John Miller
Mushrooms are a versatile, fat-free superfood, packed with vitamins, antioxidants, and other nutrients. They are also incredibly adaptable and can be grown in a variety of environments, both indoors and outdoors. For those interested in cultivating their own mushrooms, the easiest way to begin is by purchasing a mushroom-growing kit, which contains everything needed for a successful harvest. However, it is also possible to grow mushrooms from scratch by using spores or spawn and providing the right growing conditions, such as darkness, moisture, and controlled temperature. With the right care and attention, anyone can enjoy the fruits of their mushroom-growing labour.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Environment | Dark, moist, and cool |
| Location | Indoors or outdoors |
| Ideal temperature | 55-60°F |
| Growing medium | Compost, manure, sawdust, grain, straw, wood chips, logs, etc. |
| Mushroom types | Button, oyster, lion's mane, portobello, shiitake, enoki |
| Harvesting | Harvest when large enough to eat; use a sharp knife to cut the stem at the base |
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What You'll Learn
Choose a dark, cool, humid environment
Mushrooms thrive in a dark, cool, and humid environment. The ideal temperature for mushrooms to fruit is between 55–60 °F (13–16 °C). While some mushrooms can tolerate temperatures above 80 °F, the ability to regulate temperature will significantly improve your chances of successful fruiting.
To create a dark, cool, and humid environment for your mushrooms, you can try the following:
- Choose a location in your home that meets these conditions, such as a basement room or a corner of a closet.
- Maintain a moderately warm corner with a temperature close to 70 °F.
- Use heaters or coolers with thermostatic controls to keep temperatures steady, especially in climates prone to fluctuation.
- Use large-leafed plants such as cabbage or rhubarb to provide shade and cover for your mushrooms.
- Utilize agricultural shade cloth to create a "humidity tent" that retains moisture beneath it and promotes evaporative cooling.
- Regularly mist or add water to the substrate to maintain moisture levels and support full colonization and pinning.
- Use tools like humidifiers, misting systems, and humidity domes to maintain the delicate balance of humidity.
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Prepare the substrate (e.g. sawdust, straw, logs)
To encourage field mushrooms to grow, you'll need to prepare the substrate—the material that provides the mushrooms with the nutrients, moisture, and energy they need to grow and fruit. Different types of mushrooms prefer different substrates, so it's important to pair your mushrooms with the right substrate for optimal results. Here are some tips for preparing substrates like sawdust, straw, and logs:
Sawdust
Sawdust is a common substrate for growing mushrooms, especially oyster mushrooms. It offers a stable and moisture-retaining base that supports the expansion of the mycelium. To prepare sawdust as a substrate, you can mix it with other materials such as soy hulls or bran supplements to create a nutrient-rich environment. You will also need to add water to the substrate and ensure that it has the right moisture content.
Straw
Straw is another effective substrate for growing mushrooms, especially oyster mushrooms. Pasteurized straw is commonly used, as it is cheap and effective, although it can be a little messy. To prepare straw as a substrate, you should first pasteurize it to kill any competing mold or bacteria. Then, add water to reach field capacity, which is the amount of water the substrate can hold without excess water pooling at the bottom.
Logs
Logs are often used to grow shiitake mushrooms and other varieties outdoors. White oak logs are a popular choice and should be approximately 6 inches in diameter. To prepare a log as a substrate, you will need to drill holes approximately 1 inch deep into the log. Then, tap spawn plugs (mycelium grown into hardwood dowels) into the holes and seal them with molten wax to protect the mushroom culture. Stack the logs in a shady place and gently soak them with water about once a week to keep them moist.
General Substrate Preparation Tips
Regardless of the specific substrate you choose, there are some general preparation steps that apply to all substrates. Before inoculating the substrate with mushroom spores or mycelium, it is important to sterilize or pasteurize the substrate to kill any competing mold or bacteria. This can be done through methods like the "bucket technique," where you create a makeshift pressure cooker using a heavy-duty bucket, water, and your substrate. Additionally, you may need to amend the substrate with extra nutrients and water to ensure it has the right moisture content and nutrient balance.
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Maintain temperature between 55-60°F
Maintaining a temperature between 55-60°F is crucial for the successful cultivation of mushrooms. This temperature range is ideal for the fruiting phase of mushroom growth, when a drop in temperature triggers the formation of fruiting bodies. While the specific temperature requirements vary depending on the mushroom species, most mushrooms prefer a temperature range between 65-75 °F, with the incubation stage requiring a slightly higher temperature of 65-75 °F.
