Strategies for Cultivating Mushrooms
Mushrooms, the fruit bodies of fungi, offer a protein-rich and nutrient-dense choice for those seeking alternative sources of nutrition. Cultivating mushrooms at home presents an appealing avenue to enjoy homegrown, healthful produce regardless of garden availability. With an array of varieties to choose from, such as the coveted oyster and shiitake mushrooms, as well as more common button mushrooms, growing mushrooms at home has gained popularity as a simple, rewarding pursuit.
Convenient mushroom growing kits are readily available for beginners, making them an excellent option for both first-time growers and gift givers. These kits are adaptable to indoor or outdoor environments, catering to UK gardeners during winter months when homegrown crops are scarce. To achieve optimal yields, growing mushrooms indoors in a controlled environment is preferable, as temperature and humidity levels can be closely monitored to ensure the best conditions.
Types of Mushrooms to Grow
Among the many types of mushrooms that can be cultivated at home with care, the following are the simplest to grow and are offered as growing kits:
- Button Mushrooms: Familiar to supermarket shoppers and thriving in humid, dark, and warm conditions.
- Lion's Mane: Also referred to as the "monkey's head" mushroom due to its cloud-like heads, resembling a flowing mane. This variety is slightly more challenging to grow, as it prefers warmer temperatures (around 25°C) and high humidity.
- Oyster Mushrooms: Available in many varieties, with gray and pink oyster mushrooms being the easiest to grow at home. They require some light and good humidity for growth.
In the following short video guide, the experts at Caley Brothers share their top tips for cultivating mushrooms, including proper watering techniques.
How to Grow Mushrooms
While purchasing a growing kit is the easiest and most straightforward method for UK beginners, additional methods for cultivating mushrooms include:
- Mushroom Spawn: Obtain mushroom spawn and grow it in beds or boxes filled with a suitable growing medium like compost, manure, coffee grounds, or straw.
- Wooden Dowels or Plugs: Impregnate wooden dowels or plugs with spawn, tap them into pre-drilled holes in recently chopped logs, and wait for mushroom growth.
Where to Grow Mushrooms
Mushrooms thrive best in indoor, controlled environments. Suitable locations include sheds, garages, garden cold frames, or cellars where temperature and moisture can be controlled and maintained. Outside, grow mushrooms in beds, on compost heaps, or in logs.
Growing Mushrooms in Beds or Boxes
A rich, moisture-retentive growing medium is vital for mushrooms. Horse manure, while traditional, may be purchased from local garden centers or nearby stables. If the manure is fresh, pile it into a heap and fork it over to mix well every couple of days for two weeks until the heap has cooled and settled. Ensure that the growing medium remains moist, then spread the spawn across the surface, mix it 5-8 cm deep, cover with damp newspaper, and keep it moist. After several weeks, white thread-like mycelium should appear, and subsequent steps can be taken to promote mushroom growth.
How to Grow Oyster Mushrooms
- Straw Method: Soak straw in water overnight, drain excess water, and allow it to cool. Combine the mushroom spawn with the damp straw and pack it into polythene bags, leaving it in a damp, sheltered spot between 20-25°C for six weeks. As the straw breaks down, the mushroom spawn will grow into it, colonizing the straw.
- Bag method: Buy a pack of oyster mushroom spawn, and begin the growth process by placing the spawn in a damp, breathable bag. Store it in a warm and humid environment, such as your greenhouse, and allow it to colonize the bag for six weeks before moving it to a light, well-ventilated location to encourage mushroom growth.
Growing Mushrooms from Mushrooms
While more effort is required, it is possible to cultivate mushrooms from mushrooms by using freshly purchased organic mushrooms, soaked straw, and a lidded container. Cut the stem ends into small slices and layer them in the moist straw, then keep the container dark and moist. Mushrooms may start to form after a few weeks.
How to Harvest Mushrooms
Mushrooms grow quickly, so check them daily and harvest them as soon as the mushrooms are large enough to eat. Some types, such as button mushrooms, should be harvested using a sharp knife to cut the stem cleanly at the base, while others, including oyster and lion's mane mushrooms, should be harvested by holding the clump and twisting one full turn to loosen them from the substrate.
How to Store Mushrooms
Mushrooms have a high moisture content, so store them in a paper bag in the refrigerator or in an uncovered container. Keep them on a refrigerator shelf rather than in the drawer compartment.
Advice on Buying Mushrooms
- Mushroom spawn and dowels are available by mail order from specialist mushroom suppliers and some vegetable seed suppliers.
- Ensure that you buy the right mushroom kit for your needs and space. Growing success hinges on providing the perfect conditions for your mushrooms to thrive.
For mushroom recipe inspiration, visit our friends at olive for a delightful collection of recipe options, including a creamy mushroom risotto.
- In line with growing mushrooms at home for a nutritious and interesting addition to one's lifestyle, one can consider cultivating button mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, or lion's mane mushrooms, as these are among the easiest varieties to grow and are offered as growing kits.
- To create a harmonious home-and-garden environment and augment food-and-drink offerings, consider growing oyster mushrooms using the bag method, which involves placing mushroom spawn in a damp, breathable bag and allowing it to colonize the bag for six weeks before moving it to a light, well-ventilated location to encourage mushroom growth.
