Sarah Brown
Mushrooms are a fun and rewarding crop to grow at home, providing a great variety of nutrition and flavour. While they are not plants and do not require sunlight to grow, they are highly sensitive to their growing environment, and even slight deviations in temperature, humidity, or airflow can slow down growth. To successfully grow mushrooms, it is critical to ensure adequate management of starting ingredients and proper environmental conditions. The key to boosting mushroom growth lies in providing optimal conditions for the mushrooms to thrive, from the preparation of the substrate to spawn selection and environmental control.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Mushroom type | Oyster, Shiitake, Lion's Mane, Portobello, Maitake, Agaricus bisporus, Button |
| Growing medium | Compost, Manure, Coffee grounds, Straw, Sawdust, Wood |
| Temperature | 15-25°C, ideally 55-60°F |
| Humidity | High, 85-95% |
| Airflow | Adequate, prevents carbon dioxide buildup |
| Spacing | Hand's width between each bag |
| Sterilization | Pasteurization at 140-160°F |
| Supplementation | Bran, gypsum, coffee grounds |
| Spawn | High-quality, grain-based |
| Harvest | 15-21 days after casing |
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What You'll Learn
Choose the right substrate
Choosing the right substrate is crucial for successful mushroom growth. The substrate is the nutrient-rich material that provides mushrooms with the essential mix of nutrients, including sugar, starch, lignin, fats, protein, and nitrogen. Mushrooms extract these nutrients from decaying organic matter, which is prepared into nutrient-dense substrate composts.
There are various substrates that can be used, each with its own advantages and suitability for different mushroom species. Here are some commonly used substrates and considerations for choosing the right one:
Compost or Manure
One of the traditional and commonly used substrates is compost or manure, particularly horse manure. To prepare this substrate, fresh manure needs to be piled and forked over to mix well for about two weeks until it cools and settles. The spawn is then spread across the surface and mixed to a specific depth before being covered with damp newspaper. After several weeks, when white thread-like mycelium appears, the newspaper is removed, and the mycelium is covered with a layer of garden soil or compost mixed with lime. This substrate needs to be kept evenly moist by misting or watering.
Straw
Straw is another suitable substrate for growing mushrooms, especially oyster mushrooms. It provides the necessary nutrients and growing environment for this species.
Sawdust
Sawdust is an ideal substrate for wood-loving mushroom species, such as shiitake and lion's mane. It has the right texture and composition to support the growth of these mushrooms.
Coffee Grounds
Fresh coffee grounds can also be used as a substrate for mushrooms. Coffee grounds can be obtained from coffee shops and provide a good source of nutrients for mushroom growth.
Logs
For those interested in growing mushrooms outdoors, logs can be used as a substrate. Wooden dowels or plugs impregnated with spawn are tapped into pre-drilled holes in recently chopped logs. This method allows the mushrooms to grow directly in the log, providing the necessary nutrients and growing environment.
When choosing a substrate, it is important to consider the specific mushroom species you plan to grow and select a substrate that is known to support its growth. Additionally, proper preparation of the substrate is critical to ensure fast colonization and healthy fruiting. The substrate should be adequately hydrated, feeling moist but not soggy, and sterilized to eliminate harmful bacteria, molds, and fungi that may compete with the mycelium.
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Prepare the substrate correctly
Preparing the substrate correctly is a crucial step in boosting mushroom growth. Mushrooms obtain their food from the substrate, which is the nutrient-rich material that supports their growth. It is important to note that different mushroom species may have preferences for certain substrates. The substrate should be prepared with the right mix of nutrients, including sugar, starch, lignin, fats, protein, and nitrogen.
To prepare the substrate, you should start by choosing a suitable growing medium, which can be compost, manure, coffee grounds, or straw. Horse manure is the traditional material for growing mushrooms and can be purchased from garden centres or stables. If using fresh manure, it should be piled and forked over every few days for two weeks until it cools and settles.
Once the growing medium is prepared, it is important to ensure proper hydration. The substrate should feel moist but not soggy. A helpful guide is the "squeeze test," where only a few drops of water should come out when the substrate is squeezed. Maintaining high moisture levels is crucial, and this can be achieved by misting or spraying the substrate with water.
Before introducing the spawn, it is essential to sterilize the substrate to eliminate harmful bacteria, moulds, and fungi that may compete with the mycelium. Pasteurization, which involves heating the substrate to around 140–160°F, is a common method of sterilization.
