What mushrooms can be grown in the basement of an apartment building?

Growing champignons in the basement is most often perceived not as a business idea, but as a strange hobby of an amateur gardener. However, with such an occupation, you can really make a profit! To do this, you just need to competently approach the matter: draw up a business plan, calculate profitability and investments, assess risks.

If you are interested in the idea, let's get down to the debriefing!

Where to start a business?

Growing mushrooms in the basement of a residential building is a very real idea for implementation. Why not, because the microclimate is fully consistent with the conduct of such an activity, and mushrooms are completely picky about the conditions.

A step-by-step algorithm for organizing a business can be presented as follows:

1. Understand the technology of growing mushrooms.
2. Prepare a basement for placement of seedlings.
3. Disinfect the premises.
4. Buy mycelium.
5. Purchase compost or raw materials for its production.
6. Plant the mycelium in the substrate.
7. Control temperature and humidity levels.
8. Harvest according to the prescribed rules.
9. Find points of sale and sell the product.

We will analyze each point of organizing the cultivation of mushrooms in your own home.

Business registration

The cultivation of champignons as a business (in the basement) must be officially registered. Unless, of course, the volume of your production is limited by the limits of "a batch for yourself, a batch for neighbors."

When it comes to business specifically, and especially about implementation through retail outlets, cafes, etc., you cannot do without documents.

Do not worry if you haven’t come across this question before. It's pretty simple. Let's represent your actions in the form of a step-by-step algorithm:

1. It is necessary to register an individual entrepreneur. To do this, you need to go with your passport to the nearest tax office.
2. As an indication of the activity, you choose agricultural production and sale.
3. With this type of work, you can count on a single agricultural tax - 6%. This is a very profitable taxation option.
4. The room for growing mushrooms is subject to inspection by employees of the phytosanitary inspection. The basement must have a permissible background radiation. After verification, you will be issued a certificate.
5. Also in the phytosanitary inspection, you will check the goods before selling. No serious client will cooperate with you without a certificate of quality. The validity period of one certificate is the "life" period of one batch of compost. You will provide this data during registration.

Next, let's take a closer look at the conditions for growing mushrooms in the basement.

What conditions are required for work

The cultivation of mushrooms in the basement of a private house follows the same principles as in any other place. We'll talk more about the technology later. Now let's figure out what conditions are necessary to get a bountiful harvest of mushrooms.

Growing champignons in the basement of a garage or other room presupposes a solid, solid building. We will analyze the rest of the requirements in stages:

• Contrary to popular belief, the floor should be covered with concrete, not dirt.
• The room itself is maximally isolated from the environment, excluding the possibility of contamination sources from outside.
• Another difference from other types of vegetation grown for sale: champignons do not need a constant source of light. This translates into substantial savings in equipment and utility bills. It is enough to hold one lamp in the basement to work with convenience.
• Even in a small area, it is possible to organize the cultivation of a significant amount of the crop. To do this, the containers are installed "in layers", placing ordinary racks in the basement. The growth height of the mushrooms is small, which allows you to make tiers at a short distance.
• It is important to consider this feature: the mushroom compost will emit unpleasant carbon dioxide. It is unpleasant because it leads to mustiness. And mushrooms do not tolerate such a situation. Establish an efficient ventilation system to avoid problems.
• Do not overdo the ventilation of the room. Drafts are also the enemy of your seedlings. It is also worth installing a mosquito net with small meshes on the ventilation holes to prevent insects from getting inside.
• Mushrooms, however, are unpretentious to the temperature regime. Try to maintain an "even" level, that's enough. In summer, a fan is used if necessary. Growing champignons in a basement in winter may require installing a heating system (if the room is very cold).
• Control the humidity level in the cellar. It can be reduced by ventilation, and increased by a simple spray bottle with water.

What preparation of the premises is needed before growing?

Like many other mushrooms, mushrooms are susceptible to diseases and parasites. Growing in the basement (the technology of the process is, in fact, extremely simple) requires careful preparation of the place before work begins. Preliminary work consists of disinfecting the room, treating surfaces, removing mold and even a chance for its appearance in the future. If you do not approach this issue carefully, the crop can be spoiled. It's a shame to destroy a case for several months out of sheer laziness, isn't it?

