Sarah Brown
Mushrooms are fungi, which are unique organisms that are neither plants nor animals. Unlike plants, they do not photosynthesize and cannot produce their own food. Instead, they obtain nutrients from other organic material. Mushrooms are grown in a variety of ways, including on logs, in beds filled with sterilized sawdust and compost, and in large plastic bags filled with sterilized sawdust and wood chips. The growing cycle for mushrooms is six weeks, with the first three weeks spent growing the vegetative part of the fungus, called the mycelium, and the last three weeks spent picking mushrooms and letting them regrow. Mushrooms are harvested by hand and require a warm, humid environment to grow.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Growing medium | Synthetic compost consisting of wheat or rye straw, hay, crushed corn cobs, cottonseed meal, cocoa shells, and gypsum |
| Manure-based compost made from stable bedding from horse stables or poultry litter | |
| Growing method | Large plastic bags filled with sterilized sawdust and wood chips |
| Logs | |
| Traditional beds | |
| Growing cycle | 6 weeks |
| First 3 weeks | Growing the vegetative part of the fungus, called the mycelium |
| Last 3 weeks | Picking mushrooms and letting them grow to pick again |
| Harvesting | By hand |
| Trolley | Equipped with a built-in knife and weigh scale |
| Basket weight | 5 pounds (2 kg) |
| Environment | Warm and humid |
| Evaporation | Required for growth |
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What You'll Learn
Mushrooms are fungi, not plants or animals
Mushrooms are fungi, a unique group of organisms that are neither plants nor animals. Fungi are eukaryotic organisms, meaning they are made up of cells with a nucleus bound by a membrane, a feature shared with plants and animals. However, fungi differ from plants and animals in several ways. Unlike plants, they do not photosynthesize and cannot produce their own food. Instead, they are heterotrophs, obtaining nutrients from other organic material, often from other organisms. While animals also obtain nutrients from other organisms, they ingest and then digest their food. In contrast, fungi secrete digestive enzymes into their environment and then absorb the released nutrients.
Fungi also differ from plants in terms of their cell walls, which contain chitin, a compound found in the exoskeletons of arthropods like beetles and crabs. This is why mushrooms should be cooked before consumption. The presence of chitin in the cell walls of fungi also distinguishes them from animals.
The process of growing mushrooms involves creating a specific environment that differs significantly from the conditions required for plant growth. The basic growing medium for mushroom production is called a substrate, which is prepared by converting plant and animal products into decayed organic matter. Two types of starting material are typically used for mushroom substrate: synthetic compost made from wheat or rye straw, hay, crushed corn cobs, cottonseed meal, cocoa shells, and gypsum; or manure-based compost made from stable bedding or poultry litter. This substrate is then placed in stacked wooden trays or beds, mixed with spawn, and covered with a top layer, usually peat moss.
The temperature and humidity are carefully controlled throughout the growing period. After about three weeks, the first mushrooms are ready for harvest. The growing cycle for mushrooms is six weeks, with the first three weeks focused on growing the vegetative part of the fungus, called the mycelium, and the last three weeks spent picking mushrooms and allowing them to grow again. Mushrooms mature at different rates, so hand-picking is continuous for two to three weeks. The harvester grabs the mushroom, twists it upwards, trims the stem, and places it in a basket. Each basket is filled with 5 pounds (2 kg) of mushrooms before being replaced with an empty basket for continued harvesting.
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Common commercial growing methods
Mushrooms are fungi and require different conditions and equipment to grow than plants. The most common commercial method for growing mushrooms is inside large plastic bags filled with sterilized sawdust and wood chips. Logs can also be used as a growing medium, providing a naturally sterile, sustainable, and self-replenishing option. However, this method is less common due to the time and resources required to source and prepare the logs.
Another method used by some commercial growers is to use traditional beds filled with sterilized sawdust and compost. This method is similar to growing mushrooms in plastic bags, but it reduces the amount of plastic waste generated. The beds are typically made of wood and stacked to optimize space. The pasteurized substrate (a mixture of decayed organic matter, such as wheat or rye straw, hay, and manure) is placed in the beds, and the mushroom spawn is mixed in. A top layer, usually peat moss, is then applied.
The growing cycle for mushrooms is about six weeks. The first three weeks are spent growing the mycelium, the vegetative part of the fungus, and the last three weeks are spent picking mushrooms and letting them grow again. Temperature and humidity are carefully controlled throughout the growing period, and mushrooms are harvested by hand in stages or flushes. After the first flush, the mushrooms are left to rest for a few days before being picked again.
To speed up the fruiting process, some growers use a technique called "shocking," where inoculated bolts are soaked for a day or two to force them to fruit sooner. This method is commonly used for shiitake mushrooms to guarantee a continuous harvest throughout the growing season.
