If you are a gardener, some instances might make you wonder if you can grow mushrooms. And the answer is yes. Growing mushrooms can be a fantastic experience and help you learn about these exciting and delicious fungi.
As long as you meet the ideal conditions for growing mushrooms, it is safe to cultivate them in your home. Also, ensure that the mushrooms you are planting are safe and edible, and keep them away from children’s and pets’ reach.
The most common mushrooms grown at home are cremini, maitake, portobello, enoki, shiitake, oyster, and white button mushrooms. However, each of them has its own specific growing needs and requirements. So, it is vital to do thorough research before starting your mushroom farm.
In this article, we will talk about basic information about growing mushrooms at home.
Table of Contents
Precautions to Take When Growing Mushrooms at Home
Mushrooms do release spores. But generally, these spores do not cause any harm to humans. Nevertheless, long-term exposure and frequent inhalation of the spore can result in flu-like symptoms or even respiratory issues.
Taking all the necessary precautions becomes more critical as mushroom spores are microscopic and are not visible to the naked eye. So, wearing a mask and apron while tending to them is better. Also, one should not forget to disinfect them and their growing environment to avoid contamination.
There are also quite a few adjustments that you can make to help your mushrooms flourish. For instance, if the substrate is drying up or the pins are starting to turn brown, it is a sign that you need to increase the humidity.
Or, if the mushrooms grow longer stems and smaller caps, you either need to increase the light or decrease the carbon dioxide level. Moreover, if the temperature is too hot for the mushrooms, it can lead to bacterial growth.
Things to Consider
Other than taking all the precautions, it is also essential to maintain an ideal growing environment for your mushrooms to ensure their healthy and safe development.
Here are four major factors to consider to ensure that your mushrooms have an ideal growing condition:
- Carbon dioxide level – below 800 ppm, depending on species
- Humidity – above 80%
- Lighting – enough to be able to read a book comfortably
- Temperature – between 55 and 75 degrees C, depending on the species
Initially, it would help if you tried to adhere to these parameters as much as possible. However, you have some liberty if you are growing mushrooms on a tiny scale. Growing mushrooms is an art; with time, you will know what your mushrooms need for proper development. Once you have some experience, you can try and adjust the environmental conditions and see what works for you.
Know Your Mushrooms
Some mushrooms are safe to consume, but some can also be dangerous and lead to food poisoning. Thus, knowing what kind of mushrooms you are growing in your home is imperative. It would be best to ensure they are entirely safe to consume.
Moreover, some species of mushrooms are considered ‘generally safe.’ For instance, true morels (Morchella spp.) are considered generally safe to consume. However, they are only safe when they have been cooked thoroughly.
However, if one consumes raw morels, it can lead to gastric issues. Moreover, some individuals have reported that they have experienced allergies or intolerances for certain types of morels.
If you have children or pets in your house, these might not be the kind of mushrooms that you would want to grow.
Another exception is the ‘chicken of the woods, also known as a sulfur shelf, a mushroom considered safe and edible. However, its edibility depends on what kind of tree it grew on.
Certain species of mushrooms do not react well when consumed with alcohol. So, be sure you know what mushrooms you are growing. Usually, the variants picked from hardwood trees are edible, while those gathered from conifers or locusts might not be entirely safe to consume.
Recommendations for Safe Mushroom Farming at Home
Besides consumption, it is also essential to consider a few things while growing mushrooms at home. Here are some of the recommendations from experts that will help you grow mushrooms safely at home:
Sterilizing The Growing Substrate
One of the most common and essential things mushroom growers recommend is properly sterilizing the growing substrate. This one step can avoid contamination and help you grow mushrooms safely.
However, sterilization must also be done carefully, as incorrect sterilization can also lead to contamination. You can use a pressure cooker or boil the substrate in water for heat sterilization, let it cool before squeezing out the water. You can let it air dry and use the substrate to grow mushrooms.
Protect Case Layering
Case layering is an essential step to consider while growing mushrooms. A long time back, growers discovered that adding a layer of organic material over the compost can increase the overall yield and quality of the mushrooms.
