Not everyone can go to the woods.
Most mushroom pickers have to travel to the forests to find the mushrooms they want to eat.
This is a risky venture as one mistake could end up in tragedy.
Not that you will be attacked by a wild animal but that not all mushrooms are healthy for humans.
Since not everyone can go to the woods to get their mushrooms, the next best thing is to grow your own.
The best part about growing your own is that all the varieties you grow should be safe to eat.
It is possible to grow mushrooms inside and keep reading to find out how to do just that.
This information should help you cut down on your grocery bill.
Growing mushrooms as a beginner
You have to start somewhere and one of the best ways to learn how to grow mushrooms is by buying a mushroom growing kit.
These kits are super easy to use and all you need to do is add water.
The kit has the fruiting block inside and it is already colonized with mushrooms.
All you have to do is put the block in indirect light, and keep the temperatures below 75 degrees F and greater than 50 degrees F.
Then twice a day you pick up a spray bottle and mist the block.
That is all there is to it.
As your mushrooms grow, you can read up on experienced mushroom growing and get ready to move up a level in your venture.
But for beginners, these kits are great as they introduce you to the mushroom growing area and they will work in small apartments.
If you live in a dry region of the country, add a humidifier to your home.
Mushrooms need humidity to grow well.
Once yo get a little experience, you can move up to the following steps:
How to grow mushrooms inside your home
The following steps are for those who are serious about growing mushrooms in their home.
- Choose the variety you want to grow
- Buy your mushroom spawn
- Spread the mushroom mycelia
- Check the growth
- Harvest time
#1. Choose the variety you want to grow
This is an important decision as some mushroom varieties are harder to work with than others.
The three easiest varieties to grow are:
– Oyster- they grow best in straw or coffee grounds
– Shiitake- this variety loves hardwood sawdust
– White button- this variety needs composted manure to produce great mushrooms.
#2. Buy your mushroom spawn
This term refers to mushroom mycelia that permeate straw.
It is not hard to buy and before you add it to the straw or sawdust, take the straw or sawdust and put it in the microwave.
You will need to put the straw in a bowl and add a little water before turning the microwave on high for 2 minutes.
This will kill any microorganisms in the straw that will make it difficult for the mushroom spawn to grow.
#3. Spread the mushroom mycelia
You need to take an old baking pan that will be large enough for the spawn to grow.
You mix the sterilized straw and spawn in the pan, spreading it out so there is room for growth.
Next, find a dark area and place a heating pad inside that area.
Set the heat to 70 degrees F and place the pan on it.
Close the area off so little to no light gets in and leave it there for 3 weeks.
#4. Check the growth
After about 2 weeks check to see how your mushrooms are doing.
If all is going well, you should see white fuzz covering the entire substrate.
Now is the time to move the pan to an area that is cooled to 55 degrees F, and still dark.
Before leaving the pan in the new area, check for dark green or brown spots on the substrate.
If you see them, remove those spots and toss them out. Now cover the substrate with potting soil and moisten the soil thoroughly.
Adding a low heat lamp helps the mushrooms grow better.
Spray with water regularly so the soil remains moist and keep the area cool.
#5. Harvest time
In about 2 more weeks your mushrooms should be fully grown.
This is the time to pick them and use them in your favorite dishes.
Grow mushrooms from coffee grounds
Instead of throwing your old coffee grounds away, keep them fresh as you can use them to grow mushrooms.
You will need about for every 17 1/2 ounces of mushroom spawn, you will need 88 ounces of used coffee grounds.
Next, find a large enough container for the number of mushrooms you want to grow.
Now add the grounds and the mushroom spawn together, evenly distributing the latter with your hands.
You should wash your hands first using anti-bacterial soap to make sure nothing is added to those mushroom plants.
After that is done, place the container in a nice dark place that does not go above 77 degrees F or below 65 degrees F.
Now you just wait for 2 to 4 weeks until you see the white fuzz on top of the coffee grounds.
When this takes place, move the container to a bright location but one that only gets indirect sunlight.
Continue to moisten the coffee grounds and mushrooms twice a day until you see that they are fully grown.
At that time just harvest the mushrooms and enjoy.
When a mushroom is fully grown, you should be able to use your fingers and take the caps off with ease.
Growing mushrooms when you have more experience
There are people who have turned this hobby into a nice business venture.
This is a big step to take as your investment will grow and you will need lots of new equipment.
There is a lot more work involved when you want to use your advanced skills to grow more mushrooms inside.
One of the steps you need to take is that you will have to build or sacrifice a room to make a fruiting chamber.
This chamber allows you to grow mushrooms all year round.
You will need a walk-in size room with shelving to accomplish this transition.
Once you get the chamber built, you can decide to grow your own mushroom spawn or not.
To do this step, you would need mushroom spores and this is very involved work.
It may be best to buy your spores from a reputable dealer and save yourself some frustration.
Here are some tips to help you develop your own mushroom growing venture if you want to take this big step:
#1. You do not need a sterile environment to grow mushrooms. You only need sterile substrate
#2. Making your own spawn is time-consuming and adds a lot to your costs. You need a lot of equipment to do this part of mushroom growing
#3. Be prepared to do a lot of work. This business is very labor-intensive and when any job is labor-intensive, it is also very time-consuming. You will have to have a lot of free time to work on this project
#4. Get help as you cannot do everything yourself.
Tips for growing mushrooms inside
#1. Mushroom growing is not the same as growing plants and vegetables.
They need a unique environment that is often opposite of the environment needed for plants.
#2. Mushrooms can grow extremely fast depending on their size and variety.
Make sure you know all about the variety of the mushroom you are growing before you start the growing process.
#3. If you are a beginner, start with a kit.
These are low-cost items that make sure you learn about growing mushrooms before making it into a hobby.
Follow the instructions on the kit to make sure your money Is not wasted.
#4. Bigger does not mean ready to be harvested.
The time to pick the mushrooms is when the caps turn from convex to concave designs.
Plus, they should already be separated from the stem.
#5. Use hydrogen peroxide and water mix to spray on your mushrooms.
This will keep the common pests, Sciarid flies and fungus gnat, away from your growing plants.
These pests turn the caps leathery and inedible if left unchecked.
#6. Start small
When you are a beginner do not overwhelm yourself by trying to grow a lot of mushrooms at one time.
Keep it small until you are used to the duties that come with growing mushrooms.
Some final words
Starting to grow mushrooms inside as a hobby is a good idea.
That way you know what you are eating, and where it came from and you can be proud of your work.
Plus, you know they are not poisonous.
Having mushroom growing skills will come in handy someday.
Just make sure to pick the right varieties to grow so your salads and other dishes taste great.
It is hard work but now you know ho to grow mushrooms inside.
That effort makes the result taste even better.
Originally posted 2022-09-12 20:39:33.