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The role of temperature and humidity
Mushrooms are fungi, and unlike plants, they require different conditions to grow. The most common method for growing mushrooms commercially is to use large plastic bags filled with sterilized sawdust and wood chips. This method helps to retain moisture and replicate natural conditions. Logs can also be used to grow mushrooms and are a more sustainable option.
Throughout the growing period, humidity is carefully controlled along with temperature. Mushrooms need an evaporative environment to thrive. Canadian mushroom farmers have invested in new technology to enhance productivity, quality, and food safety. They have implemented separate packing and storage rooms with refrigeration and vacuum coolers, distinct from the growing rooms.
The substrate, or growing medium, also plays a vital role in mushroom production. It consists of synthetic compost made from plant and animal products or manure-based compost. The substrate is pasteurized and placed in stacked wooden trays or beds, with spawn mixed in and a top layer of peat moss. From this stage, it takes about three weeks to harvest the first mushrooms.
Overall, temperature and humidity are crucial factors in mushroom cultivation. By controlling these conditions and utilizing appropriate growing mediums, farmers can successfully grow and harvest mushrooms year-round.
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Harvesting and packing
Once the mushrooms are ready for harvesting, they are picked by hand. The base of the mushroom is trimmed, and the clean, mature mushroom is placed in a basket. Used bulb crates are a great option for harvesting mushrooms, and if possible, harvesting directly into the final packaging can save time and minimize handling. After picking, the mushrooms are cooled immediately. They are then stored at 1 degree Celsius all the time to maintain the cold chain and prevent decomposition. If stored in a paper bag in a refrigerator, they can last for 7 to 10 days, while they last 3 to 4 days in a special bag at the same temperature.
After harvesting, the mushrooms are conveyed to a spiral belt, which uses cooling technology to bring the mushrooms down to 1 degree Celsius at their core. The mushrooms are then packed in breathable pulp trays for better aeration and shipped to market as soon as possible. If they are not sold as fresh products, they can be preserved by drying, canning, or freezing.
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The science of mushroom substrate
Mushrooms are fungi, a unique group of organisms that are neither plants nor animals. Fungi obtain nutrients from other organic material, secreting digestive enzymes into their environment and then absorbing the nutrients released. This is distinct from animals, which ingest and then digest their food.
Mushrooms require different conditions to grow than plants, and so need different facilities and equipment for commercial growth. The most common method for growing mushrooms is inside large plastic bags filled with sterilized sawdust and wood chips. This method replicates the natural conditions in which mushrooms grow. Logs can also be used, providing a growing medium that is naturally sterile and, when responsibly sourced, is sustainable and self-replenishing.
The basic growing medium for mushroom production is called a substrate. Two types of starting material are generally used for mushroom substrate: synthetic compost consisting of wheat or rye straw, hay, crushed corn cobs, cottonseed meal, cocoa shells and gypsum, or manure-based compost made from stable bedding from horse stables or poultry litter. This process converts plant and animal products into a mixture of decayed organic matter that is necessary for growing mushrooms.
In the growing house, the pasteurized substrate is placed in stacked, wooden trays or beds, and the spawn is mixed in and a top layer (usually of peat moss) is applied. From this point, it takes about three weeks to produce the first mushrooms for harvest. Throughout the growing period, temperature and humidity are carefully controlled. Mushrooms mature at varying times, so they are all picked by hand. The growing cycle for mushrooms is six weeks, with the first three weeks spent growing the vegetative part of the fungus, called the mycelium, and the last three weeks spent picking mushrooms and letting them grow to pick again.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushrooms are fungi, which means they are not plants or animals but unique organisms. Fungi do not photosynthesize like plants, so they cannot produce their own food. Instead, they obtain nutrients from other organic material.
Mushrooms are made from a mixture of decayed organic matter. The basic growing medium for mushroom production is called a substrate. Two types of starting material are generally used for mushroom substrate: synthetic compost consisting of wheat or rye straw, hay, crushed corn cobs, cottonseed meal, cocoa shells and gypsum, or manure-based compost made from stable bedding from horse stables or poultry litter.
The growing cycle for mushrooms is six weeks. The first three weeks are spent growing the vegetative part of the fungus, called the mycelium. The last three weeks are spent picking mushrooms and letting them grow to pick again.
The most common method for growing mushrooms is inside large plastic bags filled with sterilized sawdust and wood chips. These bags retain moisture and help replicate natural conditions. Another method is to grow mushrooms in logs, which has been used for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Logs provide a growing medium that is naturally sterile and, when responsibly sourced, is sustainable and self-replenishing.
Mushrooms are harvested by hand. The harvester will have a trolley equipped with a built-in knife and weigh scale. The mushroom is picked by grabbing hold of it and twisting upwards. The stem is then trimmed, and the mushroom is placed into a basket on a scale.
