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Mushrooms as a food product have been known to man for thousands of years. These organisms are nutritious, rich in protein, microelements and fiber and at the same time have low calorie content. A lot of time passed before people figured out how to grow mushrooms at home, like vegetables - at home or in their garden plots.

Growing mushrooms at home

Features of growing mushrooms at home: it should be remembered that growing mushrooms and vegetables is not the same thing . Mushroom growing at home has its own nuances:

Growing oyster mushrooms at home: mushroom cultivation technology

For the first three weeks, the substrate with mycelium must be kept in a warm and humid place. Optimum temperature +20°C - +22°C. Later, it is necessary to move the mycelium to a cool room, for example, a basement.

Choosing the right variety

Mushrooms that are least problematic to grow at home are champignons, oyster mushrooms and shiitake mushrooms. Each of these mushrooms has its own nutrient medium: for champignons it is compost, humus, for shiitake it is sawdust, and in a straw substrate.

Having decided on the type of mushrooms, you should choose a method for breeding them.

There are two main ways to grow mushrooms at home:

How to grow mushrooms at home and which mushrooms to choose is a matter of taste for every mushroom grower. However, fans of the intensive method of mushroom cultivation should remember that mushrooms release spores into the air, which negatively affect the human respiratory system and can cause severe forms of allergies.

Therefore, premises allocated for growing mushrooms should be as far as possible from the residential area.

User reviews

Intensive method. For this I use a small pot and humus. Of course, I add all kinds of fertilizers - without them, the rapid development of the fungus is impossible. I chose champignons because of their greater abundance and very simple care. I communicate with other mushroom growers - this is the most common type among beginners. However, I am not going to change my preferences.

Nikolay Arkhipov

All my friends advised me to start with champignons. Even my best friend kept proving to me that this is the simplest mushroom. He said that it is better suited for beginners than others, because caring for it does not require extra funds. I tried, but I didn't succeed. I planted them in sawdust. I did everything according to the instructions, but the plant died. But there are no problems with shiitake, it is still growing. Now I know for sure that it is better to start with them, and not with champignons, and planting itself is easier.

Growing mushrooms at home is a complex and labor-intensive process. Mushrooms are rich in nutrients, vitamins, macro- and microelements, fiber, which is beneficial for the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Mushrooms grown at home include champignons, shiitakes, oyster mushrooms, and lion's mane.

Types of technologies

Before growing mushrooms, you need to decide on the technology. Experts identify several methods for growing mushrooms at home, including basic (traditional) and alternative (non-traditional) technology for breeding eukaryotic organisms.

Before growing a mushroom at home using the first method, it is recommended to decide on its type. N It is recommended for beginners to breed 3 types of plants of the kingdom in question:

Oyster mushrooms.
Champignon.
Shiitake.

What mushrooms can you grow at home (video)

The choice of medium on which organisms will germinate depends on the type of group. Oyster mushrooms prefer to grow in straw, champignons in compost manure, and shiitake mushrooms in leaf sawdust. Before growing mushrooms, you need to buy mycelium, presented in the form of sawdust with fungal mycelium (root structure). To grow mushrooms at home, you will need to use the appropriate mycelium.

Rhizomes made from thin threads can be purchased in specialized organic stores. Gardeners often confuse mycelium with spores. The latter are peculiar mushroom seeds (not seedlings, as in mycelium). Growing mushrooms at home from spores will require more time and practical skills.

Mini mycelium for champignons (video)

The next step is to clean the culture medium. Before placing the mycelium on the nutrient medium (if we are talking about straw or sawdust), it is recommended to clean it of microorganisms that can harm it or compete with the mycelium.

To do this you will need to sterilize it. Then you need to put the straw or sawdust in a heat-resistant container, adding water. The dishes are placed in the microwave or placed on the stove. The water should boil. This procedure can kill all microorganisms, protecting the soil for mycelium.

Sterilization of soil for mushrooms (video)

Additional work Before planting the mycelium on the nutrient medium, it is recommended to warm it up.

b (heat stimulates and significantly accelerates the growth of mushrooms). The mycelium should be applied evenly to the soil, mixing it with your hands. The resulting mixture is placed in a previously prepared container. The dishes with mycelium are placed on an electric pad (temperature no higher than 20 0 C). The structure is stored in a dark place for 20-23 days. These conditions well stimulate the growth of mycelium and its distribution in the soil.

After the specified period, the container with the nutrient medium is transferred to a dark and cool room (temperature up to 15 0 C). This could be a basement, a barn in the warm season, and in winter - a closet or box located in an unheated room of the house. It is recommended to lay a ball of soil on top of the medium in a thin layer, which is abundantly irrigated with water. The main rule is that the environment should always be moist and cool. To prevent moisture loss, it is recommended to cover the container with soil with a damp towel.

After 2-3 weeks, small mushrooms should appear. To speed up the growth of small indoor mushrooms, it is recommended to keep them in a cool and dark place.

The harvest is harvested after separating the caps from the stems. Experts do not advise pulling mushrooms out with your hands, as their root system may be damaged or the growth of small organisms may be disrupted. It is recommended to use a sharp knife for harvesting. Mushrooms are cut off at the base of the stem. The harvested crop can be cooked immediately or stored in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. In this case, use a paper bag.