If you do not want to check the resistance of fungi to a harmful environment, prepare the territory like this:

1. Examine the room for insects (it is important if vegetables were previously stored in this cellar). If you find at least a few individuals, be sure to process chlorophos.
2. All surfaces are covered with lime, to which copper sulfate is added.
3. Use a sulfur stick to fumigate the room.
4. Also, the space is sprayed with a 4% formalin solution.
5. Want to insure yourself? Take a deep container of sawdust and sprinkle it with disinfectant. Place the box at the entrance to the cellar. It will serve as an additional barrier for pests.
6. After carrying out the manipulations, carefully check the basement. Otherwise, you can harm not only the seedlings, but even your own health.

Sometimes simple airing does not give much results. This indicates the fact that you need an additional ventilation system. For example, you can put additional fans above the racks with mushrooms. If your business expands, it makes sense to invest further in installing air purifying filters in the ventilation system.

Champignon cultivation technology

What is the principle of planting champignons? Growing in the basement (process technology, to be more precise) has some features:

• Zoning. It is recommended to divide the basement into two parts - for the incubation period and for direct distillation.The fact is that you will need to observe different temperature conditions. Zoning the space will greatly facilitate the task.
• As mentioned, each period needs its own temperature. For cultivation - 23 ° C, distillation - 12-17 ° C.
• Carefully follow the composting conditions indicated on the packaging. Horse manure is considered the best base. When using it, an increased yield is noted.
• A self-made substrate will always be better than a purchased one. But to save time and effort, it can still be purchased.

Growing process

When all the conditions for growing mushrooms in the basement are met, you can proceed directly to the process. The easiest way for beginners will be to imagine it in the form of a step-by-step algorithm:

1. We plant the mycelium in the substrate. Typically, entrepreneurs purchase mycelium ready for planting to grow at home. Most often it is a base grown in special laboratories in which ideal conditions of sterility are maintained. They buy mycelium for planting through intermediaries - on the Internet, in All for Garden stores, as well as directly from suppliers.
2. It is very simple to calculate the required amount of mycelium: 1 m2 - 500 grams of "living" medium. If you decide to grow mycelium from spores, you need 400 grams.
3. The planting process is not very different from the usual one: you need to make holes about 5 cm deep. Properly prepared compost will feel a little springy. Keep a distance of at least 15-20 cm between the holes. Place a piece of mycelium in each hole.
4. For planting spores, holes do not need to be made. The seeds are simply poured evenly onto the ground. The mushroom pickers will pave their own way.
5. During the incubation period, the entrepreneur's task is to monitor the level of humidity and temperature. How to do this is described in more detail below.
6. For permanent moistening of the earth, you can cover it with paper (cloth) and moisten it.
7. 10-12 days after planting, cover the substrate with another layer of earth - literally 3-4 cm. The earth is prepared in a special way: peat + lime + soil in a ratio of 5: 1: 4.
8. The incubation period will end in 4-5 days. During this time, regularly moisten the air and soil with a spray bottle.
9. The next growing period is forcing. At this time, the temperature in the basement is lowered to 12-17 ° C. Sometimes this is difficult to achieve, it is much easier to move the racks to another room. For this, in the section above, it was proposed to zone the basement.
10. The mushrooms will start growing soon. Follow the rules for collecting them and do not over-ripen the mushrooms.

Sales channels

A rare person in our time does not use champignons. Growing at home in a basement can meet the needs of one family of mushrooms. But when it comes to business, of course, it is necessary to establish distribution channels. Finding clients is the secret to the success of this endeavor.

Growing champignons in a basement rarely involves a large amount of mushrooms harvested. Therefore, the surplus that family members do not use can be sold in the nearest market.

If the business is still put on stream and you want to find a more "solid" sales market, consider the following options:

• It is not necessary to sell the mushrooms directly to those who consume them. Using intermediaries can reduce your profits, but it will provide you with a steady stream of orders. Whether such a scheme is beneficial in your case, decide for yourself.
• Shops, supermarkets, cafes and restaurants can act as an intermediary for the sale of mushrooms.
• If you get a solid harvest, it makes sense to look for an opportunity to conclude a supply agreement with manufacturers of semi-finished products (champignons can be part of pancakes, pizza) or cookery.
• A good idea for promotion is to create your own website. On it you can post useful information for the consumer about mushrooms in general and champignons in particular.The price list, potential discounts, terms of delivery of products to buyers, contact information are also indicated there.

