How to grow oyster mushrooms and champignons at home?

Who among us doesn't like mushrooms? This is an exquisite and delicious creation of nature. With the onset of late summer and autumn, hundreds and hundreds of thousands of people rush to the forests to collect these gifts of nature. Salted, pickled, fried, these crispy legs and caps are eaten with great pleasure during winter. But, no matter how much we collect mushrooms, they are still not enough for the whole year. And sometimes you really want to taste the mushrooms, but, alas, all the supplies have already run out. How to make mushrooms on your table all year round? The answer suggests itself. Grow mushrooms yourself. The technology of growing mushrooms is quite simple, and, moreover, you will be sure of the ecological purity of mushrooms. Champignons, oyster mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, honey mushrooms are used as "home" mushrooms. But, the most widespread among "home" mushroom growers are oyster mushrooms.

You don't have to be a mycologist to grow this type of mushroom. This is the name of the science of mushrooms. It is enough to know the technology of their cultivation and adhere to certain instructions. Well, and, of course, there must be a desire to do this business. So, here are some guidelines for growing oyster mushrooms at home.

Acquisition of mycelium (seed for growing oyster mushrooms)

The first step towards growing mushrooms is to acquire a seed called mycelium. You can buy it either in gardening stores, or online, through online stores. To get acquainted with the technology of growing mushrooms, it is enough to purchase one kilogram of mycelium. From this amount of mycelium, it is possible to grow about 4-5 kg ​​of mushrooms. Before sowing, the mycelium is stored in the refrigerator at a temperature of 2-4 ° C.

Preparing the substrate for planting oyster mushrooms

The "soil" for growing mushrooms is the so-called. substrate. Barley or wheat straw, crushed leaves and corn cobs, buckwheat husks can be used as a substrate. At first, it is not worth starting to grow oyster mushrooms on sawdust of deciduous trees. Get experience first. The raw materials for the substrate must be dry, clean and free from mold. For the first experiments, 10 kg of raw material is enough, which must be crushed to fractions of 4-5 cm.

   
 
After that, the substrate is subjected to heat treatment. It consists in cooking the substrate for 1.5-2 hours. At the end of cooking, the substrate is squeezed out and cooled to a temperature of 25-27 ° C. The substrate should be moist, but without excess water. It is quite simple to check it. A handful of the substrate is taken into the hand and squeezed. A few drops of water are allowed, but the water should not flow in a stream.

Preparing mushroom blocks for growing oyster mushrooms

As a rule, oyster mushrooms are grown in plastic bags, and they are called blocks. There are other methods, but this one is the simplest and most effective one. Since we have 10 kg of substrate, we take two bags, which should fit 5 kg of substrate. You can use bags and smaller capacity. The bags are disinfected. They are washed and then placed in a 1-2% bleach solution for 2 hours.
Once the bags are ready for use, they are filled with substrate and mycelium. Filling takes place in layers.

First, a layer of substrate 5-6 cm thick is laid out, then a layer of mycelium half a centimeter thick, etc. The topmost layer should be the substrate layer. After that, the bag is tied and perforated in it. It consists in creating slots 1-1.5 cm long at a distance of 10-15 cm from each other. Usually the slots are staggered.

The incubation period for the maturation of oyster mushrooms

After you have prepared the mushroom blocks, they need to be placed in the room set aside for growing mushrooms. Of course, the best option is a basement, where you can provide the desired temperature, humidity, light.
The incubation period lasts from ten days to two weeks. During this period, the temperature in the room should be 20-22 ° C, and it is necessary to regularly ventilate the room, but, at the same time, it is necessary to exclude the penetration of flies into the room. For the first few days, the substrate in the bags will heat up. Therefore, it must be cooled, for example, using fans directed at the mushroom blocks. Excessive internal temperatures can kill the growing mycelium.
After three to four days, you will notice the first white filaments of the mycelium, and after ten days the blocks will turn into a homogeneous white mass with a characteristic mushroom smell.

Oyster mushroom fruiting period

And now the fruiting period is approaching. The temperature in the room is reduced to 10-15 ° C, lighting is provided for 10 hours, and the air humidity is raised to 90-95%. To increase the air humidity, you can spray the room with water, but avoid getting water on the substrate.