This layer came to be known as case layering. Even for some variety of mushrooms, there might be no yield without the application of a casing.
However, this layering does need some protection as it can get contaminated by spore-laden water splash, debris, or dirt that can lead to disease in mushrooms, making them unsafe or inedible. Thus, it is essential to disinfect the casing equipment even before beginning the case layering process.
A suitable casing should hold moisture well, increase humidity for better growth of mushrooms, and be slow to contaminate.
Inspect Mushroom Beds Frequently
Mushroom beds can be prone to pests and diseases, so the grower must regularly check the mushroom beds, especially before they water the pins or pick grown mushrooms. If the grower observes any diseases, they should be treated as they can cause secondary infections. One should not water mushroom beds if there are any pests or diseases.
If cobweb (a disease common in mushrooms) is present, air circulation should also be reduced or stopped. Moreover, suppose the mushrooms are infected with dry bubble disease. In that case, it is essential to check fly populations because flies can exacerbate the issue by transporting the spores all across the growing space.
Ensure Proper Hygiene
Disinfecting the environment is essential when it comes to growing mushrooms. Moreover, you must ensure no spore-laden contaminated debris near the growing area.
Also, one should consider wearing protective gear like gloves, boots, and overalls while tending to your mushrooms. All equipment, work surfaces, containers, and protective gear must be disinfected with alcohol beforehand. Also, keeping the growing environment clean, tidy, and sterile is vital, which will maximize your chances of success.
Be Aware of Thermogenesis
Before growing mushrooms, you should be aware of thermogenesis when the mycelium decomposes organic matter.
It starts generating its heat, which can increase the temperature of your substrate and add up to the already optimized temperature of your growing environment. And excessive heat might destroy the mycelium. So, it is better to aim for a few degrees lesser than the recommended temperature so that the thermogenesis process optimizes the overall environment.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Growing Mushrooms at Home
Not labeling jars or mushroom-growing kits.
Label your jars if you are growing and experimenting with different species. Jot down the date you started growing them and assign a batch number to each jar or tray to avoid confusion.
Not knowing the early signs of contamination.
While growing mushrooms, you need to know if your mushrooms are growing correctly or not. Knowing the early signs of contamination will save you time and money and make the entire process a lot more hassle-free.
However, there might be instances where you cannot save your mushrooms from the disease as it has progressed to a higher level. Here are a few things that you can do if keeping your mushrooms becomes a little too tricky:
- Do not water the mushroom beds between the harvesting periods.
- Reduce harvesting.
- Implement all the hygiene practices mentioned above.
- If nothing works, terminate the crop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are mushrooms safe for pets?
Some mushroom varieties can be toxic to pets. Usually, there is no harm in feeding your pet with mushrooms. However, there can be an issue when taken. If consumed excessively, leading to vomiting, irritations, and diarrhea problems in pets.
Do mushrooms have any health benefits?
The right kind of mushrooms does have many health benefits. They are a rich source of antioxidants like selenium that help prevent cancer cell growth in the body. They also detoxify the cancer-causing compounds in the body. They are also considered dietary fiber that benefits the digestive system, improves metabolic activities, and even reduces the risk of heart disease.
How long does it take to grow mushrooms?
Button mushrooms grown from spawn and fresh substrate may only take a few weeks to reach the fruiting stage. However, some varieties may require up to six weeks to grow fully developed mushrooms.
Do mushrooms need sunlight to grow?
Mushrooms do not perform photosynthesis which means that they do not require sunlight. However, one can grow mushrooms in partial sunlight. Mushrooms usually prefer cool and dark growing conditions at home.
Why is it essential to pasteurize straw?
Pasteurization is essential as it reduces the number of microscopic competitors in your mushroom substrate. Pasteurizing the straw will also increase the growth rate of the white mycelium. In other words, it increases the mushroom fruit.
Conclusion
Growing mushrooms at home is one of the most exciting experiences. I hope this information will help me more about choosing the right mushrooms to grow. One can also seek the guidance of a professional mycologist who will help you identify mushrooms and let you know if it is edible.
I hope that this information will help you ensure that they grow in a safe environment so that you can enjoy fleshy and delicious mushrooms at home.