Calculation of financial investments

Growing champignons in the basement, which is positioned as a business, will be quite cheap. Of course, it all depends on the resources you have and the planned production volumes. However, the absence of the need to pay for the rent of the premises is already a big plus!

It is also important to note that by growing champignons, an entrepreneur frees himself from such a large cost item as buying equipment. It is on technology that the lion's share of the budget is usually spent when organizing a business.

Consider the remaining cost items for 1 cycle of mushroom cultivation:

• raw materials for the manufacture of 1 ton of compost - 1000 rubles;
• mushroom mycelium - 500 rubles;
• creating the necessary conditions in the basement - 2000 rubles.

In total, we get the amount of 3500 rubles. As you can imagine, this is a ridiculous price to pay for starting your own business, albeit modest.

Profitability and payback of the mushroom business

If you have correctly considered all the requirements for growing white champignon in cellars, each mycelium can bring you 5-8 harvests. It is worth noting that only the first three will bring the main amount. Typically, the growing cycle is 1-2 months.

Follow these rules when harvesting:

• Control the state of the mushrooms - they must not be allowed to overripe.
• It is easy to determine the right moment for collection - the bottom of the champignon hat is covered with a white film.
• Champignons that are grown at home are not cut, remember this! They just need to be gently twisted around their axis and taken out.
• When you get the mushroom, sprinkle it with earth.
• If you follow simple rules, new mushrooms will grow for several more weeks.

Let's calculate the estimated profit from the business:

• 1 ton of compost is 200 kg of mushrooms, if all conditions have been met;
• 1 kg of this type of mushroom is now estimated at 100-150 rubles;
• profit from 1 harvest cycle - 20,000-30,000 rubles.

As you can see, the ROI is 100%. The investment will pay off within a few months.

What risks await an entrepreneur?

Growing champignons in the basement of a house, like any other business, involves certain risks for an entrepreneur. You need to know them and, if possible, minimize negative consequences.

• Although one cannot speak of high competition in this area, it is difficult to find a stable sales market. Start building partnerships before harvest, as the product spoils pretty quickly. You can familiarize yourself with the ideas for finding buyers above.
• Champignons are not particularly whimsical mushrooms. However, they are also susceptible to diseases, as well as other factors that affect productivity. Monitor compliance with all growing rules and the condition of the mycelium.

Growing champignons in the basement is a decent business option at home. It has a number of advantages at once: low competition, minimum starting budget, 100% profitability, ease of planting and caring for mushrooms. However, it is possible to get decent revenue only if the entrepreneur establishes a permanent sales channel. If you find enough buyers or one, but wholesale, you can recoup your investment and make a profit after the first harvest.

And be sure not to be too lazy to draw up a business plan before starting to implement the idea in order to make calculations in detail and outline the work scheme.

One of the many options for using a basement or cellar - growing mushrooms and plants - is successfully practiced by many owners and, moreover, can turn into a source of additional income if you go beyond your own needs. In this article, we'll talk about what you can grow in a basement.Separate materials have been prepared on our website about the peculiarities of the cultivation of certain types of mushrooms and plants.

What to grow?

Let's list the common options. In the basement, cultivation is practiced:

1. Mushrooms. Most often these are champignons and oyster mushrooms. Less commonly, shiitake and porcini mushrooms.
2. Vegetables. Usually, we are talking primarily about tomatoes and cucumbers.
3. Greenery. These are green onions, dill and parsley. It is worth mentioning separately, since many consider it is the cultivation of greenery for sale as the main business idea associated with generating additional income.
4. Strawberries.
5. Flowers.
6. Animals. We are talking about fish and crayfish. The least common and most expensive option, so we will only mention it in passing.

Hydroponics: a nutrient solution is supplied from below to the plant roots.

How to grow?

