Sarah Brown
Mushroom compost, also known as spent mushroom substrate or SMS, is a nutrient-rich soil additive that is generated from the process of mushroom farming. Madisonville, Texas, is home to one of ten Monterey Mushrooms farms, which sits on over 100 acres of land and employs almost 700 Texans. The farm produces about 400,000 pounds of white mushrooms and 92,000 pounds of brown mushrooms weekly, and the leftover compost is made available to the public for gardening and landscaping projects.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Madisonville, Texas |
| Mushroom Compost Source | Monterey Mushrooms |
| Price | $10 |
| Weight per Cubic Yard | 800-1500 lbs |
| Minimum Charge | $45 for less than 3 yards |
| Composition | Wheat straw, stable bedding, sources of nitrogen, and other organic materials |
| Pasteurization Process | Yes |
| High Salt Levels | Yes |
| Additional Composting/Amending Needed for Home Projects | Yes |
| Sustainable Practices | Reuse of water, recycling of secondary and tertiary agricultural products |
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What You'll Learn
Monterey Mushrooms in Madisonville, Texas
Mushroom compost, often called "spent mushroom substrate" or "SMS", is a popular soil additive. It is rich in essential plant nutrients, active minerals, and organic matter, improving water retention in the soil.
Monterey Mushrooms prioritises sustainable farming practices and quality assurance, resulting in a consistent supply of fresh, flavourful mushrooms. The company also contributes to a greener agricultural landscape through its commitment to innovation and environmental stewardship. Their dedication to precision and care in their operations has established them as a trusted source of superior mushrooms in the region.
In addition to its mushroom production, Monterey Mushrooms offers excess spent compost to the public for gardening and landscaping projects. This compost, made from various materials like wheat straw, nitrogen sources, and other organic matter, contains high salt levels and may need further composting for home projects. The compost is loaded into customers' vehicles, with a minimum charge of $45 for less than 3 yards of compost.
The Texas Mushroom Festival, held in Madisonville since 2002, showcases the farm-to-fork journey of mushrooms. Monterey Mushrooms has actively participated in the festival, serving mushroom dishes and displaying growing trays to educate the community about mushroom cultivation.
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Pasteurization and planting
Mushroom compost, often called "spent mushroom substrate" or SMS, is a great additive to soil. It provides essential plant nutrients, active minerals, and organic matter, and it improves the water retention of the soil. Many people in Texas use mushroom compost from Monterey Mushroom in Madisonville. The company spends 23 days making its compost from secondary and tertiary agricultural products like straw, racehorse bedding, and regionally available sources of nitrogen. These materials would otherwise be sent to landfills or incinerated.
After the mushrooms are harvested, the leftover compost is heated to kill any weed seeds and diseases. This process is called pasteurization, and it renders the compost safe to be reintroduced to the soil. The pasteurized compost can then be used as food for a new batch of mushrooms.
Kitchen Pride Mushroom Farms sells mushroom compost by the cubic yard, with a minimum charge of $45 for less than 3 yards. The weight of the compost can vary depending on its age and moisture content, ranging from 800 to 1,500 pounds per cubic yard. Customers are advised to tell the tractor operator how much compost their vehicle can hold to avoid overloading.
Mushroom compost can be used to amend soil in gardens, lawns, and crop fields, especially in areas with nutrient-poor native soil. It is recommended to mix about 10-15% spent compost into the soil. However, due to its high salt levels, mushroom compost may need to be further composted or amended before use in home projects. One way to do this is to spread the compost over a garden site and till it into the top 6 inches of the soil. For raised beds, some gardeners add nothing but mushroom compost to grow an abundance of tomatoes all year. Others mix three parts twice-ground pine bark with one part mushroom compost to grow a variety of quality plants.
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Sustainable farming practices
One of their key practices is the utilisation of secondary and tertiary agricultural products as compost ingredients. Instead of letting materials like straw and racehorse bedding go to waste in landfills or incineration, Monterey Mushrooms repurposes them as essential components of their mushroom compost. This practice not only reduces waste but also enriches the compost with sources of nitrogen, ensuring a diverse range of nutrient sources.
The spent mushroom substrate, or SMS, resulting from mushroom growth is also put to good use. After the mushrooms are harvested, the remaining substrate is recycled and used to amend the soil in other industries, such as landscaping and row crop farming. This compost improves water retention and adds essential plant nutrients, active minerals, and organic matter to the soil.
Monterey Mushrooms also prioritises water conservation. Their compost wharves are strategically sloped to divert water to catch basins, enabling the reuse of water throughout the composting process. This recycled water is collected on their compost wharf, demonstrating a sustainable and resourceful approach to water management.
