Sarah Brown
Growing mushrooms outdoors is a fun and rewarding project. It is also an easy and cost-effective way to grow your own mushrooms. To build a mushroom bed, you need to choose a suitable location, prepare the growth medium, add your mushroom spawn, and maintain the proper moisture. The ideal placement for a mushroom bed is usually under trees, bushes, or other foliage to provide shade and protection from the wind. You can build a basic bed by simply laying down the substrate and mushroom spawn on the ground, or you can build a more sophisticated raised bed.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Placement | Under trees, bushes, or other foliage; shaded or partially shaded area with good water drainage; avoid anywhere prone to water pooling |
| Base | Raised beds, dug into the soil, or laid on the ground; lined with cardboard to retain moisture and suppress weeds |
| Substrate | Depending on the mushroom variety, e.g. pasteurized straw, soaked straw, compost, bark, leaves, or grass clippings |
| Mushroom Spawn | Small pieces of established mycelium; can be layered between wood chips |
| Mulch | Layer on top of the bed to retain moisture and keep the temperature constant; can use straw, mulch, or sawdust |
| Watering | Regularly, directly onto the base of the bed rather than onto the mushrooms; avoid waterlogging |
| Maintenance | Monitor for signs of growth, disease, or pests; harvest when mature |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing a location
In addition to shade, you should also consider water drainage when choosing a location. Avoid areas that are prone to water pooling, as this can hinder the growth of your mushrooms. Ensure that your mushroom bed has access to plenty of fresh air. For example, avoid tight courtyards between buildings where there is little to no breeze.
The type of mushroom you want to grow may also influence your location choice. Different varieties have different growing conditions and temperature requirements. For instance, the Wood Blewit mushroom prefers a bed built with a mixture of organic materials, both fresh and composted, such as compost, bark, leaves, and grass clippings. On the other hand, the Almond Agaricus, a heat-loving Portobello variety, pairs well with garden beds, container gardens, or landscape pots as it enjoys regular watering.
Finally, consider the aesthetics and functionality of your outdoor space. Mushroom beds can be built in various ways, from simply laying down the substrate and spawn on the ground to constructing raised beds. Choose a location that fits your desired bed design and available space. Remember, the location you choose will play a vital role in the success of your mushroom-growing endeavour, so take your time and consider all the necessary factors.
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Building a raised bed
Choose a Suitable Location:
Select an area in your garden that receives ample shade and has good water drainage. Avoid locations that are prone to water pooling. Consider placing the bed under trees, bushes, or other foliage to provide the necessary shade. Ensure that the spot has access to fresh air, avoiding enclosed areas with little breeze.
Prepare the Bedding Area:
Outline the desired size and shape of your raised bed. You can use pieces of wood, bricks, or blocks to mark out the boundaries. If you're creating a larger bed, consider building a simple wooden frame to support the sides and provide structure. Make sure the bed is level and stable before proceeding.
Line the Bed:
Line the bottom of the raised bed with damp cardboard. This will help retain moisture, suppress weeds, and provide a barrier between the soil and the substrate. Cardboard is optional, but it can be beneficial for long-term maintenance.
Add the Substrate:
The substrate is the growing medium for your mushrooms. Choose a substrate that suits the variety of mushrooms you plan to grow. Common substrates include pasteurized straw, soaked straw, wood chips, compost, bark, leaves, or a combination of organic materials. Layer the substrate evenly across the bed, ensuring a consistent depth.
Introduce the Mushroom Spawn:
Select the type of mushroom spawn that aligns with your desired mushroom variety. Place the spawn into the substrate, spacing it evenly throughout the bed. The spawn contains the mycelium, which will grow and produce mushrooms.
Cover with Mulch or Straw:
Add a layer of mulch, straw, or similar material on top of the spawn. This layer helps retain moisture, maintain a constant temperature, and protect the spawn. It also provides a barrier against pests and contaminants.
With your raised mushroom bed now set up, all that's left is to maintain proper moisture levels and wait for your mushrooms to develop. Remember to water your mushroom bed regularly, directing the water towards the base rather than onto the mushrooms themselves. Keep an eye out for any signs of disease or pests, and harvest your mushrooms when they reach maturity. Enjoy the fruits of your labour!
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Preparing the growth medium
Choose the Right Substrate
The type of substrate you use will depend on the variety of mushrooms you want to grow. Different mushrooms have specific substrate requirements. For example, Wine Cap mushrooms thrive in hardwood chip beds, especially soft hardwood chips. On the other hand, Wood Blewit mushrooms prefer a mixture of organic materials, including compost, bark, leaves, and/or grass clippings. Do your research to determine the ideal substrate for your chosen mushroom variety.