Additionally, supplementation can be considered to boost mycelium growth. Nutrients such as bran, gypsum, or coffee grounds can be added to the substrate. However, it is important to balance supplementation as over-supplementing can increase the risk of contamination.
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Select a suitable spawn
Selecting a suitable spawn is a critical step in the mushroom-growing process. Spawn is essentially the "seed" of your mushroom crop, and it is a carrier of mycelium, the vegetative part of fungi that colonizes the substrate. The quality of your spawn directly impacts the success of your mushroom-growing endeavour.
When selecting a spawn, it's important to choose a high-quality product to ensure faster colonization and healthier growth. Poor-quality spawn can lead to slow colonization, contamination, and uneven growth. High-quality spawn, on the other hand, promotes vigorous mycelium growth and reduces the risk of failure. Grain spawn is a popular choice for fast-growing mushrooms as it provides a nutrient-rich base for mycelium to thrive.
To create your own spawn, you can start by sterilizing a mixture of grain, water, and chalk. Once sterilized, add the mycelium, and the active mycelial growth phase will begin. Typically, spawn is made from stored cultures like millet, rye, or wheat. This process ensures that your spawn is of the highest quality and is ready to seed your mushroom compost.
When purchasing spawn, it's advisable to choose a reputable company with a short shipping time to ensure that you receive fresh spores. Additionally, consider the specific requirements of the mushroom variety you plan to grow. Different mushrooms have unique preferences for temperature, humidity, and light conditions, so tailoring your spawn selection to these needs is crucial for successful cultivation.
Lastly, don't underestimate the importance of proper storage and handling of your spawn. Keep it warm to initiate the growing process, ideally between 55 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. During the first few days of growth, you can expedite the process by maintaining a temperature of around 70 degrees. This can be achieved by placing a heating pad under your growing container.
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Optimise environmental conditions
Mushrooms are highly sensitive to their growing environment, and even slight deviations in temperature, humidity, or airflow can slow down growth. By optimising their growing conditions, you can significantly speed up the growth of your mushrooms.
Temperature is a key factor in mushroom growth. Most mushrooms prefer a temperature range of 65–75°F (18–24°C) during colonisation. A drop in temperature is usually required for fruiting. To initiate fruiting, you can lower the temperature and increase oxygen levels. Keep your crop moist but not wet. Mushrooms thrive in moisture, but they do not thrive when soaking wet. Try misting your crop with a spray bottle, but avoid letting the growing medium get soggy. Some growers cover their mushroom container with a damp cloth or a loose-fitting plastic bag to trap moisture.
Humidity is another important factor. Mushrooms are over 90% water, so they need a moist environment to develop properly. Maintain high humidity levels (85–95%) during colonisation and fruiting. You can keep the humidity high by routinely spraying the substrate with water.
Airflow is also important. Proper ventilation prevents the buildup of carbon dioxide, which can inhibit mushroom growth. A good rule of thumb is to leave a hand's width of spacing between each bag or container. This allows adequate airflow to pass between each one. If the bags are touching, those spots can easily overheat from the heat generated by the mycelial growth.
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Harvest at the right time
The final step in mushroom cultivation is harvesting, which should occur at the right time to ensure the mushrooms are mature and ready. The sprouting process for mushrooms is called fruiting, and this occurs around three to four weeks after planting the mushroom spawn. The mushroom harvest begins 15 to 21 days after casing, which is seven to eight weeks after composting starts. Mushrooms are picked over a period of two to four days in a seven- to ten-day cropping cycle, also known as a flush or break.
Once the mature mushrooms are picked, the next flush moves towards maturity. The timing of the flush is managed through water, CO2, and temperature control. It is important to note that mushrooms are highly sensitive to their growing environment, and deviations in temperature, humidity, or airflow can slow down growth. Therefore, creating ideal conditions is crucial to speed up the cultivation process. Most mushrooms prefer a temperature range of 65–75°F (18–24°C) during colonisation, with fruiting requiring a slight drop in temperature.
To ensure a successful harvest, it is important to maintain high humidity levels (85–95%) during colonisation and fruiting. Mushrooms are composed of over 90% water, so they need a moist environment to develop properly. Proper ventilation is also key to preventing the buildup of carbon dioxide, which can inhibit mushroom growth. Additionally, it is important to keep the growing environment clean to prevent contamination.
Harvesting at the right time is crucial for a successful mushroom crop. By providing optimal conditions and closely monitoring the growth, cultivators can ensure that they harvest their mushrooms at the perfect stage of maturity.
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