Mushrooms are fungi typically characterized by a stalk and a cap. The growth of the mushroom is accomplished at the growth point, which is underneath or on top of their caps.
The growth point can be thought of as analogous to a plant’s roots. It has been shown that mushrooms grow faster when temperatures are about 80 degrees Fahrenheit and high humidity levels are maintained.
When planning for a specific type of mushroom, it is important to pick the right growing medium. It should be noted that some types of mushrooms prefer less-nutritious media, such as wood chips or sawdust, while other types grow better in nutrient-rich material such as coffee grounds, straw, cottonseed meal, wheat bran, rice hulls or oat hulls.
Mushroom spores are typically grown in small jars containing sterilized growth media that can be purchased at your local garden supply store or online.
It is important that the spores to have a fruitful life cycle, it is vital that these jars contain high humidity levels and temperatures above 70 degrees Fahrenheit for most of their lives.
Spores can be purchased online from a variety of vendors. In addition to spores, you will need a spray bottle to mist the spore-containing jars daily with water or hydrogen peroxide in order to help control bacterial problems.
In nature, most mushrooms fruit on dead organic matter including wood and plant debris. Some mushrooms fruit on living vegetation and can harm plant life. For this reason, scouting for potential harvest sites is an important step in mushroom cultivation.
Since mushroom spores germinate and grow into mycelium (thin white strands), any organic material will suffice as a growing medium to propagate the spores and produce mushrooms. A common practice of many growers is to use straw or coffee grounds as the mushroom’s growing medium since it is usually readily available and inexpensive.
Straw can be purchased from local garden supply stores or online vendors. In addition, coffee companies usually have a constant stream of waste product that is suitable for germination and fruiting. Other growers prefer to use sawdust instead of straw due to its ability to hold more water.
In general, a typical mushroom growing setup usually consists of a grow bed with a transparent waterproof lid and an aquarium heater for controlling the climate inside the bed.
In addition, a high-powered fan is needed to circulate fresh air into and out of your grow room to help prevent contaminants from entering the growing environment. Finally, a hygrometer is needed in order to measure the humidity levels inside your grow room.
One method of growing mushrooms is known as sawdust spawn production. A typical medium-sized bucket used for this process contains about two pounds of sterilized wheat straw, which has been fully hydrated and drained. In addition to the straw, a certain amount of mushroom-growing sawdust is mixed into the straw.
In general, a ratio of 1:5 or 20% growing medium and 80% sawdust is used. Once the bucket is filled with this mixture, it is covered with a breathable cloth cover to prevent contaminants from entering. After an hour has passed, the cloth cover is removed and an even layer of sterilized sawdust is applied on top of the straw.
Once this has been done, you can inoculate your growing mixture with mushroom spores by sprinkling them over the surface of the sawdust. The use of a spray bottle filled with water or hydrogen peroxide helps to control any bacterial problems during this time. The optimum temperature for your sawdust mixture is about 80 degrees Fahrenheit and high humidity levels are maintained.
After three weeks, you should begin to notice little pieces of white mycelium growing throughout the sawdust medium. After four more weeks have passed, the entire surface of the straw should be covered with a layer of white mycelium. At this point, you are ready to begin the fruiting process.
One of the most common ways of growing mushrooms is the process known as “inoculation.” In this method, your spores or mushroom spawn is mixed with a growing medium that is suitable for germination and mycelial growth. Once these spores have germinated into mycelium, they are then transferred to a growing bed.
You can use many different types of substrates for this purpose including hardwood sawdust, straw, coffee grounds or even newspaper. You may choose yourself which type of substrate is best suited for your needs. Keep in mind that the most suitable option is whatever is most readily available and also inexpensive.
Once your substrate has been prepared for mycelial propagation, it is usually sterilized in an autoclave or pressure cooker at 240 degrees Fahrenheit for 40 minutes to kill any harmful bacteria that may have found its way into the growing medium.
After removing the substrate from the cooker, you are ready to begin growing your first crop of oyster mushrooms.
One of the most common types of mushroom found in North America is the oyster mushroom, which can be easily recognized by its thin and flat shape. This type of mushroom has many varieties which include white, pink and blue.
You can find this particular mushroom growing on old or damaged trees such as oak, elm or willow. In general, they can grow as large as a foot in diameter and as long as 4 feet.
One of the most important things to remember about growing oyster mushrooms is that you should always use a “mono-culture” method.
This method involves inoculating individual blocks of growing medium with spores of the exact same mushroom. Growing mushrooms in this manner ensures that your yield will be maximal and you will not end up with a mix of different species growing into each other.
As long as you follow these two simple rules, you should have no problems producing your own fresh and homegrown oyster mushrooms for personal consumption or for sale to your local market.
So this is how to grow Mushrooms.
