How to grow mushrooms yourself at home?

There are more than enough mushroom lovers in our country! Only for a hike in the forest for a "quiet hunt" you need the accompanying weather and certain climatic conditions. Not everyone will think about growing mushrooms at home, and even almost on an industrial scale. Most consider this to be fantastic. However, everything is real. And we will tell you how to grow mushrooms in a greenhouse or at home.

What mushrooms can be grown at home

The very idea of ​​growing mushrooms at home poses a choice of a specific species. All varieties suitable for home breeding do not need special material costs or additional efforts. The only exceptions are champignons, but an experienced gardener will cope with this problem. The choice must be made, first of all, based on the desired profit. All varieties of mushrooms suitable for growing at home can be classified into two main types:

• woody;
• soil.

The former include the well-known shiitake mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, and winter mushrooms. But to the second - no less popular mushrooms and ringlets. Even with small areas, the harvest can be excellent. That is why these varieties are recommended for growing on an industrial scale.

Growing oyster mushrooms at home on the balcony

Growing technology for beginners

The bulk of the time it takes to grow mushrooms is spent creating mycelium. However, the advice of experienced mushroom growers suggests that it is better to grow this material on your own. After all, even the best and trusted suppliers fail from time to time. Mycelium can be grown in two ways:

• in the grain substrate;
• on wooden sticks.

The choice depends on what kind of mushrooms you plan to grow.

Growing mushrooms on a nutritious substrate

Breeding mycelium

The mycelium is grown in a specific substrate. It is recommended to make sure that its chemical and mineral composition is as similar as possible to that in which mushrooms grow naturally. The composition of this medium must be selected again, depending on the type of mushrooms being grown.

For example, shiitake mushrooms feel more comfortable in wood, mushrooms - in compost, but oyster mushrooms prefer straw. With proper care, chopped straw and sawdust can yield any of these types of mushrooms. However, the substrate must be of high quality. This is ensured by its dryness, absence of mold, as well as unpleasant odors and foreign impurities.

Wheat straw is best suited for growing mushrooms. You can also use rye or barley. Oyster mushrooms are allowed to be propagated in sunflower husks. However, only fresh material should be used, since pathogenic bacteria can grow excellently in old ones.

The mycelium is the backbone that contains a large number of germinated fungal spores. As soon as this base is placed in the substrate, the process of active growth begins. Initially, only the appearance of thin filaments can be observed, which eventually turn into edible mushrooms.

Mushroom mycelium

It is worth purchasing high-quality planting material only in specialized stores. Priority should be given to wood containing viable fungal spores. They will be more resistant to disease. Not planted from grain mycelium. You can also buy common mushroom spores. Only in this case it will take more time and effort to grow your crop. The procedure will resemble the cultivation of any crop from seed. It is better for beginners to avoid this method.

To obtain the maximum yield, it is necessary that the mycelium spreads as thoroughly as possible in the compost. To do this, you need to keep the planting warm. They can be heated using a special electric pillow. Heat is needed only during the incubation period. Once the mushrooms are in the growing phase, it is best to keep them cool. A glazed and insulated balcony is well suited for this.

When growing mushrooms in residential premises, it is necessary to avoid the phase of their ripening. Otherwise, the spores released into the air can provoke allergic reactions and even asthma.

As a rule, seedlings appear in the third week after planting the mycelium. Readiness for harvesting is determined by the hat. You need to cut off ready-made mushrooms only with a knife, so as not to injure those that are still in the soil and are just preparing to give a crop. The ready-made collection can be used both immediately and after preliminary freezing.

Sectional diagram of mushroom growth from mycelium

Other ways to grow mushrooms at home

In addition to the main ones, there are also additional ways of growing mushrooms. True, they do not bring such a large-scale result and are used mainly by children as experiments. For example, some types of mushrooms can be grown on logs. For this logs up to half a meter long are cut from hardwood. This must be done at least 2 weeks before settling with mycelium.

In the resulting blank, holes are made in a checkerboard pattern at a distance of 10 cm. After that, the sticks with mycelium must be sealed. A hammer can be used for this procedure.

Before starting work, you must disinfect your hands and make sure that there is no debris in the holes.

The logs filled with mycelium are placed in the basement and wait until it fills the entire space. The procedure is lengthy and can take up to 1 year. Temperature and humidity are considered key conditions.

