John Miller
Mushrooms are fungi and grow from fungal spores that thrive in damp, dark conditions. They develop from a nodule, or pinhead, less than two millimetres in diameter, called a primordium, which is typically found on or near the surface of the substrate. Mushrooms grow in a wide range of environments, from simple outdoor fruiting to indoor, highly controlled environments. They can spring up in dense clusters and since they don't require sunlight, they can be grown indoors and on shelves.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What mushrooms develop from | Nodules or pinheads, called primordia, that are typically found on or near the surface of the substrate |
| How mushrooms develop | Mushrooms develop from the primordium enlarging into a roundish structure of interwoven hyphae called a "button" |
| What is a button | A cottony roll of mycelium, the universal veil, that surrounds the developing fruit body |
| What happens when the egg expands | The universal veil ruptures and may remain as a cup, or volva, at the base of the stalk, or as warts or volval patches on the cap |
| Mushroom development stages | Button stage, mature structure |
| Mushroom growth requirements | Mushrooms require a moist, humid environment to develop and grow |
| Mushroom growth cycle | Six weeks |
| Mushroom growth temperature | Mushrooms prefer cooler temperatures |
| Mushroom growth medium | Mushrooms require a medium that is high in decaying plant matter |
| Mushroom reproduction | Mushrooms produce spores, which are almost as fine as smoke |
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What You'll Learn
Mushrooms develop from spores or tissue culture
Mushrooms are the fruit, or fruiting body, of a larger fungus that is usually hidden from sight, either underground or in decaying wood. This fungus is made up of a complex network of fibres called mycelium, which grows by absorbing nutrients from dead and decaying organic matter. Mushrooms develop from spores or tissue culture.
Mushrooms do not grow from seeds like plants; instead, they produce spores, which are almost as fine as smoke. Each mushroom releases thousands of spores into its environment, and each spore carries unique genetic information. When spores land in a suitable environment, they germinate and develop fine filaments called hyphae, which eventually become a new mycelium. This process is similar to budding in microscopic yeasts.
Mushrooms also require different conditions to grow than plants. They do not need sunlight and prefer cooler temperatures, which is why many wild mushrooms are found in the fall and early winter. Mushrooms grow in shady areas and need a moist, humid environment to develop and grow. They lose moisture easily as they have no skin, so they need high humidity to prevent drying out. Mushrooms grow in moist but not wet conditions and breathe and exchange gases with the air around them.
In the early stages of development, mushrooms use cell division to grow. However, by the time they are small mushroom pins, they have all the cells they need for the mature mushroom. At this point, they flood these cells with water and nutrients, enabling them to expand and grow rapidly.
The development of a mushroom starts with a nodule called a primordium, typically found on or near the surface of the substrate. The primordium enlarges into a roundish structure of interwoven hyphae called a "button". This button has a cottony roll of mycelium, called the universal veil, that surrounds the developing fruit body. As the egg expands, the universal veil ruptures and may leave remnants at the base of the stalk or on the cap.
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Mushrooms require damp, dark conditions to grow
Mushrooms are fungi and require different conditions to grow than plants. They develop from a nodule, or pinhead, called a primordium, which is typically found on or near the surface of the substrate. They grow from fungal spores that thrive in damp, dark conditions. Mushrooms often spring directly from dead trees. They require a medium that is high in decaying plant matter.
Mushrooms cannot be farmed in the same manner as other vegetables. They require different equipment and facilities to grow commercially. They do not photosynthesize like plants, so they cannot produce their own food. Instead, they are heterotrophs, meaning they obtain nutrients from other organic material, often other organisms. Mushrooms secrete digestive enzymes into their environment and then absorb the nutrients released.
Mushrooms grow in a huge range of environments, from simple outdoor fruiting to indoor, highly controlled environments. They can be grown indoors on shelves and do not require sunlight, making them popular with urban farmers. Warehouses, former industrial spaces, and basements can become excellent mushroom farms.
The ideal growing conditions for mushrooms are around 70 degrees Fahrenheit and greater than 90% humidity. Natural logs work well, and oaks and maples serve as the best hosts. For natural logs, it is best to use freshly cut logs so they haven't dried out. Synthetic logs are bagged mixes of sawdust, millet, rye, and water to keep feeding the mycelium.
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Mushrooms are fungi, not plants
Mushrooms grow from fungal spores that thrive in damp, dark conditions. They require a medium that is high in decaying plant matter and often spring directly from dead trees. Plants, on the other hand, grow from seeds and require plenty of sunlight and soil. They do not thrive in overly damp environments. Mushrooms cannot be farmed in the same way as plants, and farmers need to invest in proper equipment and facilities to cultivate them.
