Emma Wilson
Mushrooms are a fun and nutritious addition to any garden, but they are not your typical garden plant. They are a unique life form, more closely related to humans than plants, as they are not photosynthetic and must obtain their food from pre-existing material. Mushrooms are grown from spores or spawn, which are not traditional seeds. Spores are microscopic structures released into the air by fungi, while spawn can be compared to seedlings. To successfully grow mushrooms, it is important to choose the right type of seed, provide the right growing conditions, and maintain proper hygiene. With the right knowledge and care, you can enjoy the delights of growing your own mushrooms.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of mushroom seeds | Spores, spawn, and sclerotia |
| What are spores? | Microscopic structures released into the air by fungi |
| What are spawn? | Can be compared to seedlings |
| What are sclerotia? | Compact masses of mycelium used for propagation and survival |
| Spore germination | First step in the cultivation process |
| Spawn production | Second step in the cultivation process where mycelium colonizes a substrate |
| Mushroom growth conditions | Proper hygiene, right growing conditions, moisture, airflow, and no standing water |
| Mushroom growth temperature | Incubation temperature between 70-85°F |
| Mushroom growth time | 20-30 days |
| Mushroom growth substrate | Sugar, starch, lignin, fats, protein, and nitrogen |
| Mushroom varieties | Shiitake, White Button, Oyster, Enoki, Portobello, etc. |
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What You'll Learn
Mushrooms grow from spores or spawn, not seeds
Mushrooms are unique in the way they grow and reproduce. Unlike traditional seeds used for planting fruits and vegetables, mushrooms do not grow from seeds. Instead, they grow from spores or spawn. Spores are the first stage in the mushroom life cycle. They are tiny reproductive structures, usually microscopic, released into the air by fungi. These spores are dispersed through the air, water, or even by hitching a ride on an animal. They lack a protective shell and do not contain an embryo.
Spores are similar to seeds in that they possess the potential to develop into new mushrooms. However, spores require specific conditions to germinate and grow, including moisture and an appropriate substrate. Under favourable circumstances, the spores transform into mycelium, which is the vegetative part of the fungus and eventually forms the mushroom fruiting body.
Spawn, on the other hand, is the second stage in the mushroom life cycle. It is the living fungal culture, or mycelium, that colonizes a substrate such as straw, wood chips, or sawdust. Spawn serves as the backbone of large-scale mushroom growing operations. It is often used by mushroom growers, much like seeds are used by gardeners and farmers. Spawn is grown from selected genetics and cloned to ensure consistent production of a particular mushroom variety.
To cultivate mushrooms successfully, it is essential to understand the differences between spores and spawn and choose the right type for your specific growing environment. While spores are released by mature mushrooms and dispersed widely, spawn provides a more controlled method of mushroom cultivation, allowing growers to produce specific mushroom varieties with desired traits.
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Spawn is easier and quicker for beginners
Unlike other plants, mushrooms are not grown from regular seeds. They are grown from spores or spawn. While spores are like microscopic seeds, spawn can be compared to seedlings. Spawn is considered easier and quicker, especially for beginners. You can buy mushroom spawn at a reputed online retail store or a gardening supply store.
If you're a beginner, it's best to stick to spawn. The first step is to get the conditions ready for growth. If you're growing spawn in sawdust, sterilize the growing medium before you start. Take your sawdust in a container with water and heat it in a microwave for about two minutes. This will sterilize the sawdust and kill off any microorganisms.
Once done, spread the sterilized sawdust in a baking pan that can be heated quickly. Next, spread the mushroom spawn evenly throughout the pan. Place this setup on a heating pad set to approximately 21°C, as warm temperatures encourage growth. Keep this entire setup in a dark environment, like a cupboard, for about three weeks. This is when your mushrooms will begin to germinate.
After three weeks, it's time to 'sow' your mushrooms by placing the tray in a cold and dark environment at about 13°C. A basement or a cabinet usually works well for this. Add some potting soil on top of the mixture and spray with enough water to make the medium moderately moist and damp. Ensure that the mixture remains cool as the mushrooms grow.
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The right substrate is crucial for growth
Mushrooms are a unique life form that is distinct from plants and vegetables. They are a type of fungus that produces spores, which are similar to seeds, to reproduce. These spores are released into the air or dispersed by water or animals. When the conditions are favourable, spores germinate and develop into mycelium, which eventually forms the mushroom fruiting body.
To cultivate mushrooms, it is essential to provide the right substrate for growth. The substrate is the material on which the mushrooms grow, and it must provide the necessary nutrients for their development. Mushrooms cannot create food from light, so the substrate must contain the right mix of nutrients, including sugar, starch, lignin, fats, protein, and nitrogen.
Different types of mushrooms prefer different substrates. For example, Oyster mushrooms thrive on straw, White Button mushrooms grow on composted manure, and Shiitake mushrooms favour hardwood sawdust or wood. The substrate should be kept moist to promote mushroom growth.