 
And finally, the rudiments of fungi begin to appear from the cuts. The fruiting period takes about two weeks. In the last days of the fruiting period, the caps of the mushrooms increase very quickly in size. This moment can be considered the beginning of the harvest. It is recommended to twist the mushrooms out of the substrate and not cut them off.
But, having reaped the first harvest, do not be complacent, as the first wave of the harvest will be followed by the next waves. There can be up to four such harvest waves. Of course, the most productive waves are the first and second. But, and subsequent waves will give a worthy harvest.
In the future, the fertilized blocks are used as fertilizer in personal plots.
As you can see, the process of growing oyster mushrooms is not so complicated and long. With some effort, you will get a great addition to the table, and if you want to sell mushrooms, you will receive additional funds for the family's budget.

Growing champignons at home

Champignons are no less tasty and delicious mushrooms than oyster mushrooms. But, the process of growing them is somewhat more complicated in comparison with the same oyster mushrooms.

To grow mushrooms, a cool room is required, in which it will be necessary to maintain high humidity. The best option would be a basement at home or a cellar.

Preparation of a substrate for growing mushrooms

This is the most difficult and time-consuming stage in the process of growing mushrooms. When preparing the substrate, it is necessary to strictly adhere to the recommendations, since the mushroom yield depends on the quality of the prepared substrate.
The basis of the substrate is compost, consisting of a quarter of winter wheat or rye straw and three-quarters of horse manure. In the absence of such, you can use cow dung, or even bird droppings, but the yield of champignons will decrease slightly.The substrate is prepared in the open air, under a canopy that protects it from rain and sun.

 
In addition, additional ingredients are added to the substrate. For 100 kg of straw add 2 kg of urea, 5 kg of chalk, 2 kg of superphosphate, 7 kg of gypsum. Together with manure, you get about 300 kg of substrate, which is enough for 3 sq.m. mycelium.
Straw soaked in water and manure are stacked in layers. At the same time, the straw is additionally moistened. For 100 kg of straw, 350-400 liters of water are needed. During the formation of the stack, part of the superphosphate and all of the urea are gradually introduced. After the stack is formed, it is mixed four times, adding the remaining additional ingredients to it. After adding all the ingredients, the fermentation process begins in the stack. The final compost will be ready in 3 weeks.

Sowing mycelium (champignon seeds)

As for oyster mushrooms, factory-made mycelium is used for sowing mushrooms. Two types of mycelium are produced - grain and compost mycelium.

Grain mycelium produced in plastic bags. Its shelf life is 6 months, at a temperature of 0-4 ° C. For 1 square meter of sown area (about 100 kg of substrate), you will need about 400 gr. grain mycelium.
 Compost mycelium sold in glass jars. It is stored for about a year at a temperature of 0 ° C, and only 20 days at a temperature of 18-20 ° C. Consumption of compost mycelium per 1 sq.m. sown area is 500 gr.

Sowing and incubation period for mushrooms

Before sowing, as in the case of oyster mushrooms, the substrate is heat-treated. After heat treatment, the substrate should spring slightly when pressed by hand. The substrate cooled to 25 ° C is placed in boxes in a layer of 30 cm. As already mentioned, per 1 sq. M. the sown area will leave, about 100 kg of substrate.
Then the mushrooms are sown. A handful of grain mycelium or compost mycelium the size of an egg is buried in the substrate by 4-5 cm. The distance between the holes should be 20-25 cm. The grain mycelium can also be simply scattered over the surface and covered with the substrate.
During the incubation period, in the room where the mushrooms are grown, the humidity is maintained at 95%, and the substrate temperature should not exceed 25 ° C. After the growth of the mycelium, this will happen in 10-12 days, the surface of the substrate is covered with cover soil, 3-4 cm thick. The cover soil contains one part of chalk and nine parts of peat. After another 3-5 days, the room temperature drops to 15-17 ° C. Regular ventilation should be carried out, but without the formation of drafts. The covering layer is carefully moistened, but so that water does not get onto the substrate and mycelium.

Harvesting champignons

Champignons are harvested at a time when the film that connects the stem of the mushroom and the edge of the cap has not yet broken. Like oyster mushrooms, mushrooms are twisted out of the ground, and the remaining holes are covered with casing layer.

The fruiting period lasts from 8 to 14 weeks. Possibly up to seven harvest waves. From 1 sq.m. the cultivated area can be harvested up to 12 kg of mushrooms.

Autumn is the best time to pick mushrooms. The most popular among Russian consumers are oyster mushrooms. In this article, we will consider an excellent direction of entrepreneurship with a profitability of more than 40% - growing oyster mushrooms as a business.

The content of the article:

• How to register a mushroom business?
• Features of growing oyster mushrooms and champignons
• Oyster mushroom growing technology
• How to properly equip the room
• Competition and business risks
• Initial costs
• We hire staff
• Let's calculate the profitability of growing oyster mushrooms
• Profit from growing mushrooms
• What else is profitable to grow?