Fungi are eukaryotic organisms, meaning they are made up of cells whose DNA is contained in a nucleus bound by a membrane. Plants and animals share this characteristic. However, fungi do not photosynthesize like plants, so they cannot produce their own food. Instead, they are heterotrophs, obtaining nutrients from other organic material, often other organisms. Fungi secrete digestive enzymes into their environment and then absorb the nutrients released.
The cell walls of fungi contain chitin, a compound also found in the exoskeletons of arthropods like beetles and crabs. While all flowering plants grow from seeds, mushrooms grow from either spores or tissue culture. Every mushroom releases thousands of spores into its environment, each carrying unique genetics.
Mushrooms are distinct from plants in terms of their growth requirements, cellular structure, and nutritional intake. They belong to the kingdom fungi, which is incredibly biodiverse, containing up to 12 million species.
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Mushrooms are grown on logs or in bags
Mushrooms are the fruit bodies of members of the order Agaricales. They develop from a nodule, or pinhead, less than two millimetres in diameter, called a primordium, which is typically found on or near the surface of the substrate. They are formed within the mycelium, the mass of thread-like hyphae that make up the fungus. Mushrooms can be grown on logs or in bags, and the method chosen often depends on the type of fungi being grown and the resources available.
Logs are a good option for growing mushrooms outdoors, and the type of wood chosen can influence the success of the harvest. Hardwoods are generally more reliable for growing mushrooms, and freshly cut hardwoods are best for log inoculation. Oak is a top choice for shiitake mushrooms, and oak logs can fruit for years. Sugar maple and sweet gum are also excellent options, and birch logs can work well, particularly for oyster mushrooms. It is best to avoid softwoods and conifers for most mushroom species, except for a few like reishi, which may tolerate them under certain conditions. Pine logs are not generally recommended due to their high resin content, but some cultivators experiment with pine when growing turkey tail or other hardy polypores.
When growing mushrooms on logs, it is important to handle the logs gently to avoid damaging the bark, which is needed to maintain moisture and protect the log from being colonized by competitive wild fungi. Logs should be cut to 3 to 4 feet in length and allowed to sit in a cool, dark, damp place for 2 to 4 weeks before inoculation. Holes are then drilled all over the logs to insert the spawn, which can be in the form of sawdust or plugs. The sawdust spawn requires a special tool for insertion, while the plug spawn does not. However, sawdust spawn is much cheaper and colonizes about 30% faster than plug spawn.
Growing mushrooms in bags or blocks offer sooner results and year-round growing in a controlled habitat. However, the overhead costs, disposable wastes, and micro-management are relatively high. For commercial purposes, bag cultivation is better because it is faster. One 5-pound bag of sawdust spawn should be enough to inoculate 10 to 40 logs.
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Mushrooms are used for dyeing wool and other natural fibres
Mushrooms are fungi that develop from a nodule or pinhead, called a primordium, which is typically found on or near the surface of the substrate. They are not plants and require different conditions to grow, such as damp, dark environments with high levels of decaying plant matter.
Mushrooms have been used for dyeing wool and other natural fibres, such as silk, cotton, linen, and hemp. The chromophores of mushroom dyes are organic compounds that produce strong and vivid colours, and all colours of the spectrum can be achieved. Before the invention of synthetic dyes, mushrooms were the source of many textile dyes.
There is a long history of using mushrooms for dyeing, dating back to the 15th century. The tradition was later continued and popularised by Miriam Rice, who experimented with fungi as dyes for fibres and paper. The process of dyeing with mushrooms involves creating a mushroom dye bath, with different mordants or modifiers such as saltwater, vinegar, ammonia, copper pots, or rusty iron pots. The type of mordant used can alter the final colour of the dyed material. For example, the Hydnellum peckii mushroom can produce a beige colour without a mordant, but shades of blue or green when a mordant is added.
Some mushrooms, like the chanterelle, can be used to dye wool a nice yellow colour. The shingled hedgehog mushroom and related species contain blue-green pigments, which are used for dyeing wool in Norway. The process of dyeing with mushrooms can vary from mushroom to mushroom, even within the same family, and there is no set rule for extracting dye from them. However, it is important to mordant the fibre before dyeing to ensure that the colour binds with the material.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushrooms are fungi and require different conditions to grow than plants. They grow from fungal spores that thrive in damp, dark conditions.
Spores are produced on the gills of mushrooms and fall in a fine rain of powder from under the caps. Each mushroom releases thousands of spores, each carrying unique genetics.
Spores are made of club-like cells called basidia.
Spores develop into a fluff that, when planted into horse manure and covered with soil, grows mushrooms.
