Mushrooms are a common cooking ingredient that is used in different kinds of food items. They offer many health benefits, like low-calorie count and high fiber intake. In addition, they have a high potassium content and also, and they are good in selenium. So, they should be a part of one’s diet.
Mushrooms are easily available in the market, but many people with a thing for homegrown items and gardening wish to grow mushrooms at home. However, growing them at home can be a task because not everyone can do it. So, before learning how to grow mushrooms at home, let’s learn about some important things while growing them.
They are best grown indoors because you can manage the temperature and light conditions better in such conditions. However, you can choose any dark place inside your home for growing mushrooms, like a basement, and even a sink can work. Here are some tips for better management of mushroom spores at home.
Buying The Right Equipment
The first rule for growing mushrooms at home is investing in the right equipment. There are various things, like the mushroom spore syringe and trays. The equipment is important for the fungus’s root structure and helps facilitate mushroom growth at home. The spores for growth will take time and practice. But it will all be worth it in the end. This is the best thing for you if you are a seasoned mushroom grower.
Types Of Mushroom For Growth
You will find that different kinds of mushrooms grow in the wild. You can grow most of them at different spots in your place. But some, like morels, only pop in the natural corners. So there is no issue choosing any mushroom you want to grow at home. However, you should ensure that you are not picking any poisonous ones.
You can choose anything like cremini, white button, oyster, portobello, and others, but you should not forget that the growing needs for each will be different. For example, if you go with the white mushroom, its best growth will be in composted nature. For others, like oysters, straws will be the best option.
Surrounding Conditions
The growth of mushrooms at any place should be supported by dark and cool yet humid growing environments. You can choose similar spots at your home, but before making the final placement, you should check the temperature of that place. Any temperature between 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit will be suitable. Also, you should keep the setup away from heat or drafts.
Winter is the best time for growing mushrooms as various spots of the home, like the basement, will become warmer in other seasons. They can tolerate some light, but always, the spots will be less or low light should be preferred.
4-Step Process Guide To Grow Mushrooms At Home
After deciding on the discussed factors, you can now focus on preparing the overall process for growing mushrooms. The growth kits are available, but if you want to choose anything from your end, you can do it. First, let’s discuss the steps of growing mushrooms at home.
1. Composting On The Tray
The best pick for composting the tray for mushroom growth will be 14*16 inches in size and about six inches deep. It would help if you began by placing the tray on the tabletop and filling it with the composted material ideal for mushroom growth. Also, sprinkle spawn on top of it as a layer.
2. Think Of Using The Heat Pad
If you are growing mushrooms in winter, you will need a heating pad to increase the temperature. Keep the setup at around 70 degrees Fahrenheit for about three weeks. You can increase or decrease this period based on the results. You have to stop doing it when you see the mycelium growth. In other words, the white threadlike growth comes out of the setup. When you see the growth, you can stop using the pad or ensure the temperature variation is about 10-15 degrees Fahrenheit from the earlier temperature. You can always use the home thermometer to monitor the soil temperature.
3. Soil Moisture
Soil health is essential to ensure the growth of the mushroom and its quality. It is a natural rule relevant for other kinds of homegrown and professionally grown items. You need to ensure the moisture of the soil by spritzing it. You can use water for the same, and when you have done it, you should cover the tray with a damp cloth. You can change the cloth with a damp cloth or spritz the same whenever the cloth dries.
4. Harvesting
The overall growth process takes about three to four weeks to complete. But, the timeline may differ due to circumstances, care, and external factors. After the completion of the process, you should harvest them. The ideal time for harvesting them is when their caps open, and the stalk is ready to be cut either with the help of a sharp knife or scissors from the stem area.
It would help if you did not pull them from the soil as it will damage the mushroom and the surrounding fungi that can be in the developing stage. You will end up delaying the process for them, too.
If you are a newbie, you should take your time and do the harvesting promptly. Even as a seasoned grower and harvester, you can think of an everyday harvest when you are cent percent sure of the completion of the growth process. Everyday harvests ideally help in achieving a continuous crop for approximately six months.
Overall, the growth process is fine if you set the base correctly and at the right corners of your home or nursery.
With the growth steps and equipment, you can easily buy mushrooms or make your favorite recipe at home. With the setup at home, you can get homegrown mushrooms quickly. You will love the results, and the efforts will make it tastier. So, you need not wait and begin growing them at home now!