Emily Johnson
Mushrooms are a fun and nutritious food to grow at home. They are not photosynthetic, so they must obtain their food from the substrate they grow in. This substrate must be rich in organic material and provide the right mix of nutrients, including sugar, starch, lignin, fats, protein, and nitrogen. The easiest mushrooms to grow for beginners are oyster, button, and shiitake mushrooms, which can be grown indoors or outdoors. To grow mushrooms, you will need mushroom spawn (seedlings), a growing substrate such as compost, straw, or sawdust, a damp towel, and a spray bottle. You will also need to maintain the proper temperature, light, humidity, and airflow for your mushrooms to thrive. With patience and attention to detail, you can successfully grow mushrooms at home.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Mushroom type | Oyster, button, shiitake |
| Growing location | Indoors, outdoors |
| Growing environment | Dark, cool, humid |
| Growing substrate | Compost, straw, sawdust, coffee grounds |
| Mushroom spawn | Seedings, purchased from a supplier |
| Spawn treatment | Pasteurization, sterilization, lime bath, peroxide bath, cold fermentation |
| Spawn inoculation | Introduce spawn to substrate |
| Spawn colonization | Allow mycelium to permeate the substrate |
| Fruiting | Trigger mushroom development through environmental adjustments |
| Harvesting | Collect mature mushrooms |
| Mushroom growth time | 3 weeks-2 years |
| Mushroom growth method | Popcorn tek, log method, raised garden beds |
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What You'll Learn
- Choosing the right substrate: compost, straw, sawdust, coffee grounds, etc
- Preparing the substrate: pasteurisation, sterilisation, lime bath, etc
- Mushroom spawn: purchasing and mixing with the substrate
- Environmental conditions: temperature, light, humidity, airflow, etc
- Harvesting: collecting mature mushrooms before spores are released
Choosing the right substrate: compost, straw, sawdust, coffee grounds, etc
The choice of substrate is critical when growing mushrooms, as it directly impacts the growth, productivity, and quality of the cultivated mushrooms. The substrate acts as a physical support for the fungus and provides essential nutrients for the mycelium to develop. Different substrates will influence the texture, flavour, and aroma of the mushrooms. Here are some popular substrates and their unique characteristics:
Compost
Compost is a nutrient-rich substrate that is favoured by button mushrooms. It offers a rich blend of organic matter that supports healthy mycelium development. When using compost as a substrate, it is important to ensure that it has the right nutrient composition, pH level, and moisture content.
Straw
Straw is a traditional and affordable substrate that is commonly used for growing mushrooms. It is particularly suitable for oyster mushrooms, agaricus species, wine cap, shaggy mane, and enoki. Straw provides a carbon-rich base and is effective at retaining moisture, making it ideal for mushrooms that require high humidity. However, straw is not very nutritious, so it may not be well-suited for all mushroom varieties.
Sawdust
Sawdust is another traditional substrate that provides a great base for Shiitake and Lion's Mane mushrooms. It can be used as a supplemented mix, such as the Masters Mix, which consists of hardwood pellets and soybean pellets. Sawdust is also often pasteurized or sterilized before use to prevent competing fungi, bacteria, and insects from growing.
Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds are an innovative and eco-friendly substrate option. They are a waste product that can be easily sourced from local cafes, and the brewing process acts as a natural pasteurization step, eliminating the need for additional sterilization. Coffee grounds offer a nitrogen boost and can be combined with other substrates like straw or sawdust to create a unique substrate mix. However, it is important to use fresh coffee grounds, as old grounds may be too dry or contain mould spores.
Manure
Manure is a substrate that works well for Portobello and P. Cubensis mushrooms. When combined with compost, it offers a rich blend of organic matter that promotes robust mushroom growth. However, most species of edible mushrooms do not favour manure as a substrate.
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Preparing the substrate: pasteurisation, sterilisation, lime bath, etc
Before you start growing mushrooms, you need to prepare the substrate. The substrate is the material that mushrooms grow on, and it must provide the right mix of nutrients, including sugar, starch, lignin, fats, protein, and nitrogen. Common substrates include compost, straw, sawdust, and coffee grounds.
One way to prepare the substrate is through pasteurisation. Pasteurisation involves treating the substrate with heat to kill off any contaminants. This can be done by pouring boiling water over the substrate or using steam. It is important to ensure that the substrate is not too hot before introducing the mushroom spawn, as extreme heat can kill the spawn.
Another method is sterilisation, which is often used in spawn production. This involves sterilising a mixture of grain, water, and chalk before adding mycelium.
A lime bath is another option for treating the substrate. This process can help adjust the pH level of the substrate, creating a more favourable environment for mushroom growth.
Additionally, you can use a peroxide bath or "cold fermentation" to treat the substrate and remove any potential contaminants.
The chosen treatment method depends on the specific mushroom variety and the grower's preferences. Each treatment method has its advantages and considerations, so it is essential to research and select the most suitable option for your mushroom-growing endeavour.
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Mushroom spawn: purchasing and mixing with the substrate
Mushroom spawn is the fungal material needed to initiate cultivation. It can be purchased from a supplier, which is the best route for beginners.