In fact, the success of the entire event depends on how accurately we can recreate the conditions required to grow the products that we need. That is, there are a number of key points to consider:

1. Ventilation. Good ventilation is the most important factor in the successful cultivation of mushrooms and plants in a cellar or basement. We also recommend covering the ventilation openings with a fine mesh so that insects and pests cannot get through them. Plants and mushrooms love fresh air.
2. Disinfection. Carry out the necessary actions related to the disinfection of the premises. This can be, for example, whitewashing the walls with lime. Mold in our underground garden is useless.
3. Lighting. Some mushrooms (we are talking about champignons) do not need lighting. But in the case of growing plants, you will have to take care of this, since vegetables and herbs need to provide normal daylight hours for proper growth and development. This is a very impressive item of expenses, since you will have to attend to not only the selection and purchase of suitable equipment (lamps), but also to plan an increase in electricity bills.
4. Substrate and hydroponics. The use of exclusively land mixture (substrate) is now increasingly being replaced by hydroponics - a convenient and technologically advanced method that implies plant nutrition from a supplied aqueous solution. In this case, the roots of plants can receive the necessary substances both directly from the solution and through a substrate moistened with a nutrient liquid. You will need to choose the appropriate method. For example, mushrooms are grown on a substrate; it is permissible for plants to use hydroponics.
5. Care. This point varies considerably depending on what you are growing. For example, if we are talking about plants, then in order to ensure proper care, you will need to understand the peculiarities of their feeding, pollination and other nuances. And mushrooms are very sensitive to temperature conditions.

How a hydroponic system works.

Further, we will designate some of the main features that characterize the process of growing mushrooms, plants and animals in a basement or cellar.

Note that this material contains only general overview data that will help you present the big picture. We will cover the cultivation of certain types of products (for example, champignons) in separate detailed articles.

Mushrooms

Growing mushrooms in a basement or cellar is perhaps the most common and highly demanded option, and it is also not particularly expensive. If you take care of effective basement ventilation during construction, optimal temperature and humidity conditions will most likely be met by default.

However, speaking about the observance of the temperature regime, it is possible to identify seasonal restrictions. To maintain the desired temperature in winter (of course, if you do not live in warm countries), you will need an additional heating and heating system. And, therefore, here we will talk about increasing costs.

In the summer, this issue is resolved by itself, so if you want to avoid additional heating costs, grow oyster mushrooms or mushrooms in the summer - you will have time to harvest an excellent harvest.

Champignons do not need additional lighting.

Let us once again mention the advantage of champignons - these mushrooms do not need lighting.

Growing mushrooms in a basement will require the following raw materials: a specially prepared substrate (you can buy or do it yourself) and, in fact, mycelium. Mushrooms can be grown on shelves equipped for this purpose in the basement.

Plants

This paragraph will focus on vegetables (tomatoes and cucumbers), herbs (dill, parsley, green onions), strawberries and flowers. Let's make a reservation right away that it will be a little more difficult to organize the cultivation of plants than mushrooms. Which will certainly affect the costs - this is a more expensive pleasure.

As mentioned above, in the case of plants, you will have to implement a suitable lighting system, choose a growing method and how to organize hydroponics. You will also need to carefully study the rules of care (feeding, pollination, etc.) for the plant you decide to breed.

Rack for forcing green onions.

The main task of lighting is to maintain a daylight regime suitable for a particular plant.

For lighting, special phytolamps are best suited. It is ineffective to use only the usual incandescent lamps. To fully ensure photosynthesis (if phytolamps could not be obtained), use them in combination with other types of lamps (for example, fluorescent). Also remember that incandescent bulbs heat the air, that is, they affect the temperature.

In terms of convenience, hydroponics wins significantly. At a minimum, you do not have to deliver the required amount of soil to the basement and monitor regular watering. The composition of a hydroponic nutrient solution varies from plant to plant, as different species require a different set of minerals.

Onions can be grown in the basement all year round.

Speaking about the rules of care, one cannot fail to note the need for timely pollination. Be sure to find out if you need to pollinate your plants yourself (this simple operation can be done with a brush).

Fish and crayfish

Let's just mention that in the basement you can grow various types of fish (for example: sturgeon, carp, crucian carp and carp), as well as crayfish. This will require a lot of additional equipment, including to ensure the proper water quality - a parameter of paramount importance for successful cultivation.

