Sarah Brown
Mushrooms are fungi and require different conditions to grow than plants. They don't need sunlight, soil, or fertiliser, but they do need a growing medium or substrate—moist organic material that provides the moisture, nutrients, and energy that mushroom mycelium needs to grow and fruit. Different species prefer different substrates, and it's important to use the correct type for each. The ideal growing conditions for mushrooms are around 70°F and greater than 90% humidity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Growing medium | Compost, manure, sawdust, straw, coffee grounds, cardboard, logs |
| Temperature | Minimum of 15°C, ideal around 70°F |
| Humidity | Greater than 90% |
| Light | Indirect natural light, avoid direct sunlight |
| Air circulation | Well-circulated |
| Spawn | Mushroom mycelium |
| Substrate | Moist organic material |
| Fruiting | Requires suitable conditions, including temperature, light, humidity, and fresh air |
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What You'll Learn
- Mushrooms require a growing medium or substrate—like compost or manure—to provide moisture, nutrients and energy
- They need the right combination of temperature, light, humidity and fresh air to create healthy, well-formed fruiting bodies
- Mushrooms don't require sunlight or soil to grow, but they do need space and patience
- Oyster mushrooms are the easiest to grow, but most species can be grown indoors on a growing medium like sawdust
- The ideal growing conditions for mushrooms are around 70°F and greater than 90% humidity
Mushrooms require a growing medium or substrate—like compost or manure—to provide moisture, nutrients and energy
Mushrooms require a growing medium or substrate to provide the moisture, nutrients, and energy that mushroom mycelium needs to grow and fruit. A growing medium or substrate is moist organic matter. The two types of starting material used for mushroom substrate are synthetic compost and manure-based compost. Synthetic compost consists of wheat or rye straw, hay, crushed corn cobs, cottonseed meal, cocoa shells, and gypsum. Manure-based compost is made from stable bedding from horse stables or poultry litter.
The substrate provides the right combination of nutrients for the mushrooms. Different mushroom species prefer different substrates, so it is important to use the correct one for each. For example, oyster mushrooms are not fussy and will grow on several substrates, including straw, sawdust, used coffee grounds, and cardboard. On the other hand, specialty mushrooms like shiitake, lion's mane, and maiitake are grown differently than common white and brown button mushrooms. They are grown on logs or in bags. The ideal growing conditions for mushrooms are around 70 degrees Fahrenheit and greater than 90% humidity.
The substrate should also have a structure that enables air exchange. During colonization, mushrooms need warm, humid conditions with good fresh air exchange. The temperature and moisture can be controlled by growing mushrooms undercover in a shed, garage, garden cold frame, or cellar. It is important to avoid direct sunlight as it may increase temperatures too much and dry the mushrooms out. Instead, place your mushrooms in a spot with indirect natural light near a window or on a shaded windowsill.
The growing medium or substrate is like compost or manure in that it provides a source of nutrients for the mushrooms to grow. It is important to create the correct conditions for the mushrooms to grow, as they require different conditions and equipment than plants. Mushrooms don't require potting soil, fertilizer, or even sunlight. Instead, they absorb nutrients from the organic matter around them.
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They need the right combination of temperature, light, humidity and fresh air to create healthy, well-formed fruiting bodies
Mushrooms require the right combination of temperature, light, humidity, and fresh air to develop healthy, well-formed fruiting bodies. Mushrooms can be grown on logs or in bags, and the growing medium or substrate provides the necessary moisture, nutrients, and energy for the mushroom mycelium to grow and fruit. The ideal temperature for mushroom growth is around 70°F (21°C) with high humidity, and they should be placed in a spot with indirect natural light, such as near a window or on a shaded windowsill, to mimic natural conditions.
During the incubation phase, mushrooms should be kept in the dark to prevent early pinning. However, once they reach the fruiting phase, some species of mushrooms need light to trigger production. In nature, sunlight indicates to the mycelium that it has reached the surface of the substrate and can now produce mushrooms. As a result, placing mushrooms in indirect light can help mimic these natural conditions and trigger fruiting.
The amount of light required will depend on the specific species of mushroom being grown. While some mushrooms can grow without light, others may require a few hours of light, which can be natural or artificial. It is important to avoid direct sunlight, as it can increase temperatures and dry out the mushrooms.
In addition to light and temperature control, humidity and fresh air exchange are crucial for mushroom growth. During colonization, mushrooms thrive in warm and humid conditions with good air circulation. This helps prevent the buildup of carbon dioxide, which can inhibit mycelium growth. Maintaining the correct humidity levels during the fruiting phase is particularly important and requires careful monitoring.
The specific humidity requirements can vary depending on the mushroom variety. For example, oyster mushrooms can fruit without supplemental humidity, while shiitake and lion's mane mushrooms prefer higher humidity levels. Providing the right combination of these environmental factors is key to promoting the development of healthy, well-formed fruiting bodies in mushrooms.
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Mushrooms don't require sunlight or soil to grow, but they do need space and patience
Mushrooms are fungi and require different conditions to grow than plants. They don't need sunlight or soil to grow, but they do require a growing medium or substrate—moist organic material that provides the moisture, nutrients, and energy that mushroom mycelium needs to grow and fruit.