Unconventional breeding methods

You can grow mushrooms at home using unconventional or alternative methods:
logs from deciduous trees;
coffee grounds;

In the first case, birch plugs populated with fungal mycelium are driven into logs of deciduous trees. These plugs can be purchased at a gardening store. This technology for growing mushrooms is used for boletus, reishi, lion's mane, chanterelle, and pearl mushrooms. How it works: It is first recommended to find a log made of deciduous, but not aromatic wood (oak, maple, poplar).

Before planting, at least 2 weeks must pass so that all the antifungal properties of the tree disappear from the log.

Its length should not exceed 10 cm, and its diameter should not exceed 35 cm. With such dimensions, you will need on average up to 50 birch plugs. To install them, you should make holes (over the entire area of the log) 5 cm deep. For this you will need a 5x16 drill. The holes are made in 10 cm increments. The plugs are driven into the holes with a hammer. They then need to be sealed with beeswax to protect them from pests and weather. If the log is stored indoors, in a garage or basement, then the plugs will not seal. The mycelium first spreads along the log, and then mushrooms sprout from the cracks. On average, this process lasts 12-14 months.

This takes into account weather conditions, humidity and ambient temperature.

How to grow oyster mushrooms on a tree (video)

Coffee grounds and special kits Coffee grounds are an ideal nutrient medium for certain types of mushrooms (oyster mushrooms).

It has many nutrients and is ready to be colonized by micelles. This is due to its sterility. Microorganisms are destroyed during the coffee brewing process. For 0.5 kg of micelles you will need 2.5 kg of grounds. A special geotextile bag - Grow bag - is used as a container for the nutrient medium. Otherwise, use a milk container or an ice cream carton with 4 side holes.

The next step is to evenly distribute the mycelium in the coffee grounds. The mixture is thoroughly mixed by hand. Then it is placed in a container, which is recommended to be tightly closed and placed in a dark place (temperature 18-25 0 C). Shelf life - 20-25 days. When growing mushrooms, experts recommend watering the soil 1-2 times a day. Then the container is transferred to a bright room, but to a shaded place. A 5x5 cm hole is cut out on the box. The soil is watered several times a day. In this case, it is necessary to periodically monitor the soil moisture. At first the mushrooms will be small, and after 5-7 days the caps will begin to separate from the stems. The harvest is underway. Coffee grounds are planted in compost or under the bark (for the germination of new mushrooms).

For gardeners, special kits have been created for growing mushrooms at home, which consist of a plastic bag with a sterilized and seeded medium (straw or soil).

Operating principle: the package is pre-opened. It is stored in a bright place, but not in direct sunlight. It is recommended to water the medium several times a day.

Some kits are equipped with plastic tents that protect the soil from moisture loss. On average, mushrooms begin to grow within 3-5 days. Using this technology, you can grow champignons, lion's mane, shiitake, and oyster mushrooms. Mushrooms begin to germinate within 1-2 weeks. Upon completion of this process, the soil is transplanted into compost (in the fresh air).

Before choosing one of the above listed technologies for growing mushrooms at home, it is recommended to consult with specialists.

Gallery: mushrooms at home (15 photos)

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The success of growing mushrooms at home depends on the right room, temperature and climatic conditions. Purchasing mycelium is not difficult; it is only important to choose a reliable supplier with high-quality planting material. The main thing is that the temperature and humidity in the room can be regulated. A home mushroom business does not require much investment and pays off within a month after the first harvest. And it doesn’t matter whether these crops are grown for personal use or for sale, a person will always have edible and non-poisonous mushrooms.

First, you need to decide which type is more suitable for home cultivation. Most often, the following types of mushrooms are used for these purposes:	View	Description
Photo	Oyster mushroom
It grows in nests, the tissue is juicy and soft. The hat is shaped like an auricle and has a characteristically curled, wavy brim. Smooth to the touch and dark gray in color. The leg is white or light gray, ranging from half a millimeter to three centimeters in height. The plates are light, long, sparse and thin. It is a predatory mushroom that can digest some worms. Never wormy	They have a second name - pecheritsa. The stem and cap are the same color (white), the stem widens slightly at the base, dense and strong. The cap has a convex shape and a skin that is easily removed. Fresh champignons have white plates, old ones have black plates.
Honey mushrooms	They grow in groups, on stumps and trees, on thin legs reaching 15 cm, and have a small “skirt”. The color is light or dark brown. The cap is curved downwards, hemispherical in shape, with small scales when young and smooth, and when the mushroom matures it is umbrella-shaped
Porcini	Boletus has a distinctive feature - a barrel-shaped or club-shaped leg (average height 15 cm, diameter 8-10 cm). It has a large light brown or reddish cap (on average 30 cm). The cap has a delicate velvety structure and a thin skin, inseparable from the pulp.
Shiitake	The second name is imperial mushroom. It has soft cream or white flesh, a bright aroma and a pleasant aftertaste. The hat is convex, dense, coffee-colored. The diameter is five to twenty centimeters, with a thin skin covered with white scales. The leg is light brown, one and a half centimeters in diameter and from 5 to 20 cm in height. Covered with fringed remains of thin skin
Truffles	It is considered a delicacy and has a unique taste and specific aroma. Looks like a potato tuber or cone. It is the size of a walnut, but some specimens grow as large as a potato and weigh about a kilogram. The skin has a smooth surface, cut with cracks and covered with processes similar to warts. The section shows a multifaceted structure alternating between light and dark “veins”. The edible part of the truffle is the fruiting body containing the spores. The pulp is black, gray, chocolate and white

Species are divided into woody ones - oyster mushrooms, shiitake and honey mushrooms, and soil ones - porcini mushrooms, champignons and truffles.