Growing sturgeon is not an easy task, but nothing is impossible.

In order to grow fish or crayfish, you need to install special tanks in the room, establish a closed water supply system, install filters, water heaters and compressors.

Of course, you will also need to thoroughly study the housing rules that support the normal functioning of the animals.

What else is important to know?

If you grow vegetables in your basement, we recommend choosing varieties for which the growing season (plant development time) is minimal.

Growing mushrooms in the basement is the option we recommend to start with if you just want to try to get your own “underground” crop at home. Moreover, it is not difficult to grow such mushrooms as champignons or oyster mushrooms.

Be sure to think about the financial side of the issue. Plan the costs required for both project implementation (building racks in the basement, purchasing raw materials, etc.) and maintaining it (for example, energy costs and plant maintenance). And if the predicted result justifies the investment, get to work!

So, now you know a few more options for using a cellar or basement.We wish you a great harvest and more delicious dishes from home-grown mushrooms and vegetables!

Recently, such an occupation as mushroom growing has become more and more popular. Most people want to grow mushrooms on their own for their own needs or as a small business. And it is worth saying that this is completely simple to do, since mushrooms are quite unpretentious and do not require much effort when growing. If you have a free basement, then this article will focus on growing mushrooms in the basement.

Features of growing mushrooms in the basement, advantages

Growing mushrooms in the basement means the year-round availability of this product, the opportunity to constantly pamper yourself with delicious and fresh mushrooms. In addition, the idea of ​​a mushroom growing business looks very attractive. A business based on home growing mushrooms in the basement is a great option for additional income. A business idea has its advantages, namely:

• mushrooms do not need special attention when growing them, respectively, there is a lot of free time;
• cultivation does not require special knowledge and skills;
• all the materials necessary for cultivation are very simple, they can be obtained at home, and, if necessary, bought ready-made;
• minimum financial investment.

With good results, mushroom growing can grow from a hobby into a main source of income. It is very important to grow a good and high-quality product, conclude supply contracts with shops, restaurants, canteens.

Cellar varieties

For growing in basement conditions, all the same mushrooms are suitable that are usually grown in large greenhouses and mushroom pickers. Only oyster mushrooms and mushrooms can be grown in the basement. The latter, in specific cases, will be more whimsical. The thing is that champignons love light, therefore, for their cultivation, powerful lamps of diffused daylight will be needed, which should illuminate myceliums 12-13 hours a day. The easiest way is to grow oyster mushrooms in basements - they do not like light, the dampness of the basement and low air temperatures suit them.

What should be a basement for growing mushrooms

Before starting to grow mushrooms, the cellar must be prepared accordingly. It will not be enough just to plant mycelium in the drawers of the cellar and leave the light on.

Preparing a cellar for growing mushrooms involves a number of operations, which include:

Lighting... It is worth considering that for the cultivation of each type of mushroom, individual lighting is required. If you are going to grow several types of mushrooms at the same time, the basement will need to be divided into light zones. Champignons love more light than oyster mushrooms. In specialty horticultural stores, you can purchase fluorescent lamps for the greenhouse, in which the brightness and sharpness of the lighting will be adjusted.

Ventilation. All mushrooms, without exception, love fresh air. The problem with the cellars is that the air in them is damp and rotten. To avoid the formation of mold and mildew on the walls, it is necessary to install special hoods in the room, which will take in bad air and supply fresh air.

Humidity and temperature. Air humidity for growing mushrooms should be 65% - 95%. But with the temperature regime it is a little more complicated. Champignons are more thermophilic, the optimum temperature for growing them is 13 ° - 29 °, while oyster mushrooms feel comfortable at 12 ° - 25 °. Therefore, in order to grow several types of mushrooms at the same time, the room must also be zoned into temperature zones. For heating, it is best to use water systems with a temperature controller. They are easy to install, more economical, and most importantly, they do not dry out the air in the room.

Zoning. As already mentioned, the room is divided into zones according to lighting and temperature conditions. This can be done using ordinary plastic or polyfiber partitions, which retain moisture and temperature well. It is important, as convenient as possible, to determine the area for growing each type of mushroom.