The substrate should be slightly acidic, free of competing organisms, and have the correct amount of moisture. It should also enable air exchange and provide the right combination of nutrients for your mushrooms. Different mushroom species prefer different substrates, so it's important to use the correct one. For example, oyster mushrooms will grow on straw, sawdust, used coffee grounds, and cardboard, while shiitake mushrooms grow well on logs.
To grow mushrooms, you'll need mushroom spawn (mushroom mycelium) and a suitable substrate. You can buy these online or from specialist mushroom suppliers. Once you've chosen your mushroom variety, mixed your spawn into your substrate, and placed it in a growing environment, you'll need to be patient and allow time for colonisation and fruiting. Mushrooms mature at varying times, so picking by hand is continuous for two to three weeks.
It's important to note that mushrooms require specific environmental conditions at different phases of their growing cycle. During colonisation, mushrooms need warm, humid conditions with good fresh air exchange. The ideal temperature for colonisation varies by species, and temperatures also play a role in how quickly the mycelium colonises the substrate. During the fruiting phase, mushrooms need the right combination of temperature, light, humidity, and fresh air to create healthy, well-formed fruiting bodies.
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Oyster mushrooms are the easiest to grow, but most species can be grown indoors on a growing medium like sawdust
Mushrooms are fungi and require different conditions to grow than plants. They don't need potting soil, fertiliser, or even sunlight. However, they do need a substrate or growing medium, such as compost or manure, and mushroom spawn or mycelium. The substrate provides the moisture, nutrients, and energy that mushroom mycelium needs to grow and fruit. It should be slightly acidic, free of competing organisms, and have the correct amount of moisture and structure to enable air exchange.
Oyster mushrooms are the easiest to grow. They can grow on various substrates, including straw, sawdust, used coffee grounds, and cardboard. They can also be grown on hardwood logs, which need to be freshly cut and implanted with spawn-impregnated dowels no more than six weeks after cutting.
Most mushroom species can be grown indoors on a growing medium like sawdust. The sawdust is usually placed in a bag, which can be sold ready-to-fruit as a mushroom-growing kit. If growing indoors, the air should be well-circulated as mushrooms release carbon dioxide as they grow, and ventilation is required. It is also important to note that growing many mushrooms indoors may be irritating to some people due to the release of spores.
The ideal growing conditions for mushrooms are around 70 degrees Fahrenheit and greater than 90% humidity. Mushrooms need the right combination of temperature, light, humidity, and fresh air to create healthy, well-formed fruiting bodies. During colonisation, mushrooms thrive in warm, humid conditions with good fresh air exchange. Fruiting is triggered by cooler temperatures and fresh air.
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The ideal growing conditions for mushrooms are around 70°F and greater than 90% humidity
Mushrooms require specific conditions to grow, and these vary depending on the species. The ideal growing conditions for mushrooms are around 70°F and greater than 90% humidity. This temperature is optimal for most species, and it can be achieved in a shed, garage, garden cold frame, or cellar—anywhere out of direct sunlight. However, some mushrooms, such as oysters, will fruit without supplemental humidity.
To achieve these conditions, mushrooms are often grown indoors in a controlled environment. This allows for the regulation of temperature and humidity, as well as light and air circulation. When growing mushrooms indoors, it is important to ensure proper ventilation as mushrooms release carbon dioxide during their growth, and high levels of carbon dioxide can inhibit the growth of the mushroom mycelium.
The growing medium or substrate also plays a crucial role in providing the necessary moisture, nutrients, and energy for mushroom growth. This substrate should be slightly acidic, free of competing organisms, and have the correct amount of moisture and structure to enable air exchange. While mushrooms do not require potting soil, fertilizer, or sunlight, they do need this substrate material, which serves as "mushroom food".
During the incubation phase, mushrooms benefit from being kept in the dark as it prevents early pinning. However, once they reach the fruiting phase, they require a balance of temperature, light, humidity, and fresh air to create healthy, well-formed fruiting bodies. This phase requires careful monitoring to ensure the mushrooms receive the right amount of humidity and fresh air exchange.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushrooms need a growing medium or substrate—a moist organic material that provides the moisture, nutrients, and energy that mushroom mycelium needs to grow and fruit.
A substrate is usually known as compost or manure. Other possible substrates include a bucket of fresh coffee grounds, straw, sawdust, used coffee grounds, cardboard, or synthetic compost consisting of wheat or rye straw, hay, crushed corn cobs, cottonseed meal, cocoa shells, and gypsum.
Mushrooms need a minimum of 15°C, and a few hours of light, which can be artificial. The ideal temperature for colonization varies by species, and some mushrooms can tolerate a broader range of temperatures than others. The ideal growing conditions for mushrooms are around 70 degrees Fahrenheit and greater than 90% humidity.
Mushrooms don't need sunlight to grow, but some species need light to trigger mushroom production. To mimic nature, place your mushrooms in a spot with indirect natural light near a window or on a shaded windowsill.