Features of cultivation

For beginner mushroom pickers, it is better to choose the first three types. Purchasing mycelium and other materials will be inexpensive. Growing truffles (the most expensive) and the increasingly popular shiitake will require more experience and financial investment.

The first step is to select a suitable location or room. It must be isolated, since the air easily spreads fungal spores that infect the garden plot or other part of the room.

Methods and technology:

1. Acquisition of mycelium. It looks like sawdust with germinated mushroom mycelium (root system). This is the so-called mushroom seedling, which is used most often. It can be ordered online or in a specialty store.
2. Preparation of the nutrient medium. Purchased sawdust and straw (substrate) are sterilized with hot steam or boiling water to destroy microbes that can change the mycelium.
3. Warming up the seedlings. This is done in this way: sawdust with mycelium is laid out on a baking sheet or a wide, shallow bowl. Place on a warm surface with a temperature of twenty-five degrees and leave for twenty-one days in a dark place.
4. Planting mycelium. After three weeks, the sprouted mycelium is transferred to a cellar or basement with a constant temperature of fifteen degrees. A layer of soil is placed on the nutrient medium (sawdust, straw) and watered with water. You need to make sure that excess moisture does not accumulate. To control humidity, use napkins or towels to remove water or dampen the covering material, working as needed.
5. Maintain a moist environment so that mushrooms grow after three weeks.
6. Daylight control. Turn on or off light (depending on the species) to allow crops to regulate photosynthesis.

When the caps are fully formed and begin to structurally separate from the stem, the first harvest is harvested. The plant is cut with a knife or twisted out of the ground so that the rhizome remains intact and produces more fruit.

Growing mushrooms at home involves two methods:

Extensive. Suitable for those who do not intend to grow these fruit plants for business purposes. Mushrooms will grow independently in the garden plot, and the harvest depends on weather conditions - just like in the natural environment.
Intensive. The main goal is to make a profit. Yield is important and affects financial profit. A nutrient medium and climate control are needed. Mushrooms are grown in a suitable room with optimal temperature and humidity. They are planted in the basement of the house, on the balcony or in the pantry.

Mushrooms can be grown and collected all year round, business will only benefit from this, the main thing is that the technology is not violated.

Growing different species

To grow mushrooms in a personal plot, it is necessary to observe certain conditions that are important for a particular species.

Champignons are bred from late spring to early autumn under natural conditions (outdoors) and all year round indoors. An important condition is the preparation of a high-quality substrate. The amount of harvest depends on it. The main component is compost. It is made from rye straw or wheat (20%) and cow, bird or horse manure (70%). A correct calculation of the components is necessary: 100 kg of straw, two urea, two superphosphate, seven kilograms of gypsum and five chalk. This material is enough for a mycelium with an area of three meters (together with manure), if you grow them outside. In the basement, for convenience, the earth is laid out in wooden boxes. It is recommended to install metal shelving where boxes with mycelium containing mycelium will be placed. Temperature conditions (14-16 degrees) and humidity (75%) should be observed. Regularly moisten the soil, avoiding the accumulation of water in the substrate. Ventilation of the room and airing is necessary, without creating drafts. Fruiting lasts eight to fourteen weeks, during which the crop is harvested seven times. The champignons are not cut, but twisted out, sprinkling the remaining hole with soil.

Oyster mushrooms are planted in a cool, shady place in the garden or in a dark basement. The substrate is prepared from crushed corn shoots, straw, sunflower seed husks and buckwheat. Pasteurization is carried out and cooled to 25 degrees. They are grown in large plastic bags pre-sterilized in chlorine solution (with five kilograms of substrate). They make holes in them and attach them to the ceiling. Holes are cut in a checkerboard pattern, every ten centimeters. During the incubation period, which lasts ten to fifteen days, the temperature (19 degrees) and humidity (80%) are maintained. When the first crop emerges, the temperature is reduced to 10 degrees and the humidity is increased to 90%. During the fruiting period, artificial sunlight is needed for 8 hours. When the time comes to harvest, the oyster mushrooms are carefully twisted out of the ground.

Honey mushrooms grow well on stumps and trees. Plant at a distance from other groups and place so that spores do not penetrate healthy trees. In basements, wood is attached and mycelium is planted on its surface or diluted in plastic jars. For the substrate, take seed husks, small sawdust and shavings. Boil and allow excess moisture to drain. Then add nutrients: grain flour (30 g) and starch (10 g) per kilogram of chips. The resulting mixture is placed in jars and compacted. A two-hour sterilization is carried out, a hole (6 cm) is made and mycelium is introduced into it. Containers are stored in a dark, humid room with a temperature of 23 degrees. After germination, lower the temperature to 15 degrees Celsius. Honey mushrooms grow quickly and can be harvested within two weeks.

