Learning how to plant mushrooms is not difficult. However they are not planted in the same way as garden plants. The easiest way to grow them is to buy a kit. Most of the work has been done for you. You only need to open the box and follow the directions as regards watering. Keep the container in a cool but dark location and within a few weeks, you can expect to see little white heads pushing through the soil.
They can be raised from spore or spawn. It can be difficult to raise a successful crop from spore. Home gardeners generally find spawn is cheaper, more popular and easier. Spawn consists of germinated spores growing in a wafer or bale. The root structure, known as the mycelium, will already be developing in the medium.
There are a number of mushroom varieties. Spawn for most of these can be purchased. Some grow easier than others. Button or white varieties are a good choice for a start. Morels can be fussy about their growing conditions and often take a long time to grow. Mushrooms grow in a substrate which may be rotted sawdust, finished compost or rotting hay. A mix of horse manure and straw is often used. For most varieties of fungi, it should be rich in nutrients. The substrate should be placed in a container and dampened with water.
Suitable containers are troughs, tubs or even buckets. Cellars and basements are often used as the location needs to be dark and cool. To begin with, the substrate should be heated to about 70 degrees Fahrenheit. A heating pad is useful to raise the heat of the medium to the correct temperature.
It is usual to spread the spawn over the compost. The spawn should not be covered over or watered. It will take about three weeks for the white pins to appear on top of the soil. Let the temperature drop to around 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Stems will start to appear and growth will continue until the crop is mature.
Harvest can begin when the cap has completely opened (unless you want the button type) and has separated from the stem. Harvest the largest first. Cut the stems carefully at ground level with a sharp knife. Be careful not to disturb any still-developing fungi. The first crop should be ready after about two months. Leave the stem in place as it will produce more mushrooms.
If the container gets too dry, spray with a little water. Harvest should be possible for at several months. By learning how to plant mushrooms, you will be able to supplement your cooking with some flavoursome, delicious fungi.
They can be raised from spore or spawn. It can be difficult to raise a successful crop from spore. Home gardeners generally find spawn is cheaper, more popular and easier. Spawn consists of germinated spores growing in a wafer or bale. The root structure, known as the mycelium, will already be developing in the medium.
There are a number of mushroom varieties. Spawn for most of these can be purchased. Some grow easier than others. Button or white varieties are a good choice for a start. Morels can be fussy about their growing conditions and often take a long time to grow. Mushrooms grow in a substrate which may be rotted sawdust, finished compost or rotting hay. A mix of horse manure and straw is often used. For most varieties of fungi, it should be rich in nutrients. The substrate should be placed in a container and dampened with water.
Suitable containers are troughs, tubs or even buckets. Cellars and basements are often used as the location needs to be dark and cool. To begin with, the substrate should be heated to about 70 degrees Fahrenheit. A heating pad is useful to raise the heat of the medium to the correct temperature.
It is usual to spread the spawn over the compost. The spawn should not be covered over or watered. It will take about three weeks for the white pins to appear on top of the soil. Let the temperature drop to around 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Stems will start to appear and growth will continue until the crop is mature.
Harvest can begin when the cap has completely opened (unless you want the button type) and has separated from the stem. Harvest the largest first. Cut the stems carefully at ground level with a sharp knife. Be careful not to disturb any still-developing fungi. The first crop should be ready after about two months. Leave the stem in place as it will produce more mushrooms.
If the container gets too dry, spray with a little water. Harvest should be possible for at several months. By learning how to plant mushrooms, you will be able to supplement your cooking with some flavoursome, delicious fungi.
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If you are interested in knowing more on how to plant mushrooms, click this link here. For complete details on how to grow mushrooms indoors, visit the website of Mushroom Growing 4 You today.
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