The flavor of vegetables you have grown yourself is unrivaled. Unlike most vegetables, mushrooms can actually be grown inside since they prefer wet, chilly, and dark surroundings. Of fact, it is possible to grow mushrooms outdoors, but the procedure could take up to three years due to unreliable growing circumstances. The best spot to grow them at home is in a basement or under a sink where they won’t be exposed to strong light. Even those who live in apartments with little space can cultivate mushrooms. Learn how to Grow Mushrooms at Home online.

Portobello, shiitake, button, oyster, cremini, and enoki mushrooms can all be grown indoors, but they all need a different growing media. This article will explain how to produce white button mushrooms, which are of the same species as cremini and portobello mushrooms.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

The process of cultivating mushrooms differs from that of most other vegetables. Before we describe the growing process, it’s important to go over a few key terms.

• While most plants are grown from seeds, mushrooms and other fungi are grown from spores.
• When mushroom spores mix with soil or another growing medium, a white, root-like substance called mycelium grows.
• A mushroom substrate is a substance that mycelium can grow on. For white button mushrooms, the recommended substrate is a mixture of compost and manure.
• Mushroom spawn is a substrate that already has mycelium growing on it.

Rather than buying their own mushroom spores, beginners may prefer to purchase a mushroom growing kit. These kits include a growing medium as well as mushroom spawn that has already been incubated. If using a kit, skip to Step 3.

STEP 1: Add the spores to the growing medium.

Setting up the substrate, or growing medium, is the first stage. Start by preparing a planting tray with dimensions of roughly 14 by 16 inches and a depth of 6 inches. Wood, plastic, or metal are all acceptable materials for trays. Compost and manure should be added to the tray until there is just one inch remaining at the top. After that, scatter the spores on top.

To achieve the best outcomes, attempt to maintain sterile conditions throughout this step to prevent the introduction of further mold and fungi to the substrate. For instance, before to dealing with the substrate, be sure to fully wash your hands, disinfect the knife, and clean any other items that will be utilized.

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STEP 2: Make sure the soil is moist all the time.

Mushrooms thrive in humid environments, so it’s essential to ensure that the soil remains moist throughout the growing process. To keep your growing medium moist, spray or mist it once or twice each day or cover it with damp towels.

STEP 3: Incubate the spores.

The soil temperature needs to be incubated at 70 degrees for the first three weeks in order to encourage growth. You can achieve this by keeping the trays in a warmer part of the home or by setting the tray on a seedling heat mat. Put a heating pad with precise temperature controls under the tray. Use a soil thermometer to monitor the soil’s temperature and make sure it never exceeds 70 degrees because higher temperatures can destroy the spores.

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

Mycelium, or white growths resembling roots, will soon show up on top of the soil. Reduce the heating once the entire tray has been covered. Unlike many crops, which must be produced in the summer, mushrooms can be cultivated in the winter since they do well in colder climates. Remove the heating pad from underneath the tray to lower the soil’s temperature to between 55 and 60 degrees, then cover the mycelium with approximately an inch of potting soil.

STEP 5: Collect the mushrooms, then enjoy!

Button mushrooms should reach their full size after three to four weeks. Before you can harvest the caps, you must wait for them to fully open and separate from the stems. If allowed extra time to grow, they will turn brown and earn the name “cremini mushrooms.” At the end of their growth, they expand into even larger portobello mushrooms. Harvesting a mushroom requires making a clean cut through the stem using a sharp knife. If you pull mushrooms out of the earth, you might damage the nearby plants.

If they are taken every day, mushrooms will continue to grow for around six months and each one will produce its own spores. More mushroom spawn can be added to the current growing station once growth has stopped. Fresh mushrooms should be cooked or consumed within a few days because they won’t keep after being chopped for too long.

Use this technique to quickly cultivate delicious mushrooms that may be added to salads, cream soups, or pizza.

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