Additionally, Monterey Mushrooms offers its excess spent compost to the public for gardening and landscaping projects. This compost, often referred to as "mushroom manure," is available for purchase and can greatly benefit home gardens and lawns, especially in areas with nutrient-poor soil. However, due to its high salt levels, this compost may need to be further amended for certain home projects.
Overall, Monterey Mushrooms' sustainable farming practices in Madisonville, Texas, showcase a commitment to environmental responsibility and the effective utilisation of resources, contributing to a more eco-friendly approach to mushroom farming and compost production.
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Cost and pickup
The cost of mushroom compost from Monterey Mushroom in Madisonville, Texas, is $10.00, although the price may increase as the season continues. A full-size pickup truck can hold 2 yards of compost, with a minimum charge of $45 for less than 3 yards. The weight of the compost can vary depending on its age and moisture content, ranging from 800 to 1,500 lbs per cubic yard.
Kitchen Pride Mushroom Farms also sells mushroom compost, although their pricing information is not readily available.
Monterey Mushroom occasionally has excess spent compost that the public is invited to use for gardening and landscaping projects. This compost is available for pickup at their farms, although due to the COVID-19 pandemic, visitor access and compost pickup were temporarily suspended.
Mushroom compost is made by using secondary and tertiary agricultural products like straw, stable or racehorse bedding, and sources of nitrogen that are available regionally. The pasteurization process renders the compost free of weed seeds and diseases when reintroduced to the soil. It is a wonderful soil additive, providing essential plant nutrients, active minerals, organic matter, and improving water retention. However, it is important to note that mushroom compost contains high salt levels, and for most home projects, it will need to be further composted or amended.
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Using mushroom compost
Mushroom compost is a by-product of the edible mushroom industry and is often sold cheaply in bulk. It is a useful soil conditioner and mulch, enhancing the structure of your soil and providing nutrients for healthy plants. It is slightly alkaline and contains high levels of soluble salts, so it is not suitable for use as a potting compost or for growing seeds or cuttings. It is also not suitable for acid-loving or ericaceous plants, like rhododendrons, azaleas, and camellias, as these plants need acidic growing conditions and are chalk-hating.
Mushroom compost is made from a blend of composted straw and well-rotted animal manure, usually horse and chicken manure. It is composted for about 30 days at 160 degrees Fahrenheit to kill weed seeds, pests, and disease pathogens, and then steam-pasteurized at about 140 degrees Fahrenheit to kill any remaining pests and pathogens. The medium is then inoculated with mushroom spawn or mycelium and covered with sphagnum moss and ground limestone to support mushroom growth.
When using mushroom compost, it is important to mix it with soil rather than using it as the sole growth medium. For potted plants, only a thin layer of mushroom compost should be applied, and adequate drainage is necessary due to the high nutrient salt content. It can be used as a mulch, spreading a 5-centimetre layer on flower beds, herbaceous and shrub borders, and around young trees and specimen shrubs. It can also be used to improve waterlogged or clay soils, as well as light, free-draining soils.
Mushroom compost is available from retailers in large bags, bulk bags, or loose loads and can be delivered. Some mushroom farms also offer excess spent compost to the public for use in gardening and landscaping projects, although a pickup fee may apply. When using mushroom compost, it is recommended to let it rest before planting, as it can be too "hot" for certain plants if used too fresh.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushroom compost, also known as "spent mushroom substrate" or SMS, is the leftover material after mushrooms are harvested. It is made up of various materials, including wheat straw, hay, straw, and poultry or horse manure. Mushroom compost is rich in nutrients and minerals, making it an excellent medium for gardening and landscaping.
The Madisonville mushroom farm, owned by Monterey Mushrooms, sits on over 100 acres and produces about 400,000 pounds of white mushrooms and 92,000 pounds of brown mushrooms weekly. They create mushroom compost using secondary and tertiary agricultural products like straw, racehorse bedding, and regionally available sources of nitrogen. After the mushrooms are harvested, the spent compost is heated to render it free of weed seeds and diseases before being reused in the soil.
Mushroom compost is a wonderful soil additive that provides essential plant nutrients, active minerals, and organic matter. It improves water retention in the soil and promotes sustainable soil practices. Mushroom compost is also known for its high salt levels, so caution must be exercised when using it directly on plants.
You can purchase mushroom compost directly from the Monterey Mushrooms farm in Madisonville. They occasionally have excess spent compost that the public is invited to use for gardening and landscaping projects. A pickup fee may apply, and you will need a vehicle capable of transporting the compost, such as a pickup truck or trailer.
The cost of mushroom compost can vary depending on the quantity purchased and its age and moisture content. Kitchen Pride Mushroom Farms, for example, charges a minimum of $45 for less than 3 cubic yards of compost. The weight of compost can range from 800 to 1,500 pounds per cubic yard. It is recommended to call or email ahead during the spring season as their compost yard can get very busy.
