How to Grow Mushrooms at Home

Steps to Growing Your Own Mushrooms

Step 1: Add the spores to the growing medium.

The first step is to set up the substrate, or growing medium. To do this, start with a planting tray that measures approximately 14 by 16 inches with a 6-inch depth. The tray can be made of wood, plastic, or metal. Fill the tray with a mixture of compost and manure, leaving an inch of space at the top of the tray. Then, spread the spores on top.

For best results, try to keep conditions sterile during this step so that other types of mold and fungi aren’t introduced to the substrate. Be sure to clean your hands thoroughly before working with the substrate, for example, and sterilize the knife and any other tools used.

Step 2: Keep the soil moist.

Mushrooms thrive in humid environments, so keep the soil moist throughout the growing process. Spray or mist it once or twice each day or cover it with damp towels.

Step 3: Incubate the spores.

For the first three weeks, the soil temperature must be incubated at 70 degrees in order to promote growth. This can be done by keeping the trays in a warmer area of the house, or you can place the tray on a seedling heat mat. Choose a heating pad that has precise temperature controls and place it under the tray. Using a soil thermometer, make sure that the temperature of the soil never rises above 70 degrees because higher temperatures can kill the spores.

Step 4: Lower the temperature to between 55 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Soon white, rootlike growths or mycelium will appear on top of the soil. When the entire tray is covered, it’s time to lower the temperature. While many vegetables have to be grown in the summer, growing mushrooms is a great winter project because they thrive in cooler temperatures. Lower the temperature of the soil to between 55 and 60 degrees (to do so, you will probably need to remove the heating pad from under the tray), and cover the mycelium with about an inch of potting soil.

After a few days at this temperature, tiny mushrooms known as primordia will begin to sprout.

Step 5: Harvest the mushrooms.

Button mushrooms should be fully grown after three or four weeks. You’ll know they’re ready to be harvested when the caps open fully and separate from the stems. If they’re allowed to grow longer, they will turn brown and be categorized as cremini mushrooms. In their final stage of growth, they become even larger portobello mushrooms. In order to harvest the mushrooms, use a sharp knife to cut the stem. Do not pull mushrooms from the soil because the surrounding growth can be damaged in the process.

Mushrooms will grow continuously for approximately 6 months if they are harvested daily because each mushroom will release its own spores. When growth ceases, more mushroom spawn can be added to the existing growing station. It’s important to note that fresh mushrooms won’t last for long after they’re cut, so they should be cooked or eaten within a couple of days.

Use this method to easily grow tasty mushrooms for topping pizza, turning into a creamy soup, or eating in salads.

 

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