Shiitake grows best on stumps and timber. They are planted mainly indoors, making holes for the mycelium. Requires high humidity and lack of light. Indoors, shiitake is grown in bags at a temperature of 25 degrees and a humidity of 75-80%. The substrate includes grain husks, sawdust and hay. Five percent mycelium is added to it and moisturized well. Four centimeter cuts are made to allow the mycelium to breathe freely. When the fruiting bodies ripen (after 3-4 weeks), they are carefully cut off with a sharp knife at the very base. For a good harvest, high quality planting material is important.

The porcini mushroom (boletus) grows well in its natural environment. Can be grown in the garden and in basements. It is better to plant in the spring. A sunlit area is selected on the site, dry leaves and tree bark are added. Prefers dry, draining soil and moderate humidity. Unlike other varieties, it tolerates the sun very well. All weeds are removed from the area and the soil is moistened. To grow boletus mushrooms in the basement, you need to ensure a temperature within 9-12 degrees and a humidity of 85%. Plant the seedlings in boxes filled with nutrient substrate. You can use bags. The substrate includes: sawdust, hay, seed husks, crushed corn cobs. The room must be regularly ventilated, as porcini mushrooms love oxygen. It is necessary to install fluorescent lamps and turn on the lights for five hours. When the caps appear, you should lower the temperature to ten degrees. Watering is carried out scatteredly, twice a day. After twenty to twenty-five days, the harvest can be harvested.

Truffle grows well near oak, olive trees, and sequoia. Do not plant near chestnut, willow, pine, fir and poplar. It is collected by digging up the ground at a depth of 20 cm.

Growing mushrooms at home is a fairly simple task and can be done even by a person completely unfamiliar with agriculture. It allows you to obtain mushroom harvests almost all year round, which can be both eaten and used for commercial purposes.

Introduction

Currently existing techniques make it possible to simplify the process of growing mushrooms as much as possible, making it not only extremely simple, but also economically profitable. In addition, new cultivation techniques appear every year, making it possible to both increase its efficiency and expand the range of cultivated crops. Theoretically, you can grow almost any mushroom at home, however, currently the lion's share of mushrooms grown privately are oyster mushrooms and champignons.

But the list of mushrooms grown at home does not end there. Methods for home cultivation of honey mushrooms, porcini mushrooms, shiitake, chanterelles, and so on have been mastered for a long time. Let's look at the technologies for growing them at home in more detail.

Growing oyster mushrooms

There are two main ways to grow oyster mushrooms. One of them involves the use of natural habitat conditions. Although it allows you to harvest only 1 crop per year, in terms of investment, it is considered the most profitable.

The second method, called intensive, involves creating an artificial habitat for oyster mushrooms. Almost all grown oyster mushrooms are obtained using this method, since it is not only universal, but also the most profitable based on the ratio of profit to unit of mass.

Growing conditions

In the room that is planned to be used for growing mushrooms, the following conditions must be met:

The room must be sealed, however, if necessary, it will need to be ventilated. The room must have a heating system to maintain the required temperature. For small rooms, for example, the basement of a private house, a conventional heater will be sufficient.

Preparation of substrate and mycelium blocks

Oyster mushrooms are grown in special bags, which are a mixture of mycelium and substrate. These bags can be either purchased or made yourself. In terms of cost, in the case of small volumes of mushrooms grown (up to 1 ton of substrate), there is not much difference.

If you decide to fill such bags yourself, then you need to purchase oyster mushroom mycelium and prepare to make the substrate yourself. It is recommended not to use a lot of mycelium for the first experiments. For the first experiment, 2-3 kg is enough; from them you can get from 10 to 15 kg of mushrooms.

The mycelium is stored in the refrigerator at a temperature of 2 to 4°C.

The substrate may include:
wheat straw
barley straw
buckwheat or sunflower husk
crushed corn stalks and sheds

other similar materials

Sawdust and shavings are not the best options, since, in addition to oyster mushrooms, mold will also grow on them.

For 2-3 kg of mycelium you will need from 20 to 30 kg of substrate. At the same time, it should be crushed to a particle size of 3-5 cm.

In some cases, heat treatment of the substrate is recommended to disinfect it from fungus and mold. It can consist of either boiling the substrate in boiling water or heating it to 100°C in some installation that maintains a constant temperature for 1-1.5 hours.

Mushroom blocks are formed in plastic bags, which are pre-disinfected in 2% bleach solutions. Usually up to 10 kg per bag is used, sometimes 5 kg bags are used for convenience. Filling the bags is done as follows:

every 5 cm of substrate alternately with 0.5 cm of mycelium. Moreover, the first and last layers must be filled with substrate. After which the bags are tied and perforated (checkerboard pattern, step from 10 to 15 cm), holes 10-20 mm.

Pre-ripening

Mushroom blocks are placed in a room where they undergo an incubation period (up to 2 weeks). The temperature at this time should be relatively high (not lower than +20°C). However, you should not be zealous; temperatures above +28°C are detrimental to oyster mushroom mycelium. If cultivation occurs in the summer, then the temperature in the room can be reduced using a simple fan, the air stream from which is directed directly to the bags with the substrate.

The room is ventilated twice a day, but care should be taken to ensure that insects, especially flies, do not enter it. At this stage, no lighting is needed for mushrooms. The mycelium threads become noticeable on the 4th-5th day of the incubation period. After about 1.5 weeks, the mycelium completely fills the bag and its color will become a uniform light gray; At the same time, a characteristic mushroom smell will appear in the room.

