When you’re just getting started on the fascinating journey of mushroom cultivation, you might get overwhelmed by all the different terminology and information out there. That’s no reason to give up without even trying.
That’s why we’ve prepared a nifty guide for you where we provide all you need to know about growing mushrooms at home for the best results. Let’s get started!
Can You Grow Mushrooms At Home?
The short answer to this question is yes. It is absolutely possible to grow mushrooms at home and have a successful harvest even on your first try. However, this will depend on various factors, such as:
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The type of mushroom you want to grow - there are over 14.000 different species of mushrooms in the world, and each of them will require different nutrients and conditions to grow optimally. Before you start your growing process, make sure to read up on what your mushroom of choice needs to grow successfully from spore to “fruit”.
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The environmental conditions available - growing mushrooms in an environment that doesn’t fully match their ideal conditions may lead to delayed growth or no growth
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How well you follow instructions
Best Mushroom To Grow At Home For First-Time Growers
Most consider oyster mushrooms to be the best for novice mushroom growers. Not only do they grow super fast, but they can also thrive in low-maintenance substrates like coffee grounds and straw, making them an easy short-term project to help you get used to the process.
Other types of mushrooms one can grow at home are:
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Lion's mane mushrooms
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Maitake mushrooms
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Shiitake mushrooms
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Cremini mushrooms
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White button mushrooms
What To Keep In Mind When Growing Mushrooms At Home For The First Time
The success of your harvest depends on the conditions in which you keep your growing mushrooms. This includes:
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The substrate - also known as “the soil” in which you grow your mushrooms. Since it is the only source of food for your harvest, it needs to be full of the right mix of nutrients like protein, sugar, starch, lignin, fats, and nitrogen. There are a variety of substrates to choose from, and you need to make sure you’re using the right one for the mushrooms of your choice. However, the simplest solution is to buy a mushroom growing kit like our All-in-one Grow Bags which provides both spores and the right substrate for them.
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The ideal temperature - most mushrooms require an even temperature throughout the process, usually on the warmer side
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The level of moisture - once your spores are mixed in with the substrate, you’ll need a high level of moisture for good growth - this can be achieved by keeping your growing bags in a moist environment such as a garden shed, in your basement, or even under a sink
How To Grow Mushrooms At Home Using Compost
Another method of growing mushrooms at home is by setting up your own substrate using compost. It’s not as straightforward as using a growing kit on your first try, but once you gain enough experience you’ll find that this process is also quite easy to follow. There are four main steps as follows:
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Step 1 - Set up your compost
Fill a plastic tray with about 10cm of compost
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Step 2 - Spawning
Distribute the mushroom spores on top of your compost (process known as inoculation), mix well then cover with a damp newspaper while keeping adequate airflow. Throughout the initial stages, you should make sure to keep the growing environment at a temperature of around 73F (or 23 °C).
Within 2-3 weeks you should see your mycelium growing.
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Step 3 - Casing
Once mycelium starts showing, remove the newspaper, wet the substrate, and then cover it with a casing layer. Casing is a layer of clay-loam soil or a mix of soil and hardwood sawdust. It has no nutrients on its own, as its main purpose is to provide an extra layer for the fruit bodies to grow on.
The surrounding temperature should stay the same as before at first, then lowered bit by bit each day.
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Step 4 - Harvesting
After about 1-3 weeks you should be entering your fruiting phase - which means your fresh mushrooms should be large enough to harvest! You can keep harvesting more of them every week for up to 60 days. At this stage, the surrounding temperature should be about 10°C.
How To Grow Mushrooms At Home Using A Mushroom Growing Kit
All-in-one growing kits are the perfect way for beginners and mycology enthusiasts to get hands-on experience with growing mushrooms at home.
Each kit will usually contain all you need so you can get started right away, and can be used even without any special equipment. Not to mention everything is fully sterilized already, so you won't need to worry about whether your mushrooms will grow properly. All you need to do is open your bag, water the substrate, and watch as your mushrooms grow in real time!
Even if you're unfamiliar with the steps, each growing kit comes with precise step-by-step instructions - just make sure to follow them as closely as possible and you will enjoy a bountiful harvest in no time.
How To Grow Psilocybin Mushrooms Using Growing Kits
Among edible varieties, perhaps the most fascinating ones are magic mushrooms, also known as psilocybin mushrooms or psychedelic mushrooms. The process of growing them doesn’t differ from growing any other kind of edible mushrooms - still, before embarking on this magical journey, the first step is checking in with your local legislation to make sure you are legally allowed to grow this type of mushroom.
Become A Mycology Expert With Mushroom Spawnstore!
Here, at Mushroom Spawnstore, we are dedicated to educating beginners and mycology enthusiasts about the wonders of mushroom growing.
Looking to buy your very own mushroom growing kit? Check out our collection, or contact us if you need more tips for growing mushrooms.
