Grow your own mushrooms in 5 easy steps

The days are getting shorter and sometimes it is already quite chilly in the morning. Autumn has really started now! Autumn makes me long for a nice toast with crispy fried mushrooms, some garlic, parsley and a touch of lemon. My mouth starts watering just thinking about it. You might think that vegetable gardening is over now that you can't plant anything anymore. That saying is not true, on the contrary, now is the ideal time to plant spring bulbs, plant (small) fruit, plant winter seed potatoes , grow chicory from chicory roots AND to grow your own mushrooms. Last year my boyfriend and I grew our own mushrooms for the first time. That was really fun to do. We used a mushroom growing kit so it wasn't difficult at all.

Mushrooms are a bit more difficult to grow than most vegetables, but with a good manual it is very easy and rewarding. Especially with a mushroom growing kit, so you suddenly have everything you need to grow your own 'gastronomic' varieties such as oyster mushrooms and shiitake, in addition to the more common Parisian white mushrooms. This year we are going to grow our own mushrooms again. I am happy to give you my tips and tricks so that you too can grow your own mushrooms.

Before you start growing mushrooms

Before I describe the growing process, it is important to explain 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 other growing medium, a white, root-like substance called mycelium grows.
• A mushroom substrate is a substance on which mycelium can grow. For white mushrooms, the recommended substrate is a mixture of compost and manure.
• Mushroom spawn is a substrate on which mycelium is already growing.

Growing your own mushrooms: step-by-step plan

The secret to growing oyster mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, or almost any other type of mushroom is creating the right growing conditions.

There are two ways to grow mushrooms. You can inoculate mushroom spores into a substrate (the equivalent of planting seeds) or use mushroom spawn (the equivalent of planting vegetable plants).

Instead of buying spores, substrate, growing containers, ... for mushrooms myself, I prefer a ready-made growing kit for mushrooms. These packages contain both a substrate and mushroom spawn that has already been inoculated. If you want to grow mushrooms yourself with a mushroom growing kit, go straight to step 3.

STEP 1: Choose the right growing medium and add spores.

The first step is to set up the substrate, or growing medium. To do this, start with a growing tray of about 50 by 40 cm and a depth of 10 cm. The tray should preferably be made of plastic, as this is hygienic. A Danish tray is ideal. Fill the tray with a mixture of compost and manure or coffee grounds, leaving 2.5 cm of space at the top of the tray. Then spread the spores over the top.

STEP 2: Make sure the soil stays moist.

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

Each type of mushroom prefers a different growing medium, such as wood chips, hardwood sawdust (good for shiitake mushrooms), composted manure (good for white mushrooms), straw (good for oyster mushrooms), or coffee grounds (also good for oyster mushrooms). That is why I personally prefer to use a mushroom growing kit. The growing kit always contains the right growing medium. Super handy!

STEP 3: Ensure the correct temperature (21°C)

The first few days, the temperature of your substrate should be 21°C to promote growth. You can do this by placing the trays in a warmer room in your home, or you can place the tray on a seedling heat mat. Choose a heat mat that can accurately regulate the temperature and place it under the tray. If you do not have a heat mat that allows you to regulate the temperature, use a soil thermometer to measure the temperature. Make sure that the soil never exceeds 21°C, as higher temperatures can kill the spores. You can also place your grow kit in the living room for a few days, where it will usually be around 21°C. Observe your grow kit carefully, as soon as you see mycelium developing, move on to step 2.

STEP 4: Reduce the temperature to 12°C to 16°C

Soon, white, root-like growths (mycelium) will appear on top of the soil. Once the entire container is covered, it’s time to lower the temperature. While many vegetables need to be grown in the summer, growing mushrooms is a great winter project because they thrive in cooler temperatures. Growing your own mushrooms can be a fun project to do with your (grand)children over the Christmas holidays. Lower the soil temperature to between 55°F and 60°F (you’ll need to remove the heating pad from under your container and possibly move your container to a cooler spot), and cover the mycelium with about an inch of potting soil . I currently keep my grow kit in our garden shed or garage (provided it’s not freezing outside, of course).

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

TIP: Keep your grow moist, but not wet.

Keep your grow still moist, but not wet. Mushrooms thrive on moisture, but they won’t thrive if they’re soaking wet. Try misting your grow occasionally with a plant sprayer , but don’t let the substrate get soggy. Some mushroom growers cover their mushroom tray with a damp cloth or loose-fitting plastic bag to help retain moisture.

STEP 5: Harvest the mushrooms and enjoy!

Harvest your mushrooms after a few weeks. The germination process of mushrooms is called fruiting. In most cases, this will occur three to four weeks after you plant your mushroom spawn. The crop will start as small mushrooms (=primordia) and then grow rapidly. You can tell if mushrooms are ripe when their caps fully open and start to separate from the stem. Check daily to harvest your mushrooms at the right time. Carefully cut your mushrooms loose, do not pull on them. This risks damaging the mycelium.

Paris mushrooms should be fully grown after three to four weeks. You’ll know they’re ready to harvest when the caps fully open and separate from the stems. To harvest the mushrooms, use a sharp knife to cut through the stem. Don’t pull the mushrooms out of the ground as this can damage the surrounding growth.

Finally, about growing mushrooms

The mushrooms will continue to grow in successive harvests. Keep a close eye on humidity, temperature and ventilation. So, that's all the information I have and can share with you about growing mushrooms. Hopefully you've learned something. If you found this article valuable and would like to get started with mushroom growing kits, consider doing so in our webshop . This way you ensure that we can continue to make information and videos about in and around the vegetable garden.

Greetings, Sarah