A known method of growing mushrooms on coffee grounds. It contains many trace elements:

• manganese;
• potassium;
• magnesium;
• nitrogen.

Growing mushrooms on stumps

This environment is ideal for oyster mushrooms. In addition, the coffee grounds do not need to be sterilized again. The disadvantage of this method is that it is very difficult to get a large amount of freshly drunk cake at home. We'll have to ask him at the nearest cafe. The growing container can be regular freezer bags or ice cream containers.

The mycelium must be mixed with the cake, and then the container must be tightly closed. It can be stored under the sink. Germination time will be about 1 month. Once the surface is white, cut a small hole in the top of the bag. Through it, it is necessary to spray with water 2 times a day. After a week, you can see how small mushrooms begin to grow.

Growing porcini mushrooms and other species at home for beginners is a very exciting and useful activity. The needs of your family can be fully satisfied, even without special skills and large areas.The main thing is patience and a desire to see the result. After all, you can grow them all year round!

Today, in the gardens that just do not grow! And we got to the mushrooms. Human cultivation of this plant began more than 2,000 years ago. Doing this in Russia began at the end of the 19th century.

Today it is not necessary to go to the forest to harvest and eat mushrooms. It is quite possible to grow them yourself. How to grow mushrooms in the country or in the local garden area?

The most suitable and unpretentious for growing at home are the inhabitants of wood (winter mushroom, oyster mushroom, shiitake), as well as soil types of mushrooms (ringlet and champignon).

The article presents the most useful recommendations that are useful for those who want to grow mushrooms on their own.

About growing mushrooms at home

How to grow mushrooms at home? The easiest way is to just place a jar with mycelium on the windowsill and take care of it almost in the same way as for ordinary houseplants. It should be noted that this method is not suitable for all types of mushrooms.

Perhaps the only mushroom that can grow in such conditions is winter mushroom. And this is due to the fact that it has a small size (the diameter of the cap is 2-5 cm) and its legs are very thin.

Under normal home conditions, you can grow oyster mushrooms with champignons, but more space is required for them. However, mushrooms require more complex care than oyster mushrooms. And the room for them requires a cooler (cellar or basement).

Where should you start?

How to grow mushrooms at home? First of all, it is important to carry out the preparatory process - to decide where it is better to purchase mycelium (small spores from which a new crop grows).

There are several options - wooden sticks and rye contaminated with fungi. The first option is slightly more expensive than the second, but there is no rot and viral infections in it. And it is necessary to buy mycelium from trusted suppliers who have good customer reviews.

Growing methods

How to grow mushrooms? There are two ways to do this:

1. Extensive. It is based on growing mushrooms in natural conditions. Many summer residents who have successfully mastered this method use wood cuts and stumps to obtain a large harvest. You can use either straw bales, or with a special substrate, in which you need to constantly maintain a low temperature and constant humidity. This method has many advantages: compactness, relative cheapness and does not require special equipment. The only negative is that if the weather is not suitable outside, it will not be possible to grow mushrooms on the site.

2. Intense. The method is good for those who wish to enjoy mushroom dishes all year round. This method is the most effective, since fertility in this case does not depend on the outdoor climate conditions. But here there is a possibility of large capital investments, since well-equipped premises and special devices are needed to obtain an effective harvest.

It is better to use cereal straw that is not heat-treated. You can get the harvest 4 times a year.

Recommendations

How to grow mushrooms at home? It is recommended to start using one bag of mycelium to see with your own eyes the process of growth and maturation of mushrooms.

Growing mushrooms in such conditions is not a very simple task (it may turn out to be expensive), but it can be done.

It is important to remember the warnings of doctors - during the ripening process, mushrooms throw many spores into the air that can negatively affect the human mucous system. And people suffering from any form of allergy should not be near the pathogen for a long time, which can cause serious complications.

Important conditions for growing

How can beginners grow mushrooms from scratch? For growing in an apartment or in your house, the first step is to prepare a separate room for mushrooms: basement, loggia, balcony, etc.

The main requirement is to maintain high humidity (at least 90%) and a constant air temperature within 20 degrees. The temperature should be reduced to 15 degrees only during the active growth of the mushrooms.