The food business has always had high profit margins. In many areas, it takes little investment and effort to generate high returns.
 

How to register a mushroom business?

How to build a business on oyster mushrooms? We start by preparing documents and registering a business.

1. Register as a business entity. Use the services of specialized firms or contact the registration center at your place of residence;
2. Register with the pension fund and tax office;
3. Obtain the required permits and certificates. When selling mushrooms, you will need a laboratory conclusion and permission from the Sanitary and Epidemiological Service (SES);
4. OKVED code 12.31 - Growing mushrooms and mycelium
5. Tax payment form - Unified agricultural tax with a flat rate of 6% of profit.

Note!!! The certificate is valid as long as the products are grown on the same substrate. With its replacement, it is necessary to change the certificate.

Products must comply with the following GOSTs:

1. Quick-frozen mushrooms. Technical conditions. GOST R 55465-2013

2. Industrial processing is carried out in accordance with the following standards: GOST R 56636-2015;

3. General technical conditions for the conservation, pickling and salting of mushrooms: GOST R 54677-2011

4. Dried mushrooms. Technical conditions. GOST 33318-2015.
 

Features of growing oyster mushrooms and champignons

Oyster mushrooms are easy to grow and also have a high yield.

Growing oyster mushrooms as a business is a fairly simple matter, almost any person will be successful in harvesting. When using improvised materials, follow the necessary recommendations and get 3 kg of mushrooms from 1 kg of mycelium.

There are about 30 species of representatives of the genus "oyster mushroom", only 10 species are suitable for breeding at home.

To start a mushroom business, you need to follow the following points:

• allocate the necessary room;
• prepare raw materials and mushroom spores (mycelium);
• prepare fertilizer (the basis of raw materials is a mixture of agricultural waste - chicken / horse droppings, straw).

When growing mushrooms, it is necessary to maintain high humidity and a temperature of 25-30 ° C. Humidity must be present both in the room and in the substrate. During the first drought, the compost is watered so as not to reduce the yield.
 

Oyster mushroom growing technology

A business plan for growing mushrooms includes 3 stages:

• seed production (mycelium);
• preparation of the substrate;
• mushroom picking and sale.

First step

Growing oyster mushrooms and other mushrooms is a fairly simple direction. buy oyster mushroom / mushroom mycelium first. Now it is not difficult, it can be produced at home, but it takes a long time.

When purchasing mycelium, contact a trusted supplier or purchase a trial material first. Consider factors such as variety, species, ripening time, disease resistance, shelf life, color and odor. The temperature of the internal environment of the package should not exceed + 20 ° С. Please note that sellers must be licensed accordingly.

Second phase

Prepare the substrate (straw, sawdust, sunflower husks).

To prepare a mushroom block using a 350x750mm plastic bag, buy 30L of dry substrate.

To create a mushroom block (one bag), you will need up to 200 g of mycelium.

Organic additives will help to shorten the growing cycle by up to 35%, stimulating and activating the growth of oyster mushrooms. Apply them in accordance with the recommendations of experts.

Attention!!! At the stage of processing the substrate, growth activators are introduced in a powder form, before sowing the mycelium - in a liquid form.

Stage Three

Business plan mushrooms is very beneficial for Russia. This area has little competition, which makes it possible to sell the product without any problems.

Obtain a product quality certificate before selling. To do this, hand over the mushrooms for analysis of the presence of heavy metals, herbicides and radiation substances in the culture. Results can be collected within a few days to 2 weeks.

In order for the mushroom business plan to be successful, consider looking for buyers in advance. Decide where you are going to market the crop. To simplify the implementation, we offer you several options for the sale of finished products:

• delivery in bulk to a vegetable base or self-sale at retail;
• catering places: cafes, restaurants, pizzerias, schools;
• sale to shops and supermarkets of the city;
• agreement with canneries or self-preservation of mushrooms.

We offer you recommendations for a combination of a substrate - a fungus:

Mushroom on sawdust	logs, chips, enriched sawdust, cardboard.
Grain mycelium	straw, sawdust, coffee grounds, compost, organic matter
Mushroom sticks	stumps, logs, chips

The pasteurized substrate will eliminate potential sources of contamination. Be vigilant, any sources of contamination must be eliminated.

The surface before sowing mushrooms from straw is wiped, and hands are thoroughly washed before the mycelium and straw are treated. So you will avoid the possibility of contamination of the product, increase the yield and quality of mushrooms.