As soon as incubation ends, it is necessary to change the life mode of the fungus in order for it to bear fruit; the following is done:

the temperature drops to 12-15°C
mushrooms are provided with at least 8 hours of daylight using fluorescent lamps
humidity increases to 95%
the room is ventilated up to 3-4 times a day

To ensure the necessary humidity, you need to spray the walls and floor of the room with water; the mushroom bags should not be wetted, since water should not get into the substrate.

If everything is done correctly and the conditions are met, after a few days the first fruiting bodies of the mushrooms appear. The fruiting time itself ranges from 1.5 to 2 weeks.

In the last 2-3 days, the rate of fasting of mushroom caps is maximum. This time is considered the optimal collection time. In this case, it is better not to cut the mushrooms, but to break them off from the bag.

Second harvest

The first wave of the harvest will be completely over in 3 weeks. Ventilation and moistening of the floor and walls continue in the room. After two weeks, the second wave of fruiting comes. The sequence of actions is exactly the same as in the case of the first.

There can be from 4 to 6 such waves in total, however, the first two are the largest in terms of the number of mushrooms collected. In total, the first two harvests contain from 60% to 80% of the total oyster mushroom harvest.

Usually, after the 2nd wave, blocks of oyster mushrooms are replaced with new ones. The old ones can be used as excellent fertilizers.

Growing champignons

Champignon

Growing these mushrooms is a little more difficult than oyster mushrooms, however, if agricultural practices are followed correctly, it also does not pose any particular problems. The most labor-intensive period in growing champignons occurs during the preparation of the substrate. Let's look at it:

Preparation of substrate for champignons

Its main component is compost. It consists of the following components:

wheat or rye straw - 1 part
horse manure – 3 parts

In addition, the substrate also contains additional ingredients (the norms are indicated per 100 kg of straw):

urea – 2 kg
superphosphate – 2kg
gypsum – 10 kg
chalk – 6 kg

If horse manure is not available, cow manure or poultry manure can be used, but the yield will be slightly lower.

The substrate is prepared outdoors or in a well-ventilated area, protected from the sun. Ventilation is necessary, since fermentation of the components releases ammonia and carbon dioxide. Thus, if you take 100 kg of straw, you will get about 400-450 kg of substrate; it is enough for a mycelium occupying an area of up to 3 square meters. m.

When using chicken manure, the composition of the substrate will be slightly different:

100 kg straw
100 kg litter
250 l water
7 kg gypsum
6 kg alabaster

In any case, the mixture is prepared as follows: The straw is soaked for a day, then the straw and manure/litter are stacked (3-5 layers of one and the other mixed). Each layer of straw is moistened and gradually half a kilo of superphosphate and urea are added evenly.

After which the whole heap is mixed 4 times, and the remaining components are added to each of the stirrings:

after the first - plaster
after the second - superphosphate
after the third - chalk

When everything is mixed, the fermentation process will begin. In this case, the temperature can rise to +70°C; The compost is ready for use in about 3 weeks. During the preparation process, the volume of the substrate may decrease slightly (up to 10-15%).

Planting mycelium

In order for champignons to grow without problems, it is advisable to use only sterile mycelium grown in laboratory conditions as seed material. There are two options for mycelium for champignons: compost and grain.

The first is produced in glass jars. Its shelf life is about a year at zero temperature. It is less susceptible to negative environmental influences, however, its yield is slightly lower. Grain mycelium is traditionally packaged in bags; Its shelf life is six months at a temperature not exceeding +4°C.

At 1 km. m (which corresponds to approximately 100 kg of substrate) requires about 300 g of grain or 500 g of compost mycelium. As in the case of oyster mushrooms, pasteurization of the substrate by heating it to 100°C is mandatory.

At the end of this procedure, the cooled substrate is poured into boxes no more than 30 cm deep. After which the mycelium is planted in them. Approximately a handful of grain or compost mycelium is laid to a depth of about 4-5 cm. The arrangement of the holes is checkerboard; step 25 - 30 cm. The grain mycelium can generally be distributed evenly over the surface and sprinkled with a layer of substrate to the same depth.

Air humidity during planting of mycelium should be about 80%, and the temperature should be about 20-25°C. Control of these parameters is important for the normal growth of mycelium. Also, as in the case of oyster mushrooms, it is permissible to moisten the walls and floor of the room, but moisture should not fall on the mycelium.

Incubation

After about 1-2 weeks, the mycelium grows and the substrate requires covering with a special covering soil to a depth of no more than 3 cm. The composition of such soil can be as follows:

9 parts peat
1 part calcium carbonate

Or this:

peat – 5 parts
limestone – 1 part
deciduous soil - 1 part

Approximately 1 sq. m will require from 30 to 30 kg of cover soil.

3-5 days after covering the substrate with cover soil, it is necessary to reduce the temperature in the room to 12-15°C and begin watering it (always with a small amount of water, preventing it from getting into the substrate). The room needs to be ventilated 2-3 times a day, but the rest of the time it should be sealed.

Harvesting

Approximately 2 weeks after incubation, the first mushrooms appear. Recommendations for collecting them are very simple: Mushrooms are harvested while they have a thin, unbroken film connecting the skin and the edge of the cap.