Disinfection. To avoid the formation of mold, the room must be disinfected. This is best done after all the building steps, before planting. To do this, use special sulfur checkers, which are used to fumigate the room. If the basement is old, it is best to spray all surfaces with a formalin solution. In the absence of disinfection, mushroom flies, ticks or nematodes can attack the mushrooms, and the crop will be lost. You will have to change the substrate, disinfect the room, and these are additional costs.

Shelving. The best option for the manufacture of shelving is durable plastic. Constant temperature conditions and high strength will quickly render wood and metal unusable, so plastic is an ideal option - it does not rust or rot. In garden centers, you can buy ready-made racks that only need to be assembled indoors.

Other equipment. This group includes containers for placing the substrate and planting myceliums. Special underlays for shelvingthat you may need if in the basement not warm enough... Also worth mentioning about watering... It is strictly forbidden to water the mycelium with a direct stream of water - this leads to the debate of the substrate, and the mycelium may die or rot. To do this, use special sprayers (manual and automatic)that irrigate the soil. If the lighting is too bright and unadjustable, you may need a special the cloth, which is hung over the shelves to to avoid direct light hitting the formed myceliums.

Video: a room for growing oyster mushrooms in the basement

Important! The floor of the room must be concrete. If there is none, it is recommended to make a screed. The earthen floor is a breeding ground for harmful bacteria and parasites that will attack crops. Be sure to cover the walls with a solution of lime and copper sulfate. This will additionally protect your plantings from parasites, which are often found in mushrooms.

How to grow mushrooms in your basement

For each type of mushroom, individual needs are taken into account when growing, namely air temperature, humidity and lighting. Today, oyster mushrooms are considered the most popular for cultivation, the favorites of all generations are champignons.

Note! Sometimes on the Internet you can find information about growing porcini mushrooms at home in the basement, but this is pure deception, do not see each other.

So, what are the characteristics of growing in the basement for each of these species? Let's try to figure it out.

Champignons

The main task is to prepare a nutrient substrate in which the mushrooms will grow. To prepare the substrate, you must use straw, horse or cow manure, urea or ammonium nitrate, gypsum or alabaster, superphosphate and chalk, as well as water. Next, mix all the remaining ingredients in certain proportions. A more accurate recipe for preparing a substrate can be found in the article "Growing mushrooms at home"... The compost takes more than 3 weeks to prepare. The finished compost is laid out on racks in a dense layer and left for a day so that it evenly warms up to the room temperature, namely: 23 C ° - 25 C °. Next, the mycelium is planted in warm soil. It takes about 10 days from planting to the first shoots. The temperature at this time should be at least 28 ° C. After germination, the temperature is lowered by 8 - 10 degrees. Lighting is always kept at the same level (12 hours of light daily). The first crop can be harvested after 14 days from the date of sowing.It is necessary to irrigate myceliums every two days. The fruiting period of champignon mycelium lasts 40 - 45 days.

Video: growing mushrooms in the basement

Oyster mushrooms

The optimal substrate for growing oyster mushrooms is a wooden bar. This is a very affordable material that you can make yourself. To do this, it is necessary to prepare bars (wooden stumps.) They are partially cleaned of bark, deep cracks are made and soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate. Then the tree becomes infected with mycelium. Any trees will do, with the exception of conifers. Most often, shavings or sawdust of deciduous trees, dry straw, husks from seeds and other organic debris are used as a substrate. These are all commercially available at any gardening store. Ready-made substrates can also be purchased there. Next, this substrate is mixed with mycelium and placed in a felt bag, which is hung on a rack. The room temperature must be at least 22 ° C. When the first shoots appear, the temperature is lowered to 13 ° C. Oyster mushrooms are undemanding, and bright lighting is harmful to them, therefore, they must be illuminated with very weak and diffused light for no more than 5 hours a day. Within 10 days after sowing, you will be able to harvest the first crop. The fruiting period of oyster mushrooms is up to two months. You can find more detailed instructions on growing oyster mushrooms in this article.

Video: growing oyster mushrooms in the basement

By the way! The substrate in which the mushrooms grew cannot be reused. It makes an excellent organic fertilizer for flowering plants in your garden or houseplants.

White mushroom

It is one of the most demanding mushroom cultivation that you can never grow at homealthough on the internet you will find many articles and videos about successful breeding. Here's one of those instructions.

