John Miller
Mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of fungi and can be grown indoors or outdoors. The ideal time to plant mushrooms depends on the location and whether they are being grown inside or outside. Indoor growing can be done year-round in a climate-controlled room, while outdoor growing is more dependent on the seasons. Spring is generally the best time to plant mushroom logs as it gives them more time to colonize the log. Mushrooms require a dark, cool, and humid environment with an even, warm temperature and a good amount of moisture. They can be grown in a variety of substrates, including compost, straw, sawdust, or even coffee grounds. Oyster mushrooms are known to be less picky and will sprout on almost any kind of plant-based material, including cardboard, corn cobs, and toilet paper rolls.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ideal time to plant mushrooms | Depends on whether they are being grown indoors or outdoors |
| Indoor growing | Can be done year-round in a climate-controlled room |
| Outdoor growing | Dependent on the seasons |
| Mushroom varieties | Perennial crops |
| Outdoor growing temperature | Plant when the daytime temperature is consistently 40°F or higher |
| Warmer climates | Plant throughout most of the year |
| Cooler climates | Plant in spring or early summer |
| Regions with frost and heavy winters | Plant at least 4 weeks before the first frost |
| Mushroom logs | Plant in spring |
| Mushroom types | Cremini, enoki, maitake, portobello, oyster, shiitake, white button |
| Mushroom growing kits | Available for purchase |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Indoors vs. outdoors
The ideal time to plant mushrooms depends on where you plan to grow them—indoors or outdoors.
Outdoors
Mushrooms can be grown outdoors in a garden or forest. The ideal time to plant mushrooms outdoors is in the spring or early summer, when the daytime temperature consistently reaches 40°F or higher. In warmer climates, mushrooms can be planted throughout most of the year. However, in cooler climates with frosty winters, it is best to plant at least four weeks before the first frost.
Outdoor mushroom cultivation is more sustainable and uses less energy than indoor systems, as it relies on nature to provide the ideal conditions for fruiting. Mushrooms grown outdoors tend to have meatier fruits and fuller flavours. However, outdoor production has its limitations. It is challenging to grow multiple species of mushrooms outdoors, and urban growers may struggle to access logs or a shady woodlot. Outdoor production is also subject to unpredictable weather conditions, which can affect the yield.
Indoors
Mushrooms can be grown indoors year-round in a climate-controlled room. A basement, shipping container, or warehouse space can be easily adapted for mushroom production. Indoor growers often plant on a scheduled cycle to ensure continuous production.
Growing mushrooms indoors allows for more control over the environment, buffering against unpredictable weather. However, it can be challenging to maintain adequate humidity and fresh air in indoor grow rooms, which can lead to elevated CO2 levels and affect the shape and quality of the mushrooms.
Hybrid systems
Some growers combine the benefits of both indoor and outdoor systems. For example, shiitake logs may be brought indoors to extend the growing season, while ready-to-fruit blocks may be brought outdoors when the season naturally offers the right conditions.
Sofrito and Mushrooms: A Culinary Adventure
You may want to see also
Choosing the right substrate
When selecting a substrate, consider the availability and ease of working with a particular substrate. For example, a straw-based substrate may be more accessible and easier to prepare than a hardwood substrate. You can choose from various substrates, including straw, wood chips, grains, manure, compost, sawdust, or even coffee grounds. The specific mix of ingredients will depend on the species of mushroom being cultivated. For instance, oyster mushrooms thrive on straw, while shiitake mushrooms prefer hardwood.
It is important to use natural and organic ingredients for your substrate. High-nutrient substrates should be sterilized to eliminate bacteria and mould spores, giving your mushrooms a head start by removing potential competitors. Sterilization is particularly important for substrates like manure, which are teeming with bacteria and microbial life. Less nutritious substrates, such as straw, can be pasteurized to remove most competitors without requiring the more intensive sterilization process. Pasteurization can be achieved by soaking the substrate in water and heating it to a temperature of 121°C at a pressure of 15 PSI.
In addition to the water content, a suitable substrate often contains lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose, which are woody, fibrous components. Your substrate should also have a nitrogen content of 1 to 2 percent and include small amounts of magnesium, potassium, calcium, sulfur, and phosphorus. The optimal pH level for the substrate is slightly acidic, ranging from 5 to 6.5.
Mushrooms: Long-Term Effects and Their Impact
You may want to see also
Timing and temperature
The timing and temperature for planting mushrooms depend on whether you are growing them indoors or outdoors. If you are growing mushrooms outdoors, the timing depends on the climate in which you live. In warmer climates, planting can be done throughout most of the year, as long as the daytime temperature is consistently 40°F or higher. In cooler climates, it is best to plant in the spring or early summer to speed up the time from planting to harvest. If your region experiences frost and heavy winters, be sure to plant at least four weeks before the first frost.