It is also not advisable to cut mushrooms; they need to be broken off or twisted.

The remaining holes are sprinkled with covering soil and watered with a small amount of water.

Fruiting itself lasts from 8 to 14 weeks, with the number of harvest waves exceeding 6. The waves come one after another at intervals of 1 week or less. From 1 sq. m (100 kg of compost) up to 10 kg of mushrooms are removed. Three quarters of the total harvest is harvested from waves 1-3.

Growing mushrooms on rotten wood

This growing method is suitable for most forest mushrooms, which include honey mushrooms, chanterelles, shiitake and others.

In terms of agricultural technology, all mushrooms are approximately the same, the differences are only in some minor nuances. This type of cultivation is extensive because it lasts quite a long time and replicates the conditions natural for mushrooms in their environment. You can use felled oak, chestnut or hornbeam as wood.

The mycelium is placed in the holes and immediately plugged with wooden plugs, sometimes also sealing the holes with paraffin. After which, all the stumps are placed in a woodpile, which is placed in a shaded area, allowing the mycelium to germinate normally.

Incubation can occur quickly, or it can (as in shiitake) last quite a long time - about a year. The next stage is stimulation of the mycelium to grow fruiting bodies. In nature, this function is performed by rain; in our case, it is necessary to start removing the stumps from the woodpile and start watering them with water.

This can be done for all pieces of wood at once, approximately calculating the incubation time of the planted mushrooms, or you can start doing it in parts at a time close to the end of incubation. In any case, it is necessary to control the growth of the mycelium and its readiness to bear fruit.

This method of cultivation does not produce such a quantity of harvests from one mycelium in 3-4 months, however, mushrooms grown with its help are as close in composition as possible to natural ones grown in the forest. In addition, harvesting from such artificial mushroom farms can last up to 5 years or more.

Tea mushroom

View

This organism is a so-called medusomycete - a symbiotic structure that includes yeast and acetic bacteria. The former are mushrooms without mycelium, so the name “kombucha”, although partially, justifies itself.

At home, kombuchas are kept in three-liter jars, less often in other containers. When grown industrially, the weight of this organism reaches several centners. From a zoological point of view, kombucha is a film of these microorganisms located on the surface of the water and consisting of several layers.

The growth of the fungus occurs when it is fed with sugar. Yeast ferments this sugar, breaking it down into less complex components: ethanol and carbon dioxide. Bacteria convert some of the ethanol into vinegar, and the resulting substances are used to form new generations of yeast and acetic acid bacteria. The organism grows from the bottom layer, the topmost is the oldest. The layers located between them are where sugar is converted.

Growing New Kombucha

You need to start with the future habitat of the organism.

For this we need the following components:

3 liter glass jar
gauze or bandage
fungal membrane
high concentration tea solution
granulated sugar

First, the jar is washed and steamed to sterilize. At the same time, strong tea is prepared.

The concentration of tea must be high, so the following composition is recommended:

2 heaped teaspoons of tea
5 tablespoons sugar
1 liter of boiling water

It is best to brew tea from boiled, cooled and brought to a boil again. This is necessary to increase its softness and ensure that it gets rid of microorganisms.

Be sure to remember that pouring sugar directly onto the mushroom is strictly prohibited!

The tea is poured into a three-liter jar and cooled to room temperature. At the same time, there should be no tea leaves or undissolved pieces of sugar in it. After this, a mushroom membrane is placed in the jar and the neck of the jar is closed with gauze or a bandage. Sometimes it is recommended to add 2-3 teaspoons of mother tea solution along with the membrane.

The jar is placed in a warm place, protected from direct sunlight and drafts. Recommended temperature: from +22°С to +25°С. After about 1-2 weeks, the mushroom will have grown enough and will be ready to produce the drink.

Sometimes during this period the mushroom will settle to the bottom; this is normal, since the first few days there is not enough carbon dioxide in the mushroom to hold it on the surface.

Care

The care technique is simple:

Once every 15-20 days, the mushroom needs periodic washing.
And once every 2-6 days you need to drain the liquid from it, adding tea to the jar (the recipe for which was given earlier) to the required level.
The frequency of fluid renewal depends on the air temperature; the higher it is, the faster the fluid is renewed.
When the bottom layer is separated from the mushroom, it can be replanted.

In an old mushroom, this layer appears again within 5-10 days. The top crust must be removed as it becomes coarser. Once every two months, the mushroom should be washed especially thoroughly, completely changing the liquid in the jar, sterilizing it.

In this case, the upper and lower layers of the mushroom are removed.

Mushroom cultivation begins with the selection of a site or room for cultivation. After this, you need to buy or prepare mycelium, prepare the substrate and provide optimal conditions for the development of the mycelium.

How to grow mushrooms in artificial conditions with a detailed description of the technology can be found in this article. With its help, you can grow a rich harvest of mushrooms not only in the basement, but also in the garden plot or even in a city apartment.

Growing mushrooms at home for beginners

Before starting to grow mushrooms at home, a beginner needs to decide which species is best to cultivate. Experts recommend starting with simple varieties: champignons, honey mushrooms or oyster mushrooms, since they require minimal conditions, and the purchase of mycelium and materials will not be expensive (Figure 1).

In addition, it is necessary to provide in advance the area or room where cultivation will be carried out. It is advisable to isolate it, since spores easily spread through the air and can easily infect the entire area.