Oyster mushrooms

In more detail, will we provide information on how to grow oyster mushrooms?

This species is the leader among artificially grown mushrooms. This is due to the relative simplicity of the technology, with good yield and not picky oyster mushrooms. Growing them is available to everyone, you just need to follow the recommendations correctly.

Using only some of the materials and tools at hand, you can collect up to 3 kg of harvest from one kilogram of used mycelium. The key to the successful cultivation of oyster mushrooms is the right room, the quality of the substrate and mycelium.

Stages of growing oyster mushrooms

1. Acquisition of mycelium. Many specialized stores and companies that grow oyster mushrooms sell mycelium. It is the purchase from such manufacturers that is an important point for novice mushroom pickers.

2. Preparation of the substrate. How to grow oyster mushrooms, on what substrate? Preparing it is important for growing mushrooms. The best results in terms of germination and yield can be obtained when using a substrate of barley or wheat straw, crushed corn cobs and stalks, sunflower husks and buckwheat husks. An important condition is the absence of mold. All this is crushed to a size of 5 cm.

3. Formation of mushroom blocks (like a garden bed where oyster mushrooms are grown). As a "container" you can take a polyethylene bag, disinfected or thermally treated. The optimal volume of such a bag is not less than 5 kg. To create blocks, it is necessary to fill the bags layer by layer with mycelium and substrate (for each 5 cm layer of substrate - about 0.5 cm of mycelium), in which the latter should be on both the first and the last layer. Then the bag at the neck is tied tightly.

4. Block perforation - the final stage. Small holes are made in a checkerboard pattern at a distance of 10 cm.

5. Care. Starting from the very first days, the room temperature should be in the range of 20-30 ° C, a constant level of humidity should also be observed through automatic irrigation. The daily lighting rate is at least 8 hours. It is also necessary to water the substrate - at least 1-2 times a day with warm water and daily cleaning of the room using chlorine-based products.

After 45 days, the first crop of mushrooms appears. You need to collect them, carefully cutting off the mushroom with a knife at the very base, and in families, which contributes to the preservation of quality and longer storage of the crop.

How to grow porcini mushrooms at home: conditions, features

Porcini mushrooms turn any dish into an amazing royal treat! But you can hardly find them in stores, and you can buy them on the market only in autumn. It should be noted that the porcini mushroom is one of the most expensive among the Russian species. And this is one of the reasons why gardeners still decide to try to grow this mushroom at home or on a garden plot, although this is not so easy to do. How to grow porcini mushrooms without significant problems and costs?

Unfortunately, growing this mushroom in substantial volumes often does not pay off, in this regard, not very large "mushroom farms" are largely owned by private gardeners. The main difficulty is the close interaction of porcini mushrooms with certain tree species, and such natural conditions are difficult to create in a plant. It is easier to create appropriate conditions for mushrooms in a small private area or in a separate room.Porcini mushrooms grow well among conifers, oaks and birches. They also thrive in young mixed plantings and in spruce stands.

More recently, Dutch breeders have bred special porcini mushrooms capable of producing good harvests in premises with an artificial environment: greenhouses, greenhouses, etc. Of course, not everyone is able to cope with the specifics of growing white mushrooms.

Technologies

How to grow porcini mushrooms at home? There are two growing technologies for this mushroom, as well as for the above-mentioned ones:

1. Extensive - cultivation in the forest, on a garden plot (open air). This is the easiest and most economical method, but the yield in this case is highly dependent on weather conditions.

2. Intensive - breeding in an artificial habitat. The method requires considerable financial investments, a special room with the necessary equipment for climate control. With proper care, the yield is consistently high, and the payback for this method is relatively fast.

About the substrate

How to grow porcini mushrooms at home correctly? An extremely important condition is the air permeability of the substrate, since the mycelium without this will not be able to develop fully and may be infected with mold. It can also consist, as noted above, of sunflower husk, straw, buckwheat, dried corn stalks, etc. In the future, you can also use hardwood sawdust.

It is important that the substrate is always dry, free from rot and mold. You should not overmoisten it either. If there is too much moisture left during hydrothermal treatment, the substrate must be suspended so that the excess water is glass in 2-3 days.

After processing, you need to grind the substrate so that it has the property of a sponge (retain moisture). The quality of the material can be determined by clicking on it - the substrate is springy, but does not release moisture. Only then can the mycelium be put into it.