Video: Oyster mushroom, waste blocks, good harvest

 

How to properly equip the room

The mushroom business is beneficial in that you do not need special equipment. Oyster mushrooms are unpretentious in care and fruitful. If you create the right conditions, you will get a good profit.

At the initial stage of a mushroom business, you need: a greenhouse or a basement in an abandoned building or barn. We take a room that can hold 200 blocks. For 1 sq. m premises can be put in 8 bags.

Divide the room into 3 zones:

• clean (the process of planting mushrooms takes place under sterile conditions);
• warm (needed for growth, development of culture, temperature 22 ° C);
• for germination (with a temperature of 15 ° C and a humidity of 85%).

Room requirements for mushrooms:

1. Whitewashed walls;
2. Concrete floor;
3. Good lighting and ventilation;
4. Constant heating.

To store mushrooms, you need a temperature of 2-5 ° C, so buy a refrigerator with a capacity of 200 liters or more.

In addition to the aforementioned requirements, equip a cutting table, shelves for storing substrate bags, beams, hooks, gloves and bags.
 

Competition and business risks

The main part of the responsibilities is assigned to the head of the cherry business, including agreements on sales, delivery of products with sales representatives. To reduce the cost of growing oyster mushrooms as a business, the functions of planting, fertilizing, harvesting are the responsibility of the family members of the owner.

The level of risk of growing oyster mushrooms is low, due to a simple growing technology, minimal costs, small initial investment. After the departure of imported products from store shelves in Russia, the demand for mushrooms increased without reducing the cost of goods.

Market competition

Several leaders are distinguished among domestic manufacturers:

• Ecoproduct LLC (Moscow);
• LLC Ryazhsky Pogrebok (Ryazan Region);
• LLC "Mushroom Polyana" (Omsk region);
• “Cascade” from Millerovo (Rostov region);
• "National Mushroom Company Kashira"

Initial costs

Our business plan is designed for an area of ​​60 sq.m. Let's take a look at the estimated costs of starting a business.

One-time costs:

Renovation and first month of rent	12000
Air humidifier, 1 pc.	7000
Heater, 1 pc.	3000
Steam generator, 1 pc.	30000
Exhaust fan, 1 pc.	4000
Purchase of polyethylene bags (500 pcs.)	5000
Purchase of plastic boxes (10 pcs.)	1000
Forks (3 pcs.)	900
Unexpected expenses	8000
Total:	66900

Regular costs:

Mycelium purchase	10000
Composting	20000
Rent	7000
Heating and pasteurization	25000
Salaries	60000
Total:	122000

We hire staff

With large volumes of work, you cannot do without employees. You will need workers for both heavy work and daily maintenance. The rest of the work is better controlled by yourself.

Technologist	25 000
Picker-packer	20 000
Handyman	15 000
Total	60 000

Let's calculate the profitability of growing oyster mushrooms

Will the mushroom business be profitable? From 1 block / bag, we will receive at least 2.5 kg of ready-made oyster mushroom in the first 2 weeks, and 2 kg from the second week. So, from each block / bag we get 4.5 kg of mushrooms per month.

Oyster mushroom implementation:

• number of blocks - 700 pcs.;
• output from one block - 4.5 kg;
• cost - 150 rubles. per 1 kg.;
• revenue from one harvest - 472,500 rubles.

If you subtract the amount of expenses from the monthly income, then it is easy to calculate that the entrepreneur's profit will be 350,500 rubles.

You can also sell the waste substrate, it is bought by the population in order to feed domestic animals, as fertilizer for vegetable gardens (the yield of cucumbers with such fertilization increases by 25%). And you can also arrange your processing or open paid courses, teaching those who want to grow oyster mushrooms at home.

Substrate implementation:

• the cost of the used substrate - 3 rubles;
• the number of our blocks is 700 pcs.

Total: 3 rub. x 700 pcs. = RUB 2100
 

Profit from growing mushrooms

In 2 months, the process goes from planting to harvesting:

• the finished product yield is approximately 20% of the compost mass.
• with 15 tons of compost, we will get up to 3 tons of harvest.
• the average cost of 1 kg of champignons is 200 rubles.

How profitable the mushroom business will be:

3000 harvest x 200 rubles. = RUB 600,000 arrived.

The net profit will amount to 478,000 rubles.

The mushroom growing cycle lasts up to 2 months, up to 5-6 such cycles can be organized per year. Accordingly, you can increase your profit by 5-6 times.
 

What else is profitable to grow?