Conditions

There are certain conditions for successful cultivation. Firstly, you need to independently prepare or buy high-quality mycelium, since the success of the entire enterprise will depend on this.

Note: It is better to buy ready-made mycelium from trusted manufacturers, since homemade spores often do not have sufficient quality.

Secondly, you need to prepare a good substrate (compost) into which the mycelium is colonized. You can also prepare it yourself, or buy a ready-made sterile mixture of sawdust and wood scraps. This mixture is considered the best, as it allows the spores to form the so-called fungal root, which significantly increases the yield.

Figure 1. Methods of growing at home

In addition, you need to prepare a suitable room. Oyster mushrooms and honey mushrooms can also be grown in the garden on ordinary stumps, but it is still better to equip a basement and a greenhouse for this purpose. It would be better if there were no wooden structures in the room, since in conditions of high humidity and under the influence of spores they quickly collapse.

If you are interested in the practical side of the issue, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with expert advice that will help you properly organize your own small mushroom farm.

Basic tips for growing mushrooms are:(Figure 2):

Equip the room in such a way that you can change the temperature depending on the phase of the growing season. To do this, you need to equip a ventilation, air humidification and heating system.
As a substrate, you can use not only sawdust, but also high-quality cereal straw (rye or wheat). The straw should show no signs of mold or rot.
Indoors, install racks with containers that will contain the nutrient substrate. It is better to make the racks metal, since wood quickly rots in such conditions. For oyster mushrooms and honey mushrooms, ordinary plastic bags filled with substrate are also suitable.

Figure 2. Growing conditions at home

It is also necessary to provide a room where the crop will be stored and processed. It is important that in order to maintain sterility, all rooms for preparing the substrate, infecting the blocks with mycelium and direct maturation must be located separately or separated by partitions.

Selecting a location

You can grow mushrooms almost anywhere. But there are rooms that are best suited for this purpose. For example, if you have a free basement with ventilation, cultivation can be established in it.

Also suitable for this purpose is a greenhouse or part of a garden plot, if possible, isolated from other crops. Oyster mushrooms and honey mushrooms grow best outdoors, but if the temperature and humidity conditions are maintained, champignons and porcini mushrooms can also be grown in such conditions.

An easy way to grow mushrooms

The easiest way to grow mushrooms at home is in a jar (Figure 3). Unfortunately, honey mushrooms are mainly cultivated in this way, but if the variety is not of fundamental importance to you, you can easily use this method.

A nutrient substrate is poured into a jar and the containers are boiled over low heat for two hours. When the jars have cooled, the surface of the compost is seeded with mycelium, the neck is covered with gauze and placed in a room at room temperature. Germination of the mycelium takes about 3 weeks, and during this period it is not necessary to maintain optimal lighting conditions.

Figure 3. Features of growing honey mushrooms in a jar

When the mycelium germinates, the jar is transferred to the windowsill and a little shading is done. Honey mushrooms grow very quickly, so when their caps appear above the neck, you need to wrap it with a thick strip of cardboard so that the mushroom legs do not break. In the future, the crop is simply cut off, the jars are closed again and the procedure is repeated. The second harvest can be harvested in 2 weeks.

What mushrooms can be grown at home?

You can grow almost any variety at home, but the most popular are champignons, oyster mushrooms, shiitake and honey mushrooms. They require minimal care and investment, and the yield is high enough that it can be harvested several times.

More experienced mushroom growers are also cultivating porcini mushrooms, chanterelles and other forest varieties at home, but this venture is technologically more complex and requires more careful preparation of the room and substrate. This condition also applies to truffles - expensive mushrooms that are highly valued by gourmets all over the world. Truffles grow on the roots of certain trees, and they require a variety of climate conditions to grow.

How to grow mushrooms in the garden

Growing mushrooms in your garden plot is not difficult if you choose the right materials and study the growing technology in detail.

Champignons, oyster mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms and winter honey mushrooms are best suited for growing in the country, so we will dwell in more detail on the peculiarities of cultivating these varieties.

Peculiarities

Each variety requires special conditions. Oyster mushroom is considered the most unpretentious, as it grows well on almost any substrate and does not require the purchase of expensive equipment.

Honey mushrooms are also easy to grow: all you need to do is install a few stumps in the garden, drill holes in them and place the mycelium inside. Further care consists of monitoring the wood and harvesting, since honey mushrooms grow in the open air almost the same as in the forest.

Figure 4. Recommendations for growing crops in the garden

If you plan to breed champignons or shiitake, you will still have to take some features into account. They require a dark and fairly humid room in which the temperature can be regulated, since during the period of germination of the mycelium and the growth of the fruiting bodies themselves, it differs (Figure 4).

Conditions

In order for cultivation on a garden plot to be completed successfully, several important conditions must be met, depending on the variety.