Prepare the Substrate
Once you've selected the appropriate substrate, it's time to prepare it for the mushroom bed. If you're using straw as your substrate, it's recommended to pasteurize it, especially if you're growing mushrooms that develop more slowly. Pasteurization helps eliminate potential contaminants. However, for mushrooms that grow quickly, such as Oyster mushrooms, pasteurization may not be necessary. You can also soak the straw to use as a bed base to speed up mushroom production.
Layer the Substrate
After preparing the substrate, it's time to layer it in your mushroom bed. Start by laying down a layer of damp cardboard, which is optional but helps retain moisture and suppress weeds. Then, add a layer of pasteurized straw, followed by a layer of mushroom spawn. Repeat this process, alternating layers of straw and spawn, ensuring the spawn is well-incorporated into the substrate. If desired, add coffee grounds to the substrate to enhance its nutritional content.
Top Off with Straw
Finally, top off your mushroom bed with a layer of pasteurized straw. This final layer helps retain moisture and provides a protective barrier. If you're located in a dry climate, you can also cover your mushroom bed with a sheet of transparent plastic to help maintain moisture levels.
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Adding spawn
Choosing Spawn
Before adding spawn, it is important to select the right type for your desired mushroom variety. Different species of mushrooms have specific substrate and spawn requirements. For example, the King Stropharia, also known as the garden giant or wine cap, thrives in wood chip beds with hardwood chips, especially soft hardwoods. On the other hand, the Wood Blewit prefers a bed built with a mixture of organic materials, including compost, bark, leaves, and/or grass clippings.
Preparing the Spawn
When you receive your mushroom spawn, it is important to act quickly. While it is acceptable to let the spawn sit for a short period, such as a few days, prolonged waiting is not advisable. Mushroom spawn is a living organism, and it can weaken or become contaminated over time. Therefore, try to get the spawn into your bed as soon as possible after delivery.
The process of adding spawn to your mushroom bed depends on the type of bed you have created. If you have chosen to lay your substrate mix and wood chips directly on the ground, simply scatter the spawn across the bed, ensuring even distribution. You can use your hands or a garden rake to gently mix the spawn with the substrate and wood chips.
If you have built a raised bed, you will follow a similar process. After adding your substrate, spread the spawn across the bed and gently mix it. Raised beds may benefit from layering, where you add a layer of spawn followed by a layer of mulch or straw to help retain moisture and regulate temperature. Repeat this process until the bed is filled.
Additional Considerations
When working with spawn, it is important to maintain a moist environment. Water your mushroom bed regularly, ensuring that you water the base rather than the mushrooms themselves to avoid damage. Additionally, consider the climate and moisture requirements of your mushroom variety. In dry climates, covering your bed with transparent plastic can help retain moisture.
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Maintaining moisture
Maintaining the right amount of moisture is crucial for growing mushrooms. Mushrooms thrive in damp, shady environments, so make sure your mushroom bed is located in a shaded area that has good water drainage. Avoid direct sunlight by placing the bed under trees, bushes, or other foliage.
To retain moisture in your mushroom bed, cover the base with damp cardboard before adding your growing medium. This will act as a barrier between the soil and the substrate while helping to keep the bed moist. You can then add a layer of mulch, straw, or wood chips on top of the bed to further retain moisture and keep the temperature constant. If you're using straw, it's recommended to use pasteurized straw, especially if you're located in a dry climate. In such climates, you can also cover your mushroom bed with a sheet of transparent plastic to help hold in moisture.
Water your mushrooms regularly, but be careful not to waterlog the bed. When watering, always water directly onto the base of the bed rather than onto the mushrooms themselves, as this can cause damage.
If you're growing your mushrooms in a forest or garden bed, you can construct the bed with a mixture of organic materials, such as compost, bark, leaves, or grass clippings. These materials will help retain moisture and provide a suitable growing environment for certain mushroom varieties, such as the Wood Blewit.
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Frequently asked questions
First, choose the type of mushrooms you would like to grow and find a suitable location. Mushroom beds can be built in a shaded area outdoors, preferably under trees or bushes. Next, set up the mushroom bed. This can be done by simply laying down the substrate and spawn on the ground or building a raised bed. After this, add a layer of mulch or straw to retain moisture. Finally, water your mushrooms regularly and monitor the bed for signs of growth.
The materials needed to build a mushroom bed include wood chips, straw, compost, bark, leaves, grass clippings, cardboard, and mushroom spawn.
Before building a mushroom bed, consider how water flows across your property and avoid building anywhere that is prone to water pooling. Additionally, ensure that your mushroom bed has access to lots of fresh air. It is also important to buy mushroom spawn from reputable companies with low shipping times to prevent contamination.
