F E AT U R E - M U S H R O O M S I N T H E G A R D E N
The most popular choices of mushrooms are Shiitake mushrooms, Oyster mushrooms and White Button mushrooms. To grow them yourself, you first need to buy a selection of spores, or even spawn – these are quite easy to find online or at your local Garden Centre. Spores are like seeds for mushrooms, while spawn are like the seedlings, so either can be used. However, for home growing, spawn is much easier to use.
Growing Mushrooms
As we said before, different mushrooms grow in different mediums. Shiitake mushrooms usually grow on hardwood or hardwood sawdust, while Oyster mushrooms prefer an environment of straw and Button mushrooms grow from the nutrients of composted manure. Be sure to find out what kind of medium you will need for the particular species of spores or spawn which you have purchased. In general, mushrooms like a cool, dark and damp place to grow in. If you have a basement or wine cellar, this is the perfect place for mushroom growing, otherwise, it is also fine to use an old unused cupboard or trunk. As long as you can control the temperature, humidity and keep the area in relative darkness, your mushrooms will thrive. Once you have chosen the mushrooms you want, and have collected their correct growing medium, there are basic steps for growing the mushrooms that remain, in most instances, the same. Place the growing medium in a pan and raise the temperature to about 21 degrees Celsius in the area you have chosen to cultivate your fungi friends. One can easily use a heating pad to achieve this.
www.lifeisagarden.co.za @lifeisagarden
After about an hour, the medium should have warmed up nicely, and you can then place the spawn on it. About three weeks should pass when the spawn will have rooted, which means the filaments would have spread into the growing medium. At this stage, you need to reduce the temperature to around 15 degrees Celsius. Cover the spawn with two to three centimetres of potting soil, and then cover the pan and potting soil with a damp cloth. It’s important to keep spraying the fabric and soil to keep them both moist. It should take about three to four weeks before you see the little mushrooms appearing. Shiitake mushrooms take a little longer and will be ready in about seven to eight weeks. They will be ready to pick once the cap has fully opened and fully separated from the stem. Fungi make an exciting and unusual addition to any garden. Once you have mastered the art of growing mushrooms, you will have plenty to go around, and the next thrilling step will be finding new ways of preparing your homegrown delicacies. Our Life is a Garden and here’s your invitation to fun-up with a couple of fun-guys, yummy! Happy mushroom farming!
Field Mushrooms
*Top Tip:
Visit your Garden Centre to enquire about mushroom grow kits and answers from experts for any questions you may have.