1. Growing vegetables and herbs in greenhouses - a profitable business for the villagers. This is a simple line of entrepreneurship for the countryside with a profitability of up to 40%.

2. How to make money on homemade pickles? The hostess asks such questions, closing the next jar of tomatoes or cucumbers. Naturally, you can make good money on homemade pickles. The most important thing is to use interesting recipes so that it will not be difficult for you to find them.

3. Cherry Orchard is a good option for a family business... This is a seasonal but lucrative option for earning money in the countryside. Good profitability and return on investment for both small and large entrepreneurs.

Recently, many entrepreneurs have been making good money from growing mushrooms. In order to organize such a business, you do not need any special knowledge or large financial investments. According to experts, growing mushrooms at home for beginners is a direct road to prosperity and financial independence.

Useful properties of mushrooms

Mushrooms are a product that is used to prepare various dishes. They can be fried, stewed, boiled, canned and baked. There are different types of mushrooms on store shelves, but the most popular of them are oyster mushrooms and champignons. Experts say that these mushrooms remove radionuclides from the body, normalize blood pressure, and also reduce the risk of various cancers.

If you are unsure of what to do in the village to make money, try growing mushrooms. Such a business can be started practically from scratch and in just a few years it can be promoted to an industrial scale.

Mushroom varieties

The easiest option for beginners to grow oyster mushrooms at home. Champignons are also great for small mushroom production. Some mushroom growers prefer to grow exotic species such as shiitake, ringworm or flammulins. Porcini mushrooms, chanterelles or boletus may also settle in your garden or greenhouse. This option is more suitable for rural residents who are wondering how they can make money in the countryside without large financial investments. Growing mushrooms is one of the best home mini business ideas. Such products are always in great demand among the population, so you can earn good money on their production.

Growing conditions

Consider the technology of growing oyster mushrooms at home. To harvest mushroom blocks, you will need a substrate and mycelium. These components are mixed or placed in layers in plastic bags.They are filled to the top, and small holes are made at the bottom of the bag through which excess moisture will be removed. In order for the mycelium to germinate in the substrate, it is necessary to create a certain microclimate in the room - temperature + 22-24 degrees, humidity 70-85%. Also, don't forget about ventilation. At this stage, you will not need lighting, as mushrooms grow well in the dark. After three days, slits are made in the bag. Mushrooms sprout through them.

After a few weeks, the bags will become overgrown with mycelium. After that, they are transferred to a cooler room with high humidity. At this stage, lighting will be needed for the mushrooms to grow. Fruiting of mushrooms occurs in three phases - 5-7 days after 12-14 days. After the last harvest, the bags with the substrate are thrown away, and new blocks are put in their place. The most important thing is not to violate the technology of growing oyster mushrooms at home. If you are responsible for your business, it will reward you with a good profit.

Now let's talk about how to organize a mushroom growing business at home. To do this, you need a special compost made from chicken manure, straw and gypsum. It is advisable to take last year's compressed straw. Chicken droppings should be fresh and moist. Before starting a farm from scratch and starting to grow mushrooms on an industrial scale, try growing a small batch at home. At first, such a business can be organized in a cellar or shed. In the spring and summer, champignons grow beautifully outdoors under fruit trees. Seasonal cultivation does not require any special equipment. All you need is quality mycelium and properly prepared compost manure. This is a great way to make money from the comfort of your home.

Where to grow mushrooms?

Experienced entrepreneurs use special equipment to grow mushrooms at home. These are the so-called cultivation chambers, in which a certain temperature and humidity regime is maintained. Thanks to this, they get a high-quality rich harvest that fully meets all the established requirements. If your financial capabilities do not allow you to purchase expensive equipment, you can grow mushrooms in abandoned industrial or agricultural buildings, village houses, in a barn, basement, etc.

The room temperature should be within + 12-25 degrees. Humidity level is not less than 85%. Cellars and cellars meet these requirements most of all. In addition, electricity and water supply must be provided to the premises. To remove excess water, you need to equip a drain. Another important point is heating and ventilation. For heating, you can use electric, gas or wood-fired boilers. The required moisture level can be achieved by irrigating crops. If you are planning to produce mushrooms on an industrial scale, it is advisable to install an electronic humidification system. When choosing the size of the room, it should be borne in mind that for 1 sq. meter, you can place 3-5 mushroom blocks.

If you do not have a suitable room, at first you can start growing mushrooms at home on stumps. This is a great option for newbies looking for a start-up business in the countryside.

Where to get mycelium?

