Sarah Brown
Mushrooms are versatile, fat-free, and packed with vitamins, antioxidants, and other nutrients. They can be easily grown indoors and outdoors, making them a great addition to any garden or indoor space. The biggest worry in mushroom cultivation is the logs drying out, which will kill the fungus. Mushrooms thrive in damp, dark, and calm environments, and grow from spores, which are mixed with a growing medium or soil to form mycelium. To care for mushrooms, it is important to establish the right growing conditions, spot-check for dirt, and store fresh mushrooms in a brown paper bag or cardboard in the fridge.
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What You'll Learn
Storing fresh mushrooms
Fresh mushrooms should be stored in a brown paper bag or cardboard in the refrigerator. Mushrooms continue to breathe after they have been harvested, and these materials allow them to do so while minimising moisture accumulation. Kept this way, mushrooms will last in the fridge for up to 5 days, or even two to three weeks according to another source. If the mushrooms begin to wither, you can roast or sauté them and then freeze them for later use.
To clean mushrooms before storing, use a dry paper towel or clean brush to remove any dirt or other particles. Water should be used sparingly, as mushrooms naturally absorb it, which can make browning more likely during cooking.
Mushrooms are living things and thrive in damp, dark, calm, and humid environments. They should be misted twice a day, but not sprayed.
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Preparing the growing environment
Mushrooms are versatile, fat-free, and packed with vitamins, antioxidants, and other nutrients. They are also easy to grow indoors, making them a great addition to your home garden. Before you start growing mushrooms, you should prepare the growing environment to ensure a successful harvest. Here are some detailed and instructive guidelines to help you prepare the ideal environment for growing mushrooms:
Temperature and Lighting
Mushrooms grow best in a temperature-controlled environment, with most varieties thriving between 55 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Enoki mushrooms are an exception, favouring cooler temperatures of around 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Choose a spot away from direct heat and drafts, such as a basement or a closet, to maintain stable temperatures. Mushrooms prefer low-light conditions, so select an area that remains mostly dark or has minimal lighting.
Humidity and Moisture
Creating a damp and humid environment is crucial for mushroom growth. Mushrooms naturally absorb water, so mist them twice a day instead of spraying directly on them. This helps prevent drowning their environment while maintaining the necessary moisture levels. If you're growing mushrooms on logs, occasional soaking with a garden hose or using a rain barrel, kiddie pool, or natural water source can provide additional moisture.
Substrate and Spawn
Mushrooms grow from microscopic spores, which you can mix with a growing medium or soil to create a mushroom substrate. The substrate serves as a material for the mycelium (the white, thread-like roots) to grow on and provides essential nutrients for the fungus to produce mushrooms. You can use materials like sawdust, grain, straw, or wood chips as a substrate. A blend of spores and these nutrient sources is called mushroom spawn, which acts as a starter for mushroom growth.
Log Placement and Stacking
If you're growing mushrooms on logs, you can position them in various ways. Oyster mushroom logs, for example, can be partially buried lengthwise, leaving about two-thirds above ground to help retain moisture and prevent bark detachment. Alternatively, logs can be buried upright or simply placed directly on the ground or propped up on an object. Shiitake logs prefer to be upright and off the ground, leaning against a tree, fence, or building, allowing mushrooms to grow around the entire surface. Stacking methods, such as crib or low rail, can be considered when you have multiple logs.
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Choosing the right substrate
Mushrooms are versatile, fat-free, and packed with vitamins, antioxidants, and other nutrients. They grow from spores, which are mixed with a growing medium or soil to form mycelium, a substance that resembles roots and is white in colour. The mycelium then grows into mushrooms. This process requires a mushroom substrate, which is a material that provides the necessary nutrients and environment for the fungus to produce mushrooms.
There are various types of substrates that can be used to grow mushrooms. One option is to use logs, which can be positioned in different ways depending on the type of mushroom being cultivated. For example, Oyster mushrooms grow well on logs that are partially buried lengthwise, with about 2/3rds of the log above ground, or upright, with about a third beneath the surface. Alternatively, Shiitake logs should not be buried or laid directly on the ground but should be kept upright, leaning against a tree, fence, or building. Logs can also be soaked periodically to trigger fruiting, a practice known as force fruiting.