When growing mushrooms from spores, specific conditions are required. These include moisture and an appropriate substrate. Maintaining a clean environment is crucial to prevent contamination, and airflow should be considered as well. The humidity can be maintained by routinely spraying the substrate with water.
Additionally, it is important to select the right mushroom variety for your growing environment and ensure proper hygiene during the cultivation process. By providing the right substrate and creating favourable conditions, you can successfully cultivate mushrooms and enjoy their unique shapes, flavours, and nutritional benefits.
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Keep a clean environment to avoid contamination
Growing mushrooms require a sterile environment and processes to ensure a successful harvest. Mushrooms are susceptible to contamination, which is the leading cause of crop failure. Contamination, or 'contam' in grower slang, refers to anything in the substrate or mycelium that negatively impacts the growth of mushrooms. This includes bacteria, moulds, and animal pests.
To keep a clean environment and avoid contamination, it is crucial to understand where contamination might originate and take practical steps to mitigate the risks. Here are some detailed guidelines to maintain a clean environment and prevent contamination:
Maintain Hygiene
Before handling any equipment or mushrooms, personal hygiene is essential. Take a shower, use hand sanitiser, and wear clean clothes, such as a lab coat or scrubs. Additionally, consider wearing a face mask or mouth covering and laboratory gloves to minimise the transfer of bacteria from your hands and breath to the mushrooms.
Sterilise Equipment and Substrates
Mushroom substrates are breeding grounds for unwanted microbes. Ensure all equipment and substrates are sterile to eliminate harmful bacteria and spores. This can be achieved through pasteurisation or sterilisation processes. Pasteurisation reduces microscopic competition, while sterilisation eliminates it entirely. Use techniques like pressure sterilisation or purchase sterile substrates specifically designed for mushroom cultivation.
Monitor for Discolouration
Contamination often manifests as discolouration, such as yellow or brown spots or streaks on the surface of mushrooms or the growing medium. Additionally, look out for green, blue, grey, or black patches on the substrate, which could indicate the presence of mould or other contaminants.
Control the Environment
The air is a common source of contamination. To reduce airborne contaminants, consider investing in a laminar flow hood, which provides a clean stream of air for mycological work. Alternatively, a more affordable option is to use a still air box (SAB), which is a large clear tote with armholes. You can clean the inside of the tote with alcohol and work inside, minimising direct contact with the mushrooms.
Silence is Golden
When working with open containers like plates, jars, or substrate blocks, refrain from talking. Speaking can introduce contaminants from your breath into the immediate environment, increasing the risk of contamination.
By following these guidelines and maintaining a clean environment, you can significantly reduce the chances of contamination and improve the success rate of your mushroom cultivation endeavours.
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Maintain high humidity and airflow
Maintaining high humidity and airflow is critical to the development of mushrooms. Mushrooms are highly sensitive to changes in their environment, and a consistent level of humidity is crucial for their growth. Humidity allows mushrooms to absorb water through their cell walls, and a lack of humidity can cause stunted growth, cracking, and discolouration. The ideal humidity level for mushroom cultivation is typically between 85% and 95%, although different species may have specific requirements.
To achieve the desired humidity level, growers can use various methods. One simple and cost-effective approach is to use a misting spray bottle to spray the mushrooms and the surrounding area with water several times a day. This method is suitable for small-scale cultivation, but it may not be sufficient for larger operations due to the manual labour involved and the challenge of maintaining consistent humidity levels. For commercial growers, pond misters are a popular alternative as they provide consistent humidity levels and are easy to set up.
Another option is to use a humidifier in the grow room. It is important to choose a humidifier that is appropriate for the size of the room, and a timer can be used to regulate the amount of humidity released. Growers can also create airflow and regulate humidity by adjusting ventilation. Additionally, during warmer months, natural evaporation of water can help raise humidity levels. This method requires a large container with air holes and possibly a small fan to create airflow.
It is important to note that while humidity is essential for mushroom growth, too much humidity can promote the growth of harmful bacteria and fungi that can compete with the mushrooms for resources and cause disease. Therefore, growers must carefully monitor and adjust humidity levels to create an optimal environment for their mushrooms.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushroom seeds are not seeds in the traditional sense. They are known as spores, which are tiny reproductive structures released into the air by fungi.
Spores require specific conditions, including moisture and an appropriate substrate. The spores will then germinate and grow into mycelium, which forms the mushroom.
Spawns are similar to seedlings and are considered an easier and quicker way to grow mushrooms.
The best time to seed mushrooms is when you have decided on the variety of mushroom you want to grow and have prepared the appropriate growing environment and substrate.
Depending on the variety, mushrooms can take between 20 to 30 days to grow from spores. When grown from spawn, mushrooms can take around three weeks to germinate and another three weeks to grow.
