Growing mushrooms indoors is relatively easy thanks to the fact that they do not require light. Since they do not contain fat, have few calories and are full of vitamins, antioxidants and other nutrients, it is advisable to consume mushrooms in as many meals as possible.
The key to successfully growing mushrooms at home is establishing suitable conditions for growing mushrooms and obtaining inoculating mycelium for their propagation.
How mushrooms grow
Mushrooms are, unlike most plants, not rmultiply from seeds already iz spora which are so tiny that they cannot be seen with the naked eye. Instead of on earth, these spores develop on substrates like sawdust from wood, straw, grains or sawdust. A mixture of spores and these nutrient sources it is called mycelium. This mycelium is also the basis for making sourdough bread.
Mycelium it grows first, before anything else that could resemble a mushroom.
Although the mycelium itself could produce mushrooms, incomparably better results are achieved when put the mycelium on the substrate for plant growth. Depending on the type of mushrooms that will be grown, this substrate can be made of straw, cardboard, wood chips, wood shavings with a mixture of materials such as straw, corn cobs, and cocoa husks.
An ideal place for growing mushrooms
Mushrooms like dark, cool and moist places to grow. In home conditions, spaces like the basement can be ideal for growing mushrooms, while a place in the kitchen, under the sink, can also be a good choice.
Before starting cultivation, it would be necessary to check temperature conditions the place where mushrooms are to be grown. Most mushrooms grow best at temperatures between 12-15 degrees, away from sources of direct light and drafts.
Mushroom variety – Enoki, grows best at a cooler temperature, at around 7 degrees. Just because of the temperature, growing mushrooms it is not a good project for the summer because many cellars overheat during the summer, creating unfavorable conditions for cultivation.
Mushrooms they can handle some light, but the place where they should be kept must be dark or dimly lit. If you decide to grow mushrooms in the basement, it would be best to store them in a closet where nothing will hinder their development.
Still, some mushrooms grow best outdoorsin prepared soil or logs, which is a much longer process compared to controlled indoor conditions.
Types of mushrooms that can be cultivated
In nature, they grow in a variety of ways types of mushroomsand most of them can also be grown at home. The beauty of growing mushrooms at home compared to harvesting outdoors is, among other things, that you can be sure that no poisonous mushroom has been harvested.
Cremini, enoki, maitake, portobello, shiitake and champignon they can be grown indoors, but each of them requires special growing conditions. For example, champignons require a compost substrate for growing, while wood or sawdust is suitable for shiitake mushrooms, and straw for oyster mushrooms.
Growing mushrooms – procedure
If you grow mushrooms in a closed space you can get a ready-made growing kit that contains growing medium with inoculated mycelium. However, if you decide to bypass the mushroom growing kit, type of mushroom which you choose to grow determines i type of substrate which you will use. Champignons, for example, are considered one of the easiest types of mushrooms to grow, and therefore a kind of good starting point for further mushroom cultivation.
Step 1
In a container with a length of 30-35 cm and a depth of about 15 cm, fill it composed and sprinkle the mass with water on top.
Step 2
With the help of the available heating element raise the air temperature in the place for cultivation at about 20 degrees for three weeks, or until the appearance of the mycelium. When the mycelium appears, the temperature should be lowered to 13-15 degrees, and then cover the mycelium with a few centimeters of soil.
Step 3
Keep the soil moist spraying it with water and covering it with a damp cloth, constantly wetting the cloth when dry.
Step 4
Champignons are ripening in a period of 3-4 weeks and can be harvested when the caps open, and the stem can be cut from the tree with a sharp knife. It should avoid picking mushroomsbecause it also damages neighboring mushrooms that are still developing. Daily picking will result in continuous fruiting for a period of about 6 months.
Source: BHG
Source: www.agromedia.rs