To ensure the temperature remains between 55-60°F, it is recommended to use tools such as a thermometer or temperature sensor to monitor the temperature of the growing medium and the surrounding environment. This allows for adjustments to be made as needed to maintain the ideal temperature. Maintaining a constant temperature is essential, as even small fluctuations can impact the growth rate and quality of the mushrooms.
One way to regulate temperature is through the use of a heating system, such as a space heater, heating mats, or an infrared bulb. However, it is important to choose the appropriate heating system based on the size of the growing area and the type of mushrooms being cultivated. Additionally, it is crucial to monitor and control humidity levels, as mushrooms require a high level of humidity, typically around 85-95% relative humidity, to grow properly.
Another factor to consider is lighting. Mushrooms require 10 to 12 hours of light per day, preferably from an LED or fluorescent light source, which produce little heat and provide soft, diffuse light. It is important to avoid intense light, as it can stress the mushrooms and affect their quality. By combining the right temperature, humidity, and lighting conditions, you can create the optimal environment for mushroom growth within the desired temperature range of 55-60°F.
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Keep the substrate moist
Keeping the substrate moist is an important part of encouraging mushrooms to grow. Mushrooms have a high moisture content, so it is important to maintain a humid environment for them to grow. The ideal environment for mushroom growing should be somewhere dark, moist, and cool. A basement is a good option for creating these conditions, although mushrooms will do just as well outdoors when these conditions are met.
When growing mushrooms in your basement, it is best to put them in a closet where they won't be disturbed. Mushrooms grow from spores (not seeds) and can grow on various materials, including sawdust, grain, straw, or wood chips. However, no soil is necessary for growing mushrooms at home. Instead, they can grow on other substrates like wood.
To keep the substrate moist, you can soak the logs gently with a hose about once a week. This will help to maintain the necessary humidity for mushroom growth. The logs should then be stacked in a shady place to further protect them from drying out.
Maintaining the right temperature is also important for mushroom growth. Most mushrooms grow best between 55 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit, away from direct heat and drafts. Enoki mushrooms, for example, grow better in cooler temperatures of about 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, it is important to choose a suitable location for growing mushrooms and monitor the temperature to ensure it stays within the optimal range.
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Harvest when the cap slits from the stem
When it comes to harvesting mushrooms, timing is crucial. If you harvest too early, you may not get the most out of a single mushroom, but if you harvest too late, you risk ruining your entire crop. So, how do you know when to harvest?
One way to tell if your mushrooms are ready for harvest is to observe the veil, the thin membrane on the underside of the cap that covers the gills. When the veil tears, it will drop down the stem and detach from the cap, revealing the gills. At first, only one side may tear, but the rest will soon follow. Before the veil tears, it will often darken and begin to sag, so if you spot these signs, it's time to harvest your mushrooms.
However, it's important to note that the ideal time to harvest varies depending on the mushroom variety. For example, oyster mushrooms should be harvested when the caps begin to uncurl and flatten, but before they become too flat. On the other hand, shiitake mushrooms can be harvested at any time during their growth, regardless of size, but it's best to harvest them once the gills are exposed.
While you're waiting for the right time to harvest, keep an eye out for any cracked or split caps, as this can be a sign of dehydration or imbalanced parameters in your fruiting chamber. If you see any colour changes (yellow, brown, grey, or black) or spotting on the cracked or split caps, it may be contamination, and you should discard the mushrooms.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushrooms grow best in dark, cool, and humid environments. A basement is ideal, but a spot under the sink or in a closet can also work. The optimum temperature for growing mushrooms is between 15°C and 25°C, depending on the variety.
Mushrooms can grow on a variety of substrates, including compost, manure, straw, sawdust, grain, wood chips, logs, and even kitty litter and cardboard boxes.
Mushroom spawn is a blend of spores and nutrient sources like straw or sawdust. It acts as a starter for mushroom growth. You can buy spawn and grow it in beds or boxes filled with a suitable substrate.
Mushrooms are fast-growing and can be ready to harvest in a few weeks. You will see visible evidence of growth every day, with some types doubling in size every 12 to 24 hours.
Harvest mushrooms when they are large enough to eat. For some types, like button mushrooms, use a sharp knife to cut the stem cleanly at the base. For others, like oyster mushrooms, hold the clump and twist one full turn to loosen from the substrate.