To grow you will need to follow these rules(Figure 5):

Oyster mushrooms It is better to place it in the garden or basement with little to no lighting. The substrate with mycelium is placed in large plastic bags with holes and suspended from the ceiling, and during the harvest period the fruiting bodies are simply cut off.
It grows in nests, the tissue is juicy and soft. The hat is shaped like an auricle and has a characteristically curled, wavy brim. Smooth to the touch and dark gray in color. The leg is white or light gray, ranging from half a millimeter to three centimeters in height. The plates are light, long, sparse and thin. It is a predatory mushroom that can digest some worms. Never wormy They are cultivated outdoors from May to September, and in a basement or greenhouse, where it is possible to maintain stable temperature and humidity - all year round. To grow champignons, it is better to install metal racks with shelves in which the mycelium and mycelium will be placed.
Honey mushrooms can be grown directly in the garden by burying several logs or stumps at some distance from other trees so that honey mushroom spores do not penetrate healthy wood.
Shiitake grown mainly in basements and sheds, on beams or stumps of deciduous trees. Holes are made in them into which the mycelium is placed, and the room itself is maintained in high humidity and twilight.

Figure 5. Growing oyster mushrooms, honey mushrooms, champignons and shiitake mushrooms at home

Providing optimal conditions for all the varieties listed above is not difficult, because most often old barns and basements are used for this purpose, and cultivation equipment (for example, racks or boxes for substrate) can be made yourself.

Rules

Growing mushrooms is not a difficult task, but for its successful implementation it requires following certain recommendations.

It is also necessary to equip a separate room for storing and processing the crop, as well as disinfecting the substrate. At a distance from the mushroom growing complex there is a place for disposal of waste substrate.

The video shows how you can grow porcini mushrooms in your summer cottage.

Growing mushrooms in your summer cottage can be not only a way to replenish your harvest with tasty products, but also a good way to earn money if you organize production correctly.

Like the cultivation of other crops, the cultivation of mushrooms is carried out according to certain rules, which will be described in detail below.

Peculiarities

There are several ways to grow crops in your dacha. The simplest is to use an already developed mycelium. To do this, just go into the forest, find a place of mass growth of edible varieties, remove the mycelium from the soil and transfer it to your site.

Note: This method is simple, but it is only suitable for those who know exactly what edible varieties look like. If you are new to this business, it is better to buy mycelium.

It is important that for cultivation in the country, it will be enough to transfer only part of the mycelium in order to preserve the harvest in the forest. It must be carefully removed from the soil and, trying not to shake too much, transferred to your summer cottage and placed in the chosen place. The site must be prepared in advance and conditions suitable for the growth of fruiting bodies must be created.

Conditions

The cultivation area can be anything, but it is better to place it near old trees or rotten logs. The mycelium cannot be planted directly into the ground: in order to bear fruit, it needs a nutrient substrate from which the fruiting bodies will develop. To do this, you can put straw or wet sawdust on the ground.

The mycelium can be transferred not only to the ground, but also to a piece of log or stump dug into the ground. To do this, holes are drilled in the wood with a drill and the mycelium is placed inside. It is desirable that the tree on which crops will be grown in the country be of the same species as in the forest.

Technology

Another simple growing technology is the spore method. Spores are constantly in their caps, so it is enough to collect ripe, or better yet, overripe specimens, crumble their caps and scatter them around the area.

The soil needs to be moistened, and after 3 weeks it will be possible to begin harvesting. When using this technology, you must be absolutely sure that you are using edible and not poisonous species.

Mushrooms in plastic bags

Another simple but quite effective way is to grow mushrooms in plastic bags (Figure 6).

It is better to cultivate oyster mushrooms or shiitakes this way, but some mushroom growers also practice it for champignons. To begin the procedure, take large plastic bags and fill them with substrate. Small transverse cuts are made along the entire length of the bag, into which the mycelium is populated. The bags (called blocks) are then carried into the growing room, hung from the ceiling or placed on racks, and the room is maintained at a suitable temperature level.

Figure 6. Features of growing in plastic bags

Harvesting in this case is very convenient: they can simply be cut along the line of the holes, and after a few weeks the harvest can be harvested again, since all varieties, without exception, bear fruit in several waves.

You will find more information about growing in bags in the video.

Oyster mushrooms and shiitake mushrooms are best suited for growing mushrooms in the basement, although champignons can also be cultivated in such rooms.

The basement is best suited for this purpose, as it usually has sufficient ventilation, moderate lighting and a stable temperature necessary for the development and growth of fruiting bodies.

Peculiarities

The main feature of growing in the basement is that the room must be divided into two zones: for the germination of the mycelium and directly for fruiting. The fact is that these processes require different temperatures and sterility, so it is advisable that there are two separate rooms in the basement. Otherwise, you can simply create a small partition between the zones, or grow only one batch at a time.

Mushroom blocks should not be filled with substrate too tightly: the soil must be loose and breathable for the mycelium to develop normally. During the process, it is imperative to monitor the seedlings in order to detect signs of disease or pest damage in time.

Rules

There are certain rules that should be followed when growing in the basement (Figure 7). Firstly, it is better to use mushroom blocks made of plastic bags with holes on the sides: this way, the free space of the basement is used up evenly, and the harvest remains high.

Figure 8. Features of growing in the basement

Secondly, you need to constantly monitor the temperature in the room. At the stage of mycelium germination, the temperature is maintained at 22-25 degrees, and after the first shoots appear, it is reduced to 12-18.

Otherwise, the rules depend on the specific species. For example, oyster mushrooms and shiitakes require higher humidity than champignons, and for honey mushrooms it is better not to make mushroom blocks, but to install stumps or logs into which the mycelium is populated.

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