Growing porcini mushrooms in the garden

Many people ask themselves whether and how it is possible to grow mushrooms on a garden plot (extensive method). Of course, it is possible, provided that suitable trees grow on the territory. For porcini mushrooms, birches, oaks or pines are required. But this is not enough either. It is necessary for cultivation to prepare a suitable planting mixture, then choose a place for planting.

At a distance of one meter from the selected tree, you need to remove a layer of soil to a depth of about 15 cm, making sure that the roots of the tree are not damaged. Slightly exposing the roots, pour the seed on them (350 ml for an area of ​​25 sq. Cm). Cover all this with prepared soil and pour water (about 6 buckets per 1 tree) very carefully to avoid erosion of the soil with mycelium. This landing should be done from late summer to mid-September.

How to grow porcini mushrooms in another way? It is more complex, but also effective. In this case, you should use mycelium with horse manure and oak leaves. A shaded area is selected and a small hole 1.5 m wide and 30 cm deep is dug out. A mixture is laid in 10 cm layers in layers, alternating with the ground in such a way that a convex bed is obtained (20 cm above the ground). It is better to make the bed sloping (in the form of a mound) to avoid stagnation of water.

To prepare the fragments, you need to carefully cut off a part of the soil (30x15 cm) around the mushroom grown in the forest with a spatula, divide it into pieces (5-10) and lay it in the pits to a depth of about 7 cm.Plant the mushroom in a checkerboard pattern at a distance of 30 cm. water and cover with foliage. It should be remembered that this method will only yield the next year. However, it is necessary to water the garden bed every week with 5-6 buckets of water. As a result, fruiting bodies will appear by the end of August. It is important to note that the yield of mushrooms planted in the second way is approximately one bucket from a plot of one tree.

Porcini mushrooms at home

How to grow mushrooms at home? Cultivation of porcini mushrooms in a greenhouse, in a shed or at home, that is, in any artificial environment, can be done in an intensive way. The planting process is the same as for growing other types of mushrooms.

First of all, the substrate material must be boiled (60-80 minutes), while it does not need to be removed from the bags. Then drain the water and place the substrate under pressure until it cools down to a temperature of 25 ° C. When boiling in bags, they do not need to be opened, just make holes for the water to drain. The cooled material is transferred to a sterile room, pretreated with 1% chlorine solution (in which the mycelium is pretreated). The mycelium should be placed in the substrate carefully so that the spores do not scatter. In this case, all windows and doors must be closed.

And that's not all. It is not so easy to grow mushrooms. How to comply with all the necessary correct conditions for the cultivation process to bring good results in the end?

The mycelium with the substrate is poured onto the disinfected surface and mixed well, after which the finished mixture is put into bags with volumes of 5-15 kg. The mass should compact well. For growing at home, it is best to prepare 5 kg bags to simplify the regulation of the temperature exchange inside them. The finished bags are flattened and several small holes are made on their sides to ensure the flow of air. This is followed by the usual care, as with all other mushrooms.

Conclusion

How to grow mushrooms in the country? Actually not very difficult. The main thing is to set a goal. You never know what you can do till you try. The work requires special preparation and great patience.

It is at the dacha that the best option for growing mushrooms, since the growing conditions are closer to natural.

Supporters of a healthy diet and just curious gardeners are attracted to growing mushrooms at home. It allows you to supplement the family's diet with environmentally friendly, low-calorie foods that are almost fat-free, but rich in fiber and potassium. Self-cultivation of mushrooms only seems difficult and troublesome. Even beginners can grow them at a minimum cost. Knowledge of the technology and compliance with the requirements of mushrooms for keeping conditions will allow you to get a good harvest.

Substrate selection

Most often, three types of mushrooms are bred at home:

• oyster mushrooms;
• Champignon;
• shiitake.

The rules for growing them are almost identical. The difference can be traced only in the composition of the nutrient medium. Oyster mushrooms feel most comfortable on straw. For shiitake, wood is more suitable - sawdust of deciduous trees. Champignons develop fastest in compost. It is prepared in a special way by mixing the following components:

• manure (horse manure is better, but any other can be used);
• fresh straw made from rye or wheat;
• mineral compounds such as gypsum, chalk, meat and bone meal, brewer's grains, ammonium nitrate, urea, superphosphate.

