Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Simple methods of growing mushrooms
• Tips
• Necessities

Growing mushrooms indoors is something any gardener who likes to grow their own food should give it a try. Mushrooms are a healthy addition to any diet, as they are low in calories and fat, as well as high in fiber, potassium and selenium. Mushrooms grow best indoors in a place where the temperature and light can be regulated. Learning how to grow mushrooms actually consists of regulating growing conditions.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Simple methods of growing mushrooms

1. Decide what kind of mushrooms you want to grow. There are three types of mushrooms that are easiest to grow indoors, namely oyster mushrooms, mushrooms, and shiitake. The method for growing these three mushroom species is similar, but the ideal substrate on which the brood grows differs.
   • Oyster mushrooms grow best in straw or coffee grounds (described below); shiitake grows best on hardwood sawdust; mushrooms grow best on compost. These different substrates show the nutritional needs of the individual mushroom species. Nevertheless, any species can grow well on sawdust or straw. In the case of sawdust, make sure that it comes from untreated wood.
   • Determining the type of mushroom you want to grow is a matter of personal taste. Just choose the kind you prefer to eat.
2. Buy mushroom spawn. Mushroom spawn consists of sawdust mixed with mycelium - this is the root system of the mushroom. As with seedlings, it is used to promote growth.
   • You can order high-quality brood from various online shops; sometimes they are specialized online stores, and sometimes organic stores.
   • Make sure you buy brood, not spores. Some stores sell spores, which resemble the seeds of plants (not the seedlings). Growing mushrooms from spore takes more time and practice, and is suitable for the experienced mushroom grower.
3. Make sure you get coffee grounds. Growing mushrooms on coffee grounds is a fun project that allows you to reuse the coffee grounds that would otherwise be thrown away. Coffee grounds are a great way to grow mushrooms (especially oyster mushrooms) because the coffee grounds have already been sterilized by brewing the coffee, and because it is full of nutrients.
   • For 500 g of mushroom spawn, you need 2.5 kg of fresh coffee grounds. The best way to get this amount of fresh coffee grounds (the day you pick it up and use it is also brewed) is to go to a cafe and ask nicely. Usually the coffee grounds are given away with pleasure.
4. Look for something to grow the mushrooms in. The most ideal is a grow bag with filter, which you can usually order together with the mushroom spawn. You can also use a large freezer seal bag, or a sterilized milk carton or ice cream tub, with four small holes cut in the sides.
5. Growing mushrooms with a kit. If you're growing mushrooms for the first time, growing mushrooms from a ready-to-use kit is a fun and easy way to produce your own mushrooms. These kits often consist of plastic bags filled with sterilized, inoculated straw or soil. All you have to do is put the bag in the right temperature and light / hang, and then after seven to ten days you have your indoor grown mushrooms.
   • These types of kits usually cost between 10 and 20 euros, and you can grow the most common types of mushrooms, such as mushroom, portobello, lion's mane, shiitake and oyster mushroom.
   • When you start growing, simply open the bag and place it in a bright spot, but not in direct sunlight - such as on a shaded windowsill. The kit can be kept at room temperature, but must be moistened every day with the plant sprayer so that the humidity level remains high. Some kits come with plastic sleeves that encase the kit and maintain moisture levels.
   • The mushrooms will sprout after seven to ten days, but you can harvest two or three times in three months.
   • The great thing about these types of kits is that you can bury them outdoors under wood chips or on your compost pile after the last harvest is over. Then, depending on the weather conditions, mushrooms can grow spontaneously in that spot.
6. Growing mushrooms on tree trunks. Another interesting way to grow certain mushroom varieties - such as reishi, maitake, lion's mane, shiitake, pearl oyster mushroom and phoenix oyster mushroom - is on a tree trunk. You do this by grafting hardwood trunks with birch wood dowels, which are colonized with mushroom mycelium. These dowels are available online from stores that sell mushroom growing supplies.
   • The first thing to do is to find a suitable tree trunk for growing the mushrooms. The trunks must be cut from hardwood trees that do not emit a strong odor, such as maple, poplar, oak and elm. They should be 90 to 120 cm long and no more than 35 cm in diameter. The trunks must be cut at least two weeks before inserting the dowels so that the natural anti-fungal properties of the tree are no longer effective.
   • To colonize a 90 to 120 cm trunk you will need about 50 dowels. To get the dowels in, use a 117mm drill bit to make holes 5cm deep, in the pattern of a diamond, all over the trunk. The holes should be drilled about 10 cm apart. Push the beech dowels into the holes and hit them with the hammer so that they are properly seated.
   • If you plan to put the logs outside, you can seal the holes with paraffin wax used for the cheese rind, or beeswax. In this way, the dowels are protected against insects and inclement weather. If you want to put the logs indoors, in a garage or basement, this is usually not necessary.
   • After a while, the mycelium will start spreading from the birch dowels into the entire tree trunk, until the entire tree trunk is colonized. Once the trunk is fully colonized, mushrooms will sprout from the cracks in the trunk. This usually takes 9 to 12 months, but depending on the temperature and humidity, the mushrooms can reappear every year.

Tips

• Also learn more about growing mushrooms indoors and outdoors.

Necessities

• Mushroom spawn
• Sawdust, straw, or compost
• Baking pan
• Cherry pit pillow or rechaud
• Potting soil
• Plant sprayer
• Water
• Towel