Mushrooms are tasty, healthy and they go with pretty much everything. If you are a fan of fungi, and if you are interested in growing them, you should know that this process is relatively easy, but there are some things you need to pay close attention to.
In this 2024 guide, we will give you some tips on how to choose the right type, how to prepare your home or garden, and how to provide the right environment.
1. Environment
Becoming a gardener is fun and relaxing, and if you want to focus on planting fungi, you should know that the conditions are the most important part. You cannot grow them just anywhere and you should always know that when the environment is moist, chances are, the mushrooms will thrive. The moisture levels should be about 40 percent and the humidity levels are supposed to be above 80%.
However, this all depends on the type of fungi you want to grow so when you choose the right type for you, you should do some additional research.
The temperature is a factor as well, but most of the fungi will be okay at a temperature between 70- and 80-degrees Fahrenheit. Don’t forget about the soil! Even if the humidity levels are great as well as the temperature, if the soil does not contain sugar, protein, nitrogen, and starch, the fungi will not grow as healthy as you want them to be.
The CO2 levels should be below 800 ppm, but once again, this all depends on the type of fungi you want to grow. Last but not least, when it comes to the light, once again, this depends on the type. Most mushrooms should be kept in dark and cold places, but it should not be too dark. The light should be good enough so you could read a book without your eyes hurting.
2. Tips for preparing your home or garden
One of the first things you need to decide is if you are going to plant the fungi indoors or outdoors. If you choose to grow them indoors, then it is best if you choose the basement. This location will offer the best conditions, the mushrooms won’t be exposed to too much dry air or too much light.
On the other hand, if you choose to grow them outdoors, you will need to prepare the space beforehand. No matter what you choose, you will still need some equipment to make sure that this whole project is going to be successful.
First, you will need to find a container that will be suitable for the fungi. The best containers are the filter patch grow bags, but if you don’t want to invest in them, you can also use ice cream or milk carton, you will just need to punch a few holes in them. After that, you will need to put compost in the containers and you should choose a special type that is for this purpose only. The compost should be about 5 inches deep so that the fungi have enough room to grow.
You should also invest in a heating pad that will help keep the soil warm. As we mentioned before, depending on the type of mushroom you choose to plant, you should keep the soil warm. The heating pads are usually inexpensive, but it is better to look for something that offers different features and will help you adjust the temperature with ease.
The last thing for preparing the place is the watering system. You can choose if you want to invest in a whole system, or if you don’t plant too many of them, you can do that by hand. You should always keep the soil moist and experts suggest that you should put a damp cloth on them so that they keep the moisture without getting dry.
3. Identifying process
There are a lot of different types of mushrooms and you need to know how to identify them. Even if you buy them from a shop, it is still good to know what you are dealing with.
Mushly.com, that offers magic mushroom spores and psilocybin cubensis spores, suggests that identifying them is crucial, especially for new growers because some of them can be poisonous and life-threatening. You should also know the right amount to eat, especially if you use them for medical or relaxation purposes.
The easiest way to identify fungi is to learn everything you can about the type you want to plant. Then, you will know how they look and it will be easier for you to spot them. The grills on the edible types are usually brown or tan, so stay away from other colors. The white grills are usually poisonous. If you notice the color red on the head of the fungi, chances are, it is also poisonous, so you should not pick it. Last but not least, look for types that don’t have any scales on the cap.
If you want to collect the spores then it is better to buy the fungi from the farmer’s market so it is easy for you to complete this process. Then you just need to remove the skirt and the stem and make sure the grills are protected. Place the grills on a paper and cover it with a glass. Keep them in this position for one day. After a day, when you remove the glass and lift the head of the fungi, the spores will fall on the paper. Plant the spores and grow your mushrooms.
The fungi will grow in about a month, and you can harvest them when you see they are fully grown. The most important part of the whole process is the environment and once you plant them, you will only need to keep the soil moist.
To harvest them, you should use a sharp knife and cut at the base. Don’t press the stem too hard and never just pull them out of the soil. Once you grow and harvest your first batch of fungi, you will see how easy the whole process is and you will never go back to buying fungi from the store. Always be safe and never try things you are unsure if they are edible or safe to cook with.