The profitability of your business largely depends on the quality of the seed. If you want to start growing mushrooms at home, you need to buy mycelium from trusted manufacturers that have been working in this market for more than one year.

Another option is to grow the mycelium yourself. To do this, you need to purchase high-quality fruitful mushroom seeds for growing at home.In addition, you will have to spend a lot of time to sow them and wait for the shoots. In this case, there are a number of difficulties that are difficult to deal with without a certain amount of experience and knowledge. In general, growing mycelium is quite a profitable business, but many mushroom growers do not want to risk it, so they buy seed from trusted suppliers.

Before buying mushrooms for growing at home, inquire about the company and ask the seller to show documents confirming the quality of the products. Also, do not forget to carefully examine the mycelium. It should have a pleasant smell and a uniform white color, without any black spots or mold.

Harvesting

Small mushrooms appear after 3 weeks. In order for them to grow faster, you need to maintain a certain temperature regime and humidity level in the room. When the caps of the mushrooms begin to separate well from the legs, you can start harvesting. Plucking mushrooms with your fingers will damage the mycelium, so a sharp knife should be used. Finished products can be stored in the refrigerator for 5-6 days.

If you have never done this before harvesting, watch the video of growing oyster mushrooms at home to get an idea of ​​the process.

Financial investments and profit

Newbies who decide to start growing champignons or oyster mushrooms at home should first of all roughly calculate the costs in order to assess their financial capabilities.

For this, the following factors must be taken into account:

• Scale of production;
• Mushroom variety;
• Heating system;
• Cost of mycelium and substrate.

Let's roughly calculate the costs of starting a business for growing oyster mushrooms at home.

To do this, let's take 200 mushroom blocks as a basis:

• Mycelium - 66.5 kg for $ 10, only $ 660;
• Substrate - 800 kg, about $ 80;
• Community expenses - $ 360.

In total, you need $ 1100. These are approximate figures as prices can fluctuate in one direction or another depending on the region.

Let's calculate the approximate profit that a business on growing oyster mushrooms at home can bring. Fresh produce can be sold for about $ 1.50 per kilogram. From each phase, you will receive approximately 300 kg of mushrooms. In total, it turns out 900 kg for $ 1.5, it comes out to $ 13.5 thousand. If you subtract the amount of $ 1,100 that was spent on business development, there will be $ 12,400 in net income.

Now let's calculate the costs for one champignon production cycle:

• Compost - 30 tons, about 20 thousand rubles;
• Mycelium - 10 thousand rubles;
• Heating and pasteurization - 50 thousand rubles;
• The salary for employees is 60 thousand rubles.

In total, you will need 140 thousand rubles.

Let's immediately calculate the future profit. One ton of compost can produce 200 kg of mushrooms. The wholesale price of one kilogram of mushrooms is 100 rubles. With 30 tons of compost, you can harvest 6 tons and get 600 thousand rubles for it. Accordingly, you will receive a net income of 460 thousand rubles. These calculations relate to only one production cycle, since they do not take into account the start-up investments - renting premises, purchasing equipment, etc. If you watch the video of growing champignon mushrooms at home, you can understand that such a business can be done by anyone without experience and special education. This idea is great for aspiring entrepreneurs who are interested in how to start a business from scratch in the countryside.

Sales channels

Finished products can be sold in the following ways:

• Establish wholesale supplies to shops or supermarkets. In this case, you will have to sell the product at a wholesale price. Despite the fact that you will lose a little in profitability, this method will ensure you regular sales of products;
• Deliver mushrooms to cafes and restaurants on order. This is a good marketing option, since mushrooms are often used to prepare various dishes;
• Sell ​​products at retail prices in the market.

Like any other business, mushroom growing requires advertising. To attract buyers, place advertisements in the media and on the Internet. Thanks to this, you will be able to ensure the required sales volume. If you haven't decided what kind of work you can do at home in your spare time, be sure to try this lucrative business idea.

Conclusions on profitability

We hope we have convinced you that growing mushrooms is a great idea for those who are looking for something to make money with their own hands. With the right approach, such a business can become a good source of income. However, in order to earn solid money, you need to constantly develop your business and work on finding new sales markets.

Rate the article -

(

21 voted. Rating: 4.95 out of 5

)

Choosing mushroom cultivation as a business, you are on the path of organizing your own profitable business. It will take a little effort from the owner to understand the basics of the technology of this production. What you need to know to start a mushroom business, we will tell you in this article.

general information

Growing mushrooms as a business is a good opportunity to earn extra money. There are several advantages to such a business idea:

• The cultivation of this product does not require constant attention and presence. Your employment will be part-time.
• In most cases, the cultivation of oyster mushrooms and mushrooms does not require special knowledge and skills.
• The materials required to organize production are mostly fairly simple. Anything that may cause difficulty in manufacturing is recommended to be purchased ready-made.