Another option for a mushroom substrate is to use a blend of spores and nutrient sources such as sawdust, grain, straw, or wood chips. This mixture is called spawn and acts as a starter for mushroom growth. It is important to source spawn from a reputable seller to ensure the correct type of mushroom and avoid potential toxicity. Some mushrooms have specific growing needs, such as white button mushrooms, which must be grown on composted manure.
When choosing a substrate, it is also essential to consider the growing conditions that the mushrooms require. Most mushrooms grow best in dark, damp, and calm environments, with temperatures between 55 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit, away from direct heat and drafts. However, Enoki mushrooms prefer cooler temperatures of around 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, some mushrooms grow better outdoors in prepared ground or logs, which can take longer than controlled indoor environments.
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Watering and humidity
Mushrooms thrive in damp, humid environments, but it's important not to drown their environment. Misting them twice a day is a good way to keep them damp without drenching them. Spraying or misting around them, rather than directly on them, is also recommended. This is especially important once mushrooms start to form.
When growing mushrooms, it's important to ensure their growing environment is humid. Mushrooms grow well in dark, calm, and wet environments, so a damp, shaded area is ideal. They can be grown in a variety of ways, including on logs, in an indoor compost bin, or on materials like sawdust, grain, straw, or wood chips. If growing mushrooms on logs, it's important to ensure the logs don't dry out, which will kill the fungus. Logs can be soaked in water to ensure they stay hydrated, especially during droughts or at the beginning and end of each season. Soaking logs can also trigger fruiting in some varieties of mushrooms.
For mushrooms grown indoors, it's important to maintain a balance between dampness and ventilation. While mushrooms need a humid environment to grow, too much moisture can lead to issues. Keeping the growing area clean and sanitised can help prevent these issues.
When storing fresh mushrooms, it's best to use a brown paper bag or cardboard, as mushrooms continue to breathe after harvesting. They can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days, or even up to 3 weeks according to another source. If the mushrooms start to wither, they can be cooked and then frozen for later use.
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Common pests
Mushrooms are susceptible to a variety of pests and diseases that can negatively impact crop quality and yield. The most common pests include various species of flies, such as Sciarid flies (also known as fungus gnats, manure flies, or mushroom flies), Phorid flies, and Cecid flies. These flies can destroy mushroom crops, leaving them brown, leathery, and inedible.
Sciarid flies are the most pervasive and devastating pests for mushroom growers. The adult flies are small, with a dark grey or black body, long antennae, and grey wings. They are most commonly found near light sources. The female flies are attracted to the odor of growing mycelium and can lay up to 170 eggs within the growing substrate. The larvae feed on the mycelium, stipe, and gills of mature mushrooms, causing significant damage.
Phorid flies are another common pest in mushroom cultivation. The adult flies have a distinctive hunchbacked and stocky appearance. The larvae are creamy-white maggots that feed on the mycelium of mushrooms. While they may not cause as much damage as Sciarid flies, they can transmit fungal and bacterial diseases through the crop.
Cecid flies are also a concern, as they can multiply rapidly and are difficult to detect since the adult flies are rarely seen. The larvae are white or orange maggots that spread by sticking to tools and equipment.
Other pests may also be present in mushroom-growing operations, including various species of flies and other insects. Proper sanitation and pest control methods are crucial to managing these pests. Pasteurization of the soil medium before planting can help eliminate insects, nematodes, and other pests. Additionally, there are insecticides and sanitizers specifically designed for use in mushroom houses to control and eradicate pests.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushrooms thrive in damp, dark, and calm environments. They should be stored in a brown paper bag or cardboard in the fridge and will last up to 5 days. To clean them, use a dry paper towel or clean brush to remove dirt.
Fresh mushrooms are best used within a couple of days of harvesting. However, they can be stored in a paper bag in the fridge and will stay fresh for up to 3 weeks.
Mushrooms should be misted twice a day, but not sprayed directly. It is also important to ensure that their environment is damp but not drenched.
Yes, mushrooms can be grown indoors with the proper conditions. They grow best in dark, calm, and damp environments, away from direct heat and drafts, with temperatures between 55 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
One common mistake is drying out the logs or growing environment, which can kill the fungus. It is important to ensure adequate moisture content, especially during dry seasons. Additionally, avoid using too much water when cleaning mushrooms, as they naturally absorb water, which can affect cooking.