Although these types of mushrooms have different nutritional requirements, they cannot be called too strict. With proper care, each of them will delight with the harvest in chopped straw or sawdust. The nutrient medium must be of high quality. Evaluate it by external signs: cleanliness, dryness, absence of mold, impurities and odors.

The mushrooms will bring the greatest harvest on wheat straw. On rye or barley, they will also delight you with their abundance and rapid growth. It is better not to take oat straw for growing mushrooms. When growing oyster mushrooms, sunflower husks can be used. Another requirement is imposed on it: it must be fresh. Aged husk is an excellent breeding ground for pathogenic microbes.

Mycelium or fungal spores?

The next step is the acquisition of mycelium, which will serve as material for sowing, seedlings. In the scientific literature, it is called mycelium.It is a base containing many germinated fungal spores. After placing the mycelium in the nutrient substrate, it begins to actively grow. First, thin white filaments are formed, which, as they develop further, turn into mushrooms.

The basis of the mycelium can be:

• rye grains;
• wooden blocks;
• sawdust.

So that the experience of home mushroom growing does not bring disappointment, you need to purchase high-quality planting material. Specialized shops will come to the rescue here. The cost of wood with viable fungal spores is higher than that of grain mycelium. But she has an important advantage - a higher plant resistance to viral diseases.

On sale there are also just spores of mushrooms. Champignons or oyster mushrooms are also obtained from them. This process will be like growing any garden crop from seed. When planting spores, you will have to be patient, because much more time will pass before harvesting. This method of growing mushrooms will require a certain skill, which only practice can get. Therefore, it is not suitable for beginners.

Preparation of the culture medium

The nutrient medium is prepared for sowing the mycelium by sterilizing it. This is an important step that cannot be skipped. Finely chopped straw or sawdust can contain pathogens that can destroy plantings. They will die during the sterilization process. It is not difficult to carry out the procedure at home. After filling a heat-resistant bowl with straw or sawdust, add water to it so that the material becomes damp. Then the dishes are placed in the microwave oven, turning it on at maximum power. Warm up the nutrient medium until excess water evaporates. This usually takes about 2 minutes.

Advice

If there is a lot of straw or sawdust, sterilization is carried out in batches.

The productive use of mycelium involves its thorough distribution in a nutrient medium. So the mycelium will give more harvest. At this stage, warmth is important to disputes. It stimulates their growth. Therefore, the nutrient medium is heated using an electric pillow.

Part of the treated straw or sawdust is placed on a baking sheet or in a shallow but wide saucepan. After scattering the mycelium on the surface of the material, mix it slightly with your fingers. The dishes with the nutrient medium are placed on the electric pillow, setting its temperature at around + 21 ° C. Then the structure is placed in a place securely protected from light. A wardrobe is ideal for this. Keep the mycelium in it for 3 weeks. During this time, it will spread in straw or sawdust.

Requirements for growing conditions

For the development of mushrooms, 3 conditions are necessary:

1. high air humidity (around 90-95%);
2. ventilation;
3. temperature regime.

If the incubation period is transferred to the mushrooms in the heat, then with the entry into the growth phase they begin to need coolness. The temperature is comfortable for them at the level from +10 to + 15 ° C.

Therefore, the experience of home mushroom growing in an apartment is unlikely to be successful. If you have a glazed balcony, you can put the seeded mycelium on it. But in order to create an optimal microclimate there for it, you will have to make a lot of efforts.

There is one more factor that must be taken into account when thinking about growing mushrooms in a residential environment. When they mature, they release many spores into the air. If inhaled, they can provoke a serious allergic reaction: cough, runny nose, watery eyes. In the room where mushrooms grow, you need to be in a gauze bandage, or better - in a respirator. Long-term daily inhalation of spores can cause asthma. It is worth noting that only fully ripe mushrooms are thrown away. Usually, the crop is harvested earlier, not allowing their caps to overgrow. Having isolated the spores, they begin to dry out and become unsuitable for food. It will be more productive and safer to grow mushrooms in a basement or similar premises (cellars, sheds, garages).