Mushroom spawn can be grown on grain to produce grain spawn, which is often housed in a transparent container such as a clear filter patch bag or mason jar for easier monitoring. Grains used to make grain spawn include brown rice, rye berries, wheat berries, millet, barley, oats, and corn. Smaller grains have more inoculation points and mix more evenly into a bulk substrate. Millet is less prone to contamination than rye and wheat, and its small size provides more inoculation points for the same volume of grain, encouraging rapid mycelial expansion.
Grain spawn can be used to inoculate other sterile substrates, such as mushroom-substrate compatibility guides offered by companies like North Spore. Sterile substrates include grain bags, all-in-one bags, manure-based substrates, and hardwood-based substrates.
When growing mushrooms, the substrate is the material that supports mycelial growth, such as compost, straw, sawdust, or coffee grounds. The type of substrate chosen will depend on the species of mushroom being grown. For example, oyster and shiitake mushrooms grow especially well on hardwood logs, while straw is a good substrate for growing oysters.
To mix mushroom spawn with a substrate, it is important to follow proper hygiene practices to avoid contamination. First, wash your hands and forearms with soap, and wipe down your work area with an antibacterial cleanser. Then, crumble the mushroom spawn into little bits from the package and add it to the substrate, using your hands to evenly distribute the spawn throughout.
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Environmental conditions: temperature, light, humidity, airflow, etc
Mushrooms require specific environmental conditions to grow, including temperature, light, humidity, and airflow.
Temperature is a critical factor in mushroom growth. During the initial stages of growth, mushrooms thrive in a warm environment, typically around 70°F (21°C). This temperature range facilitates the development of the mycelium, the thread-like structure that forms the foundation for mushroom growth. After the mycelium has established, the temperature can be lowered slightly to 55-60°F (13-16°C). Maintaining the optimal temperature is crucial for encouraging the growth of the mushrooms.
Light is another important consideration when growing mushrooms. Mushrooms do not require direct sunlight and, in fact, prefer shaded and dark environments. A lack of sunlight is not a concern for mushroom growth, making them well-suited for indoor cultivation in basements, crawl spaces, or dark cabinets.
Humidity plays a vital role in mushroom development. Mushrooms thrive in high-humidity environments, and it is essential to maintain a high moisture level without standing water. This can be achieved by routinely spraying the substrate with water. The humidity level influences the growth and health of the mushrooms, and proper management is key to successful cultivation.
Airflow is also an important factor in mushroom cultivation. Fresh air should be introduced into the growing area, with a carbon dioxide content of 0.08% or lower, depending on the specific mushroom variety. Adequate airflow helps prevent contamination and provides the mushrooms with the oxygen they need to thrive.
By carefully controlling these environmental factors, you can create optimal conditions for mushroom growth and increase your chances of a successful harvest.
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Harvesting: collecting mature mushrooms before spores are released
When it comes to harvesting mushrooms, timing is crucial. Collecting mature mushrooms at the optimal time is essential to maximise future growth and get the most out of your crop. Mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of fungi, and their purpose is to produce spores or seeds. Each type of fungus has a distinct spore type and releases them in unique patterns depending on the form of the underside of the mushroom cap.
To know when to harvest, you must observe the veil, a thin membrane on the underside of the cap that keeps the spores inside the mushroom. When the mushroom is mature, this veil tears, and the spores are released, ready to grow the next generation of mushrooms. If you are growing mushrooms indoors, this process is undesirable as it will reduce mushroom growth in subsequent flushes. Therefore, it is essential to harvest on time to keep the cakes spore-free.
One general rule is that it is better to harvest too soon than too late. While you may not get the most out of a single mushroom, you avoid the risk of ruining the entire crop. The right time to harvest is just before the veil tears and darkens. On a juvenile mushroom, the veil is usually grey-white and fleshy. As it matures, it darkens and begins to sag. Once the veil tears, it will detach from the underside of the cap, revealing a concave cavity and gills.
Harvesting spores from mushrooms can be done through spore prints or spore syringes. Gill mushrooms are the easiest to harvest spores from, but all types can be harvested with some experimentation. To make a spore print, place the mushroom cap spore-side down onto a piece of paper and cover it with a glass container to prevent it from drying out. Leave it overnight, and by the next day, the spores will have dropped onto the paper. This method allows mycologists to identify the fungus by its spore colour, shape, texture, and pattern. Alternatively, a spore syringe can be used to collect spores, but this method is less commonly discussed.
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Frequently asked questions
Oyster, button, and shiitake mushrooms are the easiest for beginners.
Mushrooms need a dark, cool place to grow. You can grow them indoors in a basement, crawl space, drawer, or cabinet. Or you can grow them outdoors in a garden bed, in straw, or on a log.
Mushrooms grow in a substrate, which is a growing medium made from decaying organic matter. Common substrates include compost, straw, sawdust, and coffee grounds.
It depends on whether you're growing mushrooms indoors or outdoors. When grown outdoors, mushrooms can take six months to two years to grow. When grown indoors, the process can be as short as three weeks.