Growing champignons as a business is a chance to start earning extra money. The word "additional" is the main word here. Since it is rather difficult to turn mushroom production into an independent source of income. Those who are just thinking about how to start this type of business should know a few of the main difficulties that will have to be faced.

Where to begin?

The first step is to determine the sales markets. To produce large volumes, you need to find a buyer for them, and preferably more than one. This will require the conclusion of contracts with large firms, factories, store chains. This in itself is quite problematic.

In addition, a consistently high yield should be maintained. And this is not so easy: mushrooms, just like vegetables and fruits, can be influenced by diseases and parasites. Therefore, beginners should consider this type of business as a source of additional income.

Let's talk in detail about how to grow mushrooms and oyster mushrooms. Perhaps some tips will help you understand this topic a little better.

Oyster mushroom growing technology

Oyster mushrooms are considered one of the most popular types of mushrooms for production. This is due to the fact that the technology for growing oyster mushrooms is one of the simplest. The fungus grows both outdoors and indoors. If you plan to use the second option, then the harvest can be obtained all year round. For business, this method works best.

Equipment and materials

First you need to decide on the choice of premises. This can be a greenhouse, a special room, a shed, a basement. The place must be dry and clean. Walls and floors are recommended to be treated with bleach solution. This is necessary to disinfect the space. After that, ventilate the room well. One room will be needed for the germination of the mycelium, the other for the growth stage of the mushrooms.

After preparing the room, you need to make a substrate.For this, straw, sunflower husks, sawdust of non-coniferous trees or a mixture of any of the listed materials are perfect. They need to be well crushed (into dust) and pasteurized (that is, steamed with hot water and cooled).

Now the substrate needs to be placed in bags (polyethylene) in layers. Between them, the mycelium of the fungus is laid, which is purchased in specialized stores. Make holes in the bags, the diameter of which will be about 1.5-2 cm.Place them every 15-20 cm.

Climatic conditions

Place the bags in a closed, dark room. The air temperature in it should be about 22-25 degrees, humidity - about 95%. After 25-30 days, transfer the plastic bags to the second room, the temperature in which should be an order of magnitude lower - about 12-18 degrees.

The technology of growing oyster mushrooms requires that the room in which the bags will be located for the second half of the time is constantly ventilated and humidified. This is necessary so that carbon dioxide does not accumulate in the room. In order not to resort to complex technologies, you can use a simple method. It is enough to put a few buckets of water in the room and force the air to circulate using a conventional fan.

As indicated above, the air temperature should not exceed 18 degrees. Maintain humidity at 95%. The room must have lighting that would work for 12 hours a day. Fluorescent lamps are suitable for this.

Important! Wear a gauze bandage or respirator when working in a room with sprouting fungi. This is necessary to prevent the oyster mushroom spores from entering the respiratory tract. They can cause severe coughing or allergic reactions. If you are engaged in the production of oyster mushrooms on a large scale, then the use of such protective equipment is a must!

Approximate calculations

The guidelines provided can be used to create a production business plan. Oyster mushrooms are collected at the rate of 3 kg from 10 kg of substrate. You can get 1-2 harvests from one bag, after which its contents must be replaced. The substrate is renewed about 4-5 times a year, that is, once every 2-3 months.

Experts say that one square meter of such a "plantation" can bring from 80 to 100 kg of mushrooms per year. As you can see, growing mushrooms like this at home is a simple and uncomplicated business. By starting small and having a permanent sales market, you can increase the size of your production.

Technology for growing mushrooms at home

Excellent taste and the ability to grow champignon at home made it the most famous and widely used in the world. It is enough to get acquainted with the technology of its production in order to get a harvest of fresh, selected and environmentally friendly mushrooms several times a year.

Where to begin?

First, you need to determine the room where you plan to grow mushrooms. For this, a barn, a greenhouse, a basement, a garage and even a balcony may be suitable. Like oyster mushrooms, champignons love high humidity, good ventilation and moderate temperatures. Light is important, but not essential. The best for the growth of the mushroom is a temperature of 12 to 20 degrees and an air humidity in the range of 50-55%. For production, you need racks, plastic planting boxes, fans and thermometers to monitor the temperature of the substrate and air.

