including kitty litter, cardboard boxes, straw, logs, wood chips, compost, and even on shelves.
Since mushrooms require different conditions to grow than plants, farmers need to invest in proper equipment and facilities. However, mushroom farming requires relatively little space, and they can be grown indoors, making them popular with urban farmers. Warehouses, former industrial spaces, and basements can become excellent mushroom farms.
When growing mushrooms from store-bought stems, the process is quicker because you don't need to rely on spores and can use the mycelium already on the fungi. To grow mushrooms, you can use trays filled with mushroom compost material and sprinkle spawn on top. Keep the soil moist by spritzing it with water and covering it with a damp cloth. Most mushrooms grow best between 55 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit, away from direct heat and drafts.
Different types of mushrooms have specific growing needs. For example, white button mushrooms must be grown on composted manure, shiitakes on wood or hardwood sawdust, and oyster mushrooms on straw. It is important to source mushroom spawn from a reputable seller to avoid any toxic mushrooms, as some mushrooms can be deadly.
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Mushrooms can be grown at home
Mushrooms are not plants, they are a kingdom of life all their own. They are nature's great recyclers, decomposing matter and turning it into nutrients that can be reused by plants and animals. They also take in carbon dioxide and convert it to carbon that is largely stored underground.
If you want to grow mushrooms from scratch, you'll need to create a mushroom fruiting chamber. This is the most difficult part of the process, but it doesn't have to be too complex. You'll also need mushroom "seeds", called spores, spawn, or inoculum. These need a moist, humid environment to become cottony structures called mycelium. The mycelium then "fruits" and produces the fungi.
When growing mushrooms at home, it is important to maintain a cool, moist, and well-ventilated environment. Most mushrooms fruit best at just below 70 degrees Fahrenheit, so a heated house in winter may slow growth. A cool basement or an unused room can be a good place to grow mushrooms. Mushrooms also need airflow, as they breathe more than people expect. While mushrooms need some humidity, too much can cause the fungi to rot.
Oyster mushrooms are a favorite for home growers as they are easy to cultivate and come in a wide variety of colors. They take to almost any type of food and require very little care. Lion's Mane is another good variety for beginners, as it grows fairly easily and offers some medicinal benefits.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushrooms are a type of fungus. They are neither plants nor animals. Fungi are unique organisms that obtain nutrients from other organic material.
Mushrooms grow from spores or tissue culture. Each mushroom releases thousands of spores into its environment, each carrying unique genetics. When a spore lands in the right environment, it germinates and sends out a small filamentous thread called a hypha.
Mushrooms often grow in the same location. This is because some mushrooms require a specific substrate, while others are generalists and can grow anywhere with decaying plant matter.
Yes, you can regrow mushrooms at home. The process is relatively simple, but setting up a mushroom fruiting chamber can be challenging. You can use store-bought mushroom stems, which is quicker than starting from spores as you can use the existing mycelium.
It takes around three to five weeks to grow mushrooms at home.