You will get such a harvest of porcini mushrooms if you only go around the whole forest!

“The substrate for their planting should completely mimic the landscape of their place of birth, namely: forest soil. For this, dry ground twigs, leaves, field grass and dried moss are suitable. The prepared dry substrate is laid out on the racks, in a thick and dense layer. It should be well dried, but in no case ripe or damp. Next, the mycelium is planted and the soil is properly irrigated, after which it is covered with garden paper. Bright light is harmful to mushrooms, therefore, before the first shoots, the paper remains on top. The room temperature should be at 18 ° C. The fruiting period of mushrooms is short - only 30 - 35 days. Porcini mushrooms take a very long time to sprout and take root. From the moment of sowing to the first shoots, it can take up to 40 days. And in the process of growth, mushrooms may need additional fertilization (if the growth of mushrooms has stopped). "

By the way, if you still have doubts, then you can read more about growing porcini mushrooms at home. in this article.

But remember, you will never grow porcini mushrooms in unnatural conditions.

Based on the above information, it can be understood that growing mushrooms in the basement is not such a difficult task. It is important in this matter to competently approach the organization of the process itself and the equipment of the room (basement). With the right lighting, temperature and timely watering, even amateurs without much experience can grow high-quality mushrooms. A well-prepared substrate and high-quality mycelium play a key role in mushroom growing. Mushroom growing is a great example of how a hobby can grow into a profitable business.

What is mushroom hunting, know all "hunters" who are just waiting for the onset of autumn to go to the forest for the gifts of nature.

And some do not wait, and grow them themselves, having learned how the basement for growing mushrooms should be equipped, and having studied the technology of mushroom growing.We will find out what the cellar should be like, where mushrooms, oyster mushrooms and other representatives of the mushroom kingdom are grown, and in what conditions they grow.

Conditions for growing mushrooms in the basement

How to equip a basement

• Basement floor... The basement should be equipped with a concrete floor: the earthen floor is a breeding ground for pathogenic bacteria and other microorganisms, and fungi need cleanliness and minimal environmental impact.
• Basement disinfection... Before planting the mycelium, the cellar should be disinfected in order to protect the fungi from mold and parasites and not to lose the lion's share of the crop.

Conditions for growing mushrooms in the basement

Disinfection can be done in four ways:

1. Fumigation of the basement with a sulfur stick.
2. Whitewashing the walls of the cellar with lime and copper sulfate.
3. Spraying the premises with formalin solution (4%).
4. Chlorophos processing (if vegetables were previously stored in the basement, which led to the appearance of a fruit fly and other pests).

After disinfection, do not forget to ventilate the basement. For further prevention, it is recommended to put a box at the entrance filled with sawdust soaked in a disinfectant.

• Mushroom growing racks... They should be made of plastic coated metal (so they don't rust).
• Cellar ventilation. Be sure to equip the cellar with a ventilation system: it will eliminate carbon dioxide released from the substrate in which the mushrooms grow. And so that insects do not penetrate into the cellar, we close the pipes with a mesh with a fine mesh.
• Basement lighting. Many mushrooms grow well in the dark, so just screw in one light bulb that will illuminate the cellar when you work there. But there are mushrooms that need additional lighting, so the basement should be equipped with fluorescent light bulbs.
• Humidity and temperature in the basement. How should a cellar for growing mushrooms be equipped in terms of temperature and humidity? To do this, you need a hygrometer and thermometer.

In summer, the air temperature in the cellar (15-23 ° C is needed) is easily regulated with the help of ventilation, but for cultivation at other times of the year it is necessary to provide it with additional heating. The humidity in the basement can be reduced by ventilating it, and increased by spraying the floor and racks with a spray bottle.

In order for the mushrooms to grow healthy, the humidity in the room should not be less than 80%.

How a basement for growing mushrooms should be equipped

Last tip

If you have a large basement, divide it into two zones: for incubation (spreading mycelium over the substrate) and forcing the mushrooms.

The temperature in the first zone should be within 23 ° С, in the second - 17 ° С. Moving boxes from one zone to another, when necessary, you will grow mushrooms continuously: while mycelium grows in one half of the boxes, in the other the mushrooms themselves.