Composting

Experts recommend starting mushroom cultivation at home with composting. Unlike oyster mushrooms, additional materials are required here. Take this issue responsibly, because a nutritious soil for mushrooms is a guarantee of a high yield. If it is prepared correctly, then you will receive mushrooms in the amount of 20% of the compost volume.

The constituents

There are many formulas for preparing nutritious soil. But there are components that must be present in the compost. All mixtures are made from manure. Horse manure is considered the best, but manure from pigs, cows, birds and sheep will also be effective. The second required component is straw or hay. They should be fresh and unripe.

In addition to these materials, various fertilizers are put into the compost: beet or potato tops, sunflower husks, brewer's grains or other organic waste. In addition, a good mixture requires the presence of nitrogen-containing components. For example, urea or ammonium sulfate.

Additives such as bone meal, cotton processing waste, and bran will also be useful. The presence of mineral elements is mandatory - gypsum, chalk or superphosphate. Here is one of the most common formulas: for 100 kg of horse manure, you need 2.5 kg of gypsum, 50 kg of winter straw (chopped) and 15 kg of dried droppings.

Manufacturing process

During the production of nutritious soil, it is necessary to pasteurize it. First, mix the manure with the milled straw and leave to ferment. During it, the mixture will heat up to 50-60 degrees. As soon as the desired temperature is reached, and this will take 4-6 days, it is necessary to interrupt. This involves mixing the mixture thoroughly and adding nutrients to it.

It takes about 5-6 interruptions with a break of 2-5 days between them. All stages take about 20-25 days, after which a ready-made substrate for mushrooms is obtained. After the last mixing, the compost should be allowed to warm up to 60 degrees, and after the ammonia smell ceases to emanate from it, it should be laid out in specially prepared boxes for mushrooms. As soon as the temperature of the compost drops to 24-25 degrees, the mycelium is placed in it. The sowing depth should not be more than 10 cm.

Climatic conditions

During the germination period, it is important to maintain sufficient air humidity and substrate temperature, which should not exceed 30 degrees. After planting the mycelium, cover the compost with newsprint or plastic wrap. Regular moistening of the substrate is the basis for the full growth of fungi. But it does not need to be watered, but sprayed. In addition, do not forget to constantly humidify the walls and floor of the room in order to increase the humidity in the air.

Gobtirovka

The production of champignons is divided into several stages: preparation of the substrate, planting of mycelium and grubbing. The latter consists in pouring a layer of soil onto the compost, the thickness of which should not exceed 3-4 cm. It should be relatively loose, poor and have a neutral reaction. A mixture of peat and chalk or loamy soil is best. During this period, the substrate temperature should be in the range of 20-22 degrees, and the air temperature - 13-16 degrees.

Harvesting

Somewhere in 20 days after the last stage (gobbing) it is time to harvest. It lasts from 1 month to two. Mushrooms appear in "waves", after each compost must be watered. Champignons are harvested without a knife, by hand. To do this, the mushroom must be carefully twisted. Harvest the crop completely, without leftovers. This will quickly cause a new "wave" of growth and protect new fungi from the attack of pests.

After harvesting is over, the compost should be removed and the racks and crates disinfected. In addition, throughout the entire stage of growing mushrooms, periodically treat the room with bleach or potassium permanganate solution. Pests and diseases love a humid environment and tend to multiply in it with a vengeance, and this will be detrimental to future mushrooms.

Business costs

According to various sources, the profitability of the mushroom and oyster mushroom growing business ranges from 30 to 50%.This difference is explained by differences in production volumes, microclimatic parameters of the premises, transport costs, energy costs, as well as in labor and material resources.

Before starting a similar business on a large scale, assess the level of costs. Direct costs of organizing our own production for growing mushrooms include the cost of purchasing manure, chicken droppings, straw, mineral additives (or buying ready-made compost).

This also includes spending on the purchase of consumables: containers, plastic wrap, seed mycelium. In addition, you need to take into account the cost of fuels and lubricants, rent, electricity, utilities and payroll to employees. This is not a complete list of expenses. Therefore, at the initial stages, you can limit yourself to small volumes, the production of which is easy to establish at home.

Finally

Choosing mushroom cultivation as a business, you need to understand that this is a process that will require time and knowledge from you. But it is enough to do the procedure once in a small volume in order to understand the technique and gain experience. In the future, you will not think about how to grow mushrooms.

Business will allow you not only to earn extra money, but also to enjoy the production process itself. With the right approach, you can get 10 to 15 kg of mushrooms from 1 square meter of substrate. It is profitable to sell champignons and oyster mushrooms in winter and spring, when the demand for this product is especially high.