How to Start Growing Your Own Edible Mushrooms

There are more than 14,000 species of mushrooms on Earth, from poisonous pale grebes to delicious morels and psychedelic mushrooms. I’m sure you’ve seen them grow from soil, cow fields, rotten wood, and just about anywhere, and you might be thinking, “How difficult is it to grow edible mushrooms at home?” Answer: It depends. Even if you’re a good home gardener, mushrooms present unique challenges.

Creating the home environment that a mushroom needs can be tricky, especially if you want an edible and tasty variety, not just something that grows from a stump. But it’s not impossible if you know what you’re doing; Here’s how to start growing your own pizza topping and stir-fry ingredient.

Do a little research before you jump

There are many books and websites about growing mushrooms, and it makes sense to read them before delving into them. I love The Edible Mushroom Cultivation Bible by Aubrey Burns , a three-volume collection covering everything you ever wanted to know about the subject. . For online research, you can start with the list of North American Mycological Association resources.

The easiest way to grow mushrooms is to buy a kit.

You might want to start with a mushroom growing kit. They have everything you need to grow your first crop of mushrooms, as well as detailed instructions. This may seem like a bit of a scam to the DIYer, but the kit will help you get familiar with the process without getting frustrated. However, there is no need to start with an expensive kit . You can pick up a newbie mushroom farm for less than 20 bucks .

Choose an easy-to-grow mushroom variety for the first shot.

You must walk before you run. Like houseplants, some types of mushrooms are hardy and easy to grow, while others are nearly impossible. Here are some good edible mushroom options that are easy to master:

• oyster mushrooms
• White champignons
• Shiitake mushrooms
• lion’s mane
• morel mushrooms

How to grow mushrooms with your own hands

Different varieties of mushrooms have different needs, so the features vary greatly, but in general, you will need the following:

• Growing Space: You don’t need a lot of space to grow a small crop of mushrooms, but it should generally be a dark space where you can somewhat control the temperature and humidity. A closet or basement corner will do. You can even grow them under the sink, and some varieties can be grown outdoors.
• Planting Tray : For a humble first crop of mushrooms, you will need a tray that is at least six inches deep and about 14 by 16 inches in size. It can be wood, plastic, or metal, so something like a cat litter box will do.
• Mushroom Spawn: These spores are equivalent to mushroom seeds. You can buy them online or at garden stores. However, you cannot buy all kinds of mushrooms online. Some types of mushrooms are, so to speak, more strictly controlled.
• Substrate : This is the material that your mushrooms will grow on. Some varieties grow in wood chips, some in grains. Some grow best in a mixture of manure and compost, which requires a certain level of personal commitment.
• Heating Element : Depending on the mushroom variety, you may need some kind of heating pad to regulate the temperature in the growing area.
• Plastic cover: Some types of mushrooms grow best when covered with a plastic canopy, creating a mini-greenhouse.
• Pressure Cooker: More advanced mushroom cultivation may require a pressure cooker to sterilize.

mushroom growing process

When you have all the necessary tools and have read about the specifics of the mushrooms you want to grow, it’s time to get to work. In a general sense, this means:

• Sterilization: Depending on the process you are following and the mushroom you are growing, you may need to use a pressure cooker to sterilize your growing components.
• Pouring: Put your chosen substrate into the container.
• Propagation: Cover the substrate with your offspring.
• Heat and Water : Keep your future mushrooms warm with a heating element and moist by spraying them down. How warm and how humid depends on what species you are growing. You can cover it with plastic bags to create a mini greenhouse here.
• Wait : After a few days, you should see mycelium, the equivalent of a fungal root system, on the surface of the substrate. This means that they colonized. When the surface turns white with mycelium, it’s time to move the mushrooms to a cooler place.
• Cool : Many types of mushrooms grow best in cool, dark places, although some do best in low light. Keep them moist, usually spraying them a couple of times a day, and after a few weeks (depending on the type of mushroom) you should be able to start growing fully grown mushrooms.
• Chef : Check out Lifehacker’s rich mushroom content for cooking tips, recipes, and more.

word of warning

Do not eat mushrooms that you find in nature unless you are an absolute expert on which ones are edible. Many varieties of mushrooms are deadly and they often look like harmless mushrooms, so buy the ones you know are safe from the supermarket because you grew them yourself.