How to Grow and Cultivate Mushrooms

Mushrooms can be grown at home. There are two varieties that home growers typically choose: shiitake and white button. Although each one requires a different substrate or growth medium--shiitake mushrooms are grown in sterilized sawdust while white button mushrooms are grown in sterilized compost--the same basic growing procedures apply. Purchase a mushroom-growing kit to make cultivating easier.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Mushroom kit
• Bucket
• Compost
• Wood pellet fuel
• Small space heater
• Thermometer
• Dark room

1. Compost requires several weeks to prepare. Heat compost to neutralize detrimental microbes. Compost is ready for use in your mushroom bucket when it contains white actinomycetes bacteria. Cool the compost.
   
   Wood pellet fuel for the sawdust medium can be sterilized by adding boiling water to it. It will then disintegrate into sawdust. Once cooled, it is ready for inoculation.

2. Place substrate in the bucket. Heat the room to 70 degrees F. Place the spawn on the growth medium. Keep the substrate moist to the touch. Use the space heater to maintain the temperature.

3. Once the spawn has rooted (approximately three weeks), decrease the room temperature to between 55 and 60 degrees. Cover the spawn with an inch of potting soil and a damp cloth. Lightly spray the soil and cloth with water to keep them moist.

4. Harvest your mushrooms when the caps have completely opened and split from the stem. This takes approximately three to four weeks.

Tips & Warnings

• Maintain a constant environment for each stage of growth. Sudden changes in temperature or humidity will cause the crop to fail.

References

• How to Grow Mushrooms at Home
• Mushroom-Growing Basics
• How to Grow Mushrooms