How you can grow mushrooms at home.

Growing mushrooms at home is a great way to add a unique touch to your meals while also saving money on expensive grocery store varieties. It's surprisingly easy to get started, and with a little bit of effort and patience, you can have a steady supply of fresh, delicious mushrooms growing right in your own home or you can even turn growing mushrooms into a business.

I like growing mushrooms because it can add protein to your garden, with many varieties containing upwards of 20% protein by dry weight. This makes them an excellent addition to vegetarian or plant-based diets, as well as a tasty and nutritious ingredient in a wide range of dishes.

So if you have a garden and you're already growing vegetables, mushrooms are a great addition that can really supplement the nutritional output you produce. In addition to their protein content, mushrooms are also rich in a variety of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that can benefit overall health and wellbeing. For example, they are a good source of vitamin D, which is important for strong bones and immune function, as well as B vitamins, which are essential for energy metabolism and cognitive function.

When grown at home, mushrooms can also provide nutrients to your garden soil, helping to enrich the soil and promote healthy plant growth. This is because mushrooms are able to break down complex organic matter, such as wood chips or straw, into simpler nutrients that can be readily absorbed by plants.

Here's how I grew mushrooms at home, and how you can do it too.

Getting Started Growing Mushrooms

First, you'll need to choose the type of mushroom you want to grow. There are many different varieties to choose from, each with its own unique flavor and growing requirements. Some popular options include button mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, and more exotic varieties like lion's mane or enoki mushrooms.

Once you've chosen your mushroom type, you'll need to get some spores or spawn to start your mushrooms. You can order these online or purchase them from a local gardening or farm supply store. Alternatively, you can purchase a mushroom growing kit that comes with everything you need to get started. There's lots of mushroom growing kits on Amazon.

Next, you'll need to choose a growing medium for your mushrooms. Many mushrooms can grow on a variety of substrates, including straw, sawdust, coffee grounds, or even cardboard. For beginners, I recommend starting with a pre-made mushroom growing kit, which usually includes a substrate and spores or spawn.

When you have your substrate, it's time to prepare it for the mushrooms. If you're using a kit, this step is already done for you. If you're using a substrate like straw or sawdust, you'll need to sterilize it to kill any competing bacteria or fungi that could interfere with mushroom growth. This can be done by boiling the substrate or using a pressure cooker.

Making a Mushroom Substrate

Most people who grow a lot of mushrooms will use a pressure cooker to sterilize mushrooms. This is because using a pressure cooker is the most effective way to sterilize the substrate and kill off any competing bacteria or fungi that could interfere with mushroom growth.

The high pressure and temperature inside the pressure cooker create an environment that is inhospitable to most microorganisms, effectively sterilizing the substrate and allowing the mushroom spores to grow without competition.

Additionally, using a pressure cooker is much faster than other methods of sterilization, such as boiling, which can take several hours to achieve the same level of sterilization as a pressure cooker.

Typically the substrate contains some kind of hardwood - whether it be wood chips or sawdust, that is hydrated to create a suitable environment for mushroom growth. Hardwood substrates are commonly used because they contain the necessary nutrients and sugars that mushrooms need to grow, and they are also resistant to contamination from competing microorganisms.

The hydration process involves adding water to the substrate to create a moist environment that is conducive to mushroom growth. The amount of water needed will depend on the specific substrate and the moisture content of the wood chips or sawdust.

Over-hydrating the substrate can lead to waterlogged conditions that are not suitable for mushroom growth, while under-hydrating the substrate can result in dry conditions that inhibit growth.

The ideal moisture content of the substrate will depend on the specific type of mushroom being grown, but generally, a moisture content of around 60-70% is recommended. This can be tested by squeezing a handful of the substrate and checking that a few drops of water are released, without excess water pooling or dripping out.

After Sterilizing: Inoculating Your Mushrooms

Once your substrate is ready, you can inoculate it with your spores or spawn. This is the process of introducing the mushroom spores to the substrate so that they can begin to grow. Depending on the type of mushroom you're growing, this can be done by simply sprinkling the spores onto the substrate, mixing them in, or injecting the spawn into the substrate.

After you've inoculated your substrate, you'll need to provide the right growing conditions for your mushrooms. This usually involves keeping the substrate at a consistent temperature and humidity level, as well as providing plenty of fresh air and light. Different types of mushrooms have different requirements, so be sure to do your research and follow the instructions that come with your kit or spores.

As your mushrooms grow, you'll need monitor them and make any necessary adjustments to the growing conditions. This might involve misting the substrate with water, adjusting the temperature or humidity level, or providing additional light.

Typically you leave your mushroom sealed in the mushroom growing bag for several weeks. The bag contains a patch that allows for gas exchange while keeping the environment inside the bag moist and free from contamination.

The patch on the bag is usually made of a filter material that allows for the exchange of gases like carbon dioxide and oxygen, while keeping out contaminants like bacteria and mold spores.

After inoculating the substrate with mushroom spores or spawn, the bag is sealed to create a microenvironment that is conducive to mushroom growth. The mushrooms will begin to grow and colonize the substrate, consuming the nutrients and sugars present in the wood chips or sawdust.

During this colonization period, it is important to keep the bag in a warm and dark location to promote mushroom growth. The ideal temperature for most mushrooms is around 70-75°F (21-24°C), and the bags should be kept away from direct sunlight or other sources of heat that could cause the temperature to fluctuate.

Fruiting Mushrooms

Eventually, your mushrooms will begin to form fruiting bodies, which are the recognizable mushroom caps that we're all familiar with. These will grow and develop over time, and you can harvest them once they're fully matured.

Once the mushrooms have fully colonized the substrate, they will begin to form fruiting bodies and emerge from the bag. At this point, the bag can be opened to allow for proper ventilation and prevent excess moisture from accumulating inside.

Humidity is also highly important to the process, as it plays a significant role in the growth and development of the fruiting bodies. The ideal humidity level for most mushrooms is between 80-95%, and maintaining this level throughout the growing process is essential for achieving healthy and abundant harvests.

To maintain the appropriate humidity levels, mushroom growers typically use a humidifier or misting system to add moisture to the air in the growing environment. This can be especially important in areas with low humidity or during dry seasons when ambient humidity levels may be lower than ideal.

It is important to note that excessive humidity can lead to the growth of mold and other unwanted microorganisms, which can negatively impact the health and yield of the mushroom crop. As such, it is important to monitor the humidity levels carefully and make adjustments as necessary to maintain the optimal conditions for mushroom growth.

In addition to using a humidifier or misting system, some growers also use a hygrometer to measure the humidity levels in the growing environment. This can be a useful tool for ensuring that the humidity levels are within the ideal range, and for making adjustments as necessary to maintain optimal conditions for mushroom growth.

Harvesting Your Edible Mushrooms

Harvesting your mushrooms is a delicate process that requires some patience and care. You'll need to gently twist or cut the mushroom at the base of the stem, taking care not to damage the surrounding substrate. Once you've harvested your mushrooms, you can either use them right away or store them in the refrigerator for later use.

The fruiting bodies will continue to grow and develop, and can be harvested once they are fully matured. Depending on the type of mushroom and growing conditions, this can take anywhere from several days to several weeks.

Growing mushrooms at home is a rewarding and satisfying process that's easy to do with a little bit of knowledge and preparation. With the right growing conditions and a little bit of patience, you can have a steady supply of delicious, fresh mushrooms growing right in your own home. So why not give it a try!