After removing from the cabinet, the culture medium with the seeded mycelium is sprinkled with a thin layer of soil and well sprinkled with water. Professionals advise covering the planting container with a damp cloth folded in several layers or a towel. This will help to avoid rapid evaporation of the water. The state of the mixture is carefully monitored, preventing it from drying out and overheating.

It will be possible to notice small mushrooms after 3 weeks. Their readiness for cutting is determined by their caps. You can start harvesting when they finally separate from the legs. A typical mistake for beginners is trying to pick mushrooms with their hands. In this case, the mycelium is often injured. New mushrooms, which are still inside the nutrient mixture, are also damaged. To avoid this, the crop is cut with a sharp knife. The collected mushrooms can be cooked immediately or put in a paper bag and put it in the refrigerator. The maximum storage time is 7 days.

Mushrooms on the tree

Some mushrooms (boletus, shiitake, chanterelles, reishi) are grown on wooden blanks - logs. They are clogged with corks seeded with mycelium, which are made from birch. It is not difficult to get such material, it is on sale. Logs are cut from deciduous trees. Poplars, maples, elms, oaks are well suited for this. The length of the blanks should be 30-50 cm, and their diameter should be 20-50 cm. Saw them out in advance, no later than 2 weeks before settling with mycelium, since fresh wood has high antifungal properties.

Plugs are inserted into holes, which are drilled with a drill to a depth of 5 cm, without touching the core of the log. They are made in a checkerboard pattern throughout the workpiece, retreating 10 cm between them. The sticks with mycelium are compacted. You can use a hammer for this.

Advice

Before starting work, wash your hands thoroughly with soap. In the process, they carefully monitor so that no debris gets into the holes.

Then the logs are placed in a basement or other room where mushrooms are to be grown. The mycelium will eventually spread from the birch plugs, completely populating the workpiece. When this happens, mushrooms will begin to sprout into the log from the cracks. This process usually takes 9-12 months. It is strongly influenced by external conditions - temperature and humidity.

Alternative way

Waste-free practitioners prefer to use coffee grounds for growing mushrooms. It contains nitrogen, manganese, potassium, magnesium. In such a nutrient medium, mushrooms develop quickly, it is ideal for growing oyster mushrooms. The advantage of coffee pomace is that it does not need additional sterilization. The one that he passed during the brewing is enough. But this method is not for everyone. The reason is simple: mycelium can only be sown in fresh grass. It should be brewed during the day. It is not easy to get such a volume of drunk coffee at home, but there is a way out - to ask for cake in the nearest cafeteria.

Next, you need to prepare the landing container. Special durable bags made of geotextiles are available for sale. But mushrooms can also be grown in regular freezer bags or milk cartons, as well as in ice cream boxes. Only 2 conditions must be met: the container must be clean and roomy.

The mycelium is evenly distributed over the surface of the coffee grounds, slightly mixing it into the cake. Do this with clean hands, washed with antibacterial soap. After sowing the drunk coffee, it is placed in a container or bag and tightly closed. It is then placed in a cabinet or under the sink. For germination, mushrooms need darkness and warmth (+18 to + 25 ° C). In such conditions, the thick should lie for about 3 weeks.

When the mycelium completely populates it, it will turn white. Then the cake is placed in a bright place, shading it. A 5x5 cm hole is cut in the upper part of the bag. The culture medium is sprayed with water in the morning and in the evening. It should not dry out, otherwise it will not get a crop. After 5-7 days, small mushrooms will appear from the coffee cake. They will grow literally before our eyes.The main thing is not to forget about hydration. Whitened coffee grounds can be planted on site by burying it in compost or covering it with bark.

Protein-rich mushrooms have become an indispensable ingredient in many dishes. They are added to salads, snacks, scrambled eggs, cereals, soups, roasts, pilaf, stews, hodgepodge, sauces. They go well with meat, fish, liver, pasta, vegetables. Few can resist pies and other pastries with mushroom filling. You can endlessly experiment with them in the kitchen, discovering more and more new flavor combinations.

There is nothing difficult in growing mushrooms for a family or for sale. All they need is a comfortable environment: a nutrient medium, temperature conditions, high humidity and ventilation. They don't have to pay much attention. If you want and have a minimum of knowledge, it will not be difficult to achieve success in home mushroom growing.