Spring is generally the best time to plant mushroom logs. First, it is ideal to cut logs during the dormant season before the buds swell in the spring. Logs can be stored until spring when the daytime temperature consistently reaches 40°F or higher. Logs should not be stored for longer into the warmer months, so spring planting is ideal. Second, planting in the spring allows more of the growing season for the mushroom to colonize the log. Once planted, most mushroom logs require a minimum of five months before they can produce mushrooms. For example, Shiitake logs typically begin fruiting 5-18 months after planting, depending on strain and temperature. If planted in the spring, you may be able to harvest your first Shiitake in the fall. However, it is not uncommon for Shiitake logs to take until the following year to produce their first mushrooms.
Mushrooms can be grown indoors year-round in a climate-controlled room. They need a dark, cool, and humid place to grow, such as a basement, crawl space, or under the sink, depending on the temperature of your house. A dark drawer or cabinet will also work. The optimum temperature for mushrooms is a minimum of 15°C, and they require a few hours of light, which can be artificial. To grow mushrooms indoors, you will need a growing substrate like compost, straw, sawdust, or even coffee grounds. Mushrooms also require an even, warm temperature and moisture once they have spawned. To achieve this, you can use a heating pad to raise the temperature to around 70°F for about three weeks or until you see the mycelium. At this point, drop the temperature to between 55 and 60°F.
The Best Way to Store Enoki Mushrooms
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The log method
To begin, you must select the right log. Fresh hardwood logs are ideal for growing mushrooms. Suitable species include oak, maple, beech, and alder. Logs should be 3-6 inches in diameter and 3-4 feet long. Logs can be sourced from a sustainable forester or by using sustainable practices in culling trees for mushroom production. Logs should be cut from healthy, live trees no more than six weeks before inoculation. Ideally, logs should be cut between December and March. If the logs are going to be stored before inoculation, they should be placed in a well-shaded area out of any wind and tarped. Logs should have minimal bark damage and be free of rot or other visible fungi.
Once you have your log, you will need to inoculate it with spawn. You can use sawdust spawn or plug spawn. If using sawdust spawn, you will need a palm inoculation tool. If using plug spawn, you will need a hammer. The selection of a quality spawn producer and the correct strain is vital to the success of growing mushrooms. The moisture content of the logs should be maintained at around 45%. The most important time to maintain proper moisture content is during the first year's spawn run. If rainfall does not occur every two weeks, be sure to water your logs.
After inoculation, you will need to stack your logs. There are several techniques for log stacking, and the best method will depend on your harvest preference and the natural growth patterns of the mushroom. For incubating logs, stack logs on top of a pallet (or set of logs that have not been inoculated) in a single layer, then stack a second layer perpendicular to the first. Repeat until the stack is a few feet high. When you're ready to fruit your logs, consider using a log-cabin style pattern (square with an open center), lean-to, or A-frame stack to improve airflow and promote fruiting of soaked logs. Logs will produce mushrooms for 3-7 years, depending on the species and the type of wood used.
Mushrooms: Nightshade Foods or Not?
You may want to see also
Mushroom kits
Types of Mushroom Kits
There are various types of mushroom kits available in the market. Some of the common ones are:
- Spray and Grow Kits: These kits are easy and convenient and can be used indoors. They can be reused and revitalized by moving them outdoors or by providing fresh air and a temperature shift.
- Fresh Mushrooms Grow Kit: This kit is extremely low maintenance and does not require any soaking or spraying. It is important to note that you should not submerge or spray these kits and should not use aluminium foil or breathe into the bag.
Instructions for Using Mushroom Kits
- Wash your hands and forearms thoroughly with disinfecting soap and wear sterile gloves before harvesting.
- Harvest the mushrooms before the veils under the caps tear, by gently twisting and pulling the mushroom away.
- Keep the kit moist by spritzing it with water and covering it with a damp cloth.
- For button mushrooms, use trays about 6 inches deep and fill them with mushroom compost material. Sprinkle spawn on top and use a heating pad to raise the soil temperature to around 70 degrees for about three weeks. Then, drop the temperature to 55 to 60 degrees and cover the spawn with potting soil.
- For shiitake mushrooms, remove the plastic covering. The plastic holds in moisture and improves yield.
- For oyster mushrooms, you can use straw or plant-based materials such as cardboard, corn cobs, and toilet paper rolls.
Slicing Shiitake Mushrooms: Techniques and Tips
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Mushrooms can be planted both indoors and outdoors.
The ideal time to plant mushrooms outdoors is in the spring or early summer. However, it depends on the climate. In warmer climates, planting can be done throughout most of the year.
Mushrooms can be planted indoors year-round.
You will need a plastic tub or baking pan, mushroom spawn, growing substrate (e.g. compost, straw, sawdust, coffee grounds), a damp towel, a spray bottle, and a heating pad.
The time it takes for mushrooms to grow depends on the variety. For example, oyster mushrooms typically fruit 3-12 months after planting, while shiitake mushrooms typically fruit 5-18 months after planting.