3 parts: Basic growing method Growing mushrooms on coffee grounds Alternative growing methods

Growing mushrooms at home is a task that anyone interested in growing food for their own consumption should tackle at least once. Mushrooms are a beneficial addition to any diet because they are low in calories and fat, but high in fiber and potassium. Plus, they're easy to grow at home. Mushrooms are best grown in an area where temperature and conditions are easy to manage. Knowing how to grow mushrooms at home will help you carefully manage your growing conditions.

Part 1 The main method of growing

1. Choose the type of mushroom to grow.

   There are 3 types of mushrooms that are easiest to grow at home: oyster mushrooms, champignons and shitaki. The cultivation method for each type of mushroom is similar, but the ideal growing medium is different.

   • Oyster mushrooms are best grown in straw. Shiitaks grow better on deciduous sawdust, and mushrooms grow on compost manure. These different nutrient media reflect the different nutritional needs of each species. However, each of the 3 species is easy enough to grow in sawdust or straw.
   • The choice of mushrooms for growing is a matter of taste. You need to grow the mushroom that you want to eat.
2. Buy mycelium.

   Myceliums are sawdust permeated with fungal mycelium - in fact, the root structure of the fungus. They are used as seedlings of plants to promote growth.

   • You can buy high quality mycelium from your online store, gardening store, or other specialty organic store.
   • Buy the mycelium, not the spores. Some stores also sell spores that look more like plant seeds (rather than seedlings). Growing mushrooms from spores takes more time and practice and is best suited to a seasoned mushroom grower.
3. Sterilize the culture medium.

   If you grow mushrooms in straw or sawdust, you must sterilize this substrate before sowing the mycelium. This is done in order to kill any microorganisms that might compete with the mycelium.

   • To sterilize the medium, place it in a heat-resistant bowl and add enough water to make the straw or sawdust damp. Place the bowl in the microwave and heat it on high power for two minutes or until the water has boiled away.
   • This kills all microorganisms, making it a safe breeding ground for mycelium to be accepted. You may have to work in batches to sterilize all straw or sawdust completely.
4. Heat the substrate to spread the mycelium in it.

   The mycelium must be thoroughly spread in a nutrient medium for the mushrooms to grow. Warm temperatures stimulate growth.

   • After choosing a substrate for your mushroom species, place a few handfuls of it in a baking sheet. A shallow baking sheet with a large surface area is ideal for growing mushrooms.
   • Stir the mycelium into the substrate with a sterilized spoon or similar. Place the baking sheet on an electric pillow set at 21 ° C.This is the ideal temperature to stimulate growth.
   • Leave the unit in a dark environment such as a closet for three weeks. This will allow the mycelium to spread in the nutrient medium.
5. Place the substrate in a suitable location.

   After three weeks, place the substrate in a dark and cool place (about 13 ° C). As a rule, a basement is suitable for this, but in winter, a closet or drawer in an unheated room will do.

   • If you notice green or brown spots on the substrate (like moldy bread), remove the spots and discard.
   • Pour a handful of soil onto the substrate and sprinkle everything with enough water to thoroughly wet. You can cover the baking sheet with a damp towel to prevent moisture loss.
   • You can place a low heat lamp next to the baking sheet. It will replace the sun, and the mushrooms will begin to reach for it and grow upward, which will further facilitate their collection.
   • Keep the mixture moist and cool while the mushrooms are growing. Check it periodically and spray with water as needed.
   • Mushrooms prefer coolness. The most important thing is not to let them overheat. At temperatures below 21 ° C, the mushrooms should grow excellently.
6. Harvest when the mushrooms are fully grown.

   After about three weeks, you will have small mushrooms. Maintain moisture, coolness, and darkening to encourage their growth.

   • When the mushroom caps are completely detached from their legs, they can be collected. You can pick mushrooms with your fingers, but you risk damaging newly developing mushrooms below the surface. Better to use a sharp knife to cut the mushrooms at the base of the stem.
   • Rinse the mushrooms before cooking. The harvested mushrooms can be stored in a paper bag in the refrigerator for up to seven days.

Part 2 Growing mushrooms on coffee grounds

1. Take out the coffee grounds.

   Growing mushrooms from coffee grounds is an interesting project that reuses coffee grounds that would otherwise go to waste. Coffee grounds are an excellent breeding ground for mushrooms (in particular oyster mushrooms), as they are already sterilized during the coffee brewing process and are full of nutrients.

   • For 500 g of mycelium, you will need 2.5 kg of fresh coffee grounds. The best way to get that much fresh coffee grounds (brewed on the same day) is in a café and kindly ask. Most likely, they will gladly give it to you.
2. 

   Find a container for mushrooms. It is best to use a special filter bag that can be purchased with the myceliums. If not, you can use a large airtight freezer bag, a cleaned milk carton, or an ice cream carton with four holes punctured in the sides.

3. Transfer the mycelium to a container. Wash your hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap, then stir the mycelium into the coffee grounds, crushing it with your hands to distribute it evenly. Place the planted coffee grounds in a plastic bag or container and seal tightly.

4. Place the mycelium in a suitable environment.

   Place the bag or container in a warm, dark place between 18 and 25 ° C, such as under a sink. Leave it on for about three to four weeks until the contents are completely white due to the mycelium settling in the coffee grounds.

   • If green or brown spots appear on the substrate, cut them out to avoid poisoning later.

5. Move the mushrooms. When the contents of the bag or container become completely white, move it to a bright place (but not in direct sunlight) and cut a 5x5 cm hole on top.Moist the contents of the container by watering it twice a day to prevent drying out - the mushrooms will not grow too dry conditions.

6. Harvest the mushrooms.

   Over the next five to seven days, the tiny mushrooms will start to sprout. Keep hydrating them with water and they will double in size daily.When the mushroom caps begin to curl slightly upward, they can be collected.

   • When the mushrooms stop sprouting, plant coffee grounds in your garden, cover with bark mulch or compost, and new mushrooms may sprout depending on the weather.

Part 3 Alternative cultivation methods

1. Grow mushrooms from the kit.

   Growing mushrooms from a ready-made kit is a fun and easy way for beginners. Such kits usually consist of plastic bags filled with sterilized and seeded straw or soil. All you need to do is store the bag in the right conditions for seven to ten days until you have your homegrown mushrooms.

   • The sets usually contain the most common varieties of mushrooms such as champignons, shiitake mushrooms and oyster mushrooms.
   • To start growing, simply open the bag and place it in a well-lit area out of direct sunlight, such as a shaded window sill. The kit can be kept at room temperature, but it needs to be moistened daily with water to maintain a high humidity. Some kits have plastic tarps to cover the bag and keep the humidity level.
   • Mushrooms will begin to germinate after seven to ten days, but within three months they may suddenly start growing two or three more times.
   • After you have collected all the mushrooms, you can bury the substrate with mycelium in the garden, sprinkle with bark mulch, or in a compost heap. Then, depending on the weather conditions, the mushrooms will start growing in this place.
2. Grow mushrooms on a log.

   Another interesting way to grow certain types of mushrooms - such as reishi, ram mushroom, shiitake, oyster mushrooms - on a log. Birch plugs, completely sown with mycelium, are stuck into a piece of log. Stoppers can be obtained online and from specialized mushroom spore suppliers.

   • The first thing to do is find a suitable log for growing mushrooms. You will need non-scented deciduous logs such as maple, poplar, oak, or elm. They should be 90-120 cm long and no more than 35 cm in diameter. Cut them out at least two weeks before clogging in order to destroy the natural antifungal properties of the tree.
   • To "populate" a piece of log 90-120 centimeters long, you will need about 50 plugs. Use a 5/16 ″ drill to insert the plugs. Make holes 5 cm deep throughout the log in a staggered manner. The distance between them should be about 10 cm. Insert birch plugs into the holes and hammer them in to seal them completely.
   • If you plan to leave the log outdoors, you will need to seal the holes with cheese wax or beeswax to protect the plugs from insects and harsh weather. If you will be storing the log at home, in a garage or basement, this is not necessary.
   • Over time, the mushroom mycelium will spread on the birch plugs throughout the log until the entire piece of wood is inhabited. After complete settlement, the mushrooms will begin to sprout from the cracks in the log. This usually takes 9-12 months, but depending on the temperature and humidity, the mushrooms should appear again from year to year.

Advice

• For more information on growing mushrooms at home and outdoors, read this article.

What do you need

• Mycelium
• Straw, sawdust or manure
• Baking tray
• Heating pad
• Potting soil
• Sprinkler
• Water
• Towel

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