Many people know how to grow tomatoes and carrots in their home garden, but few know enough about growing fungi. Growing fungi at home are more straightforward than you might think.
So, whether you’re looking to only grow a small quantity for personal use or you plan to grow fungi on a commercial scale, the steps to follow and things you need to know are pretty much the same. Once you know the basic stuff about fungi and how to grow them, you will find that it’s just as easy as growing any other edible at home.
This post will explain all you need to know about how to grow fungi at home. So, read on!
Can you Grow Fungi at Home?
First, when we are talking about growing fungi at home, we’re referring to the various types of mushrooms. While the idea of growing mushrooms in your home garden may sound mysterious, you can grow them in your own home. They can grow both indoors and outdoors, and with little effort, you can have a good harvest in a few weeks.
If you love eating mushrooms and you have enough free time on your hands, you can grow them conveniently at home.
What to Know Before Growing Fungi at Home?
One of the major pros of growing fungi at home is that you don’t need a lot of room to do so. However, you need a controlled environment since almost every fungi species prefers dark and humid locations. A small area of about 2 square feet or more in your home should be great.
You don’t need a lot of tools or resources to get a fungi farm going. Unlike fruits and veggies that grow from seeds, fungi grow from spores on various substrates. Depending on what you have readily available, you can use wood, compost, sawdust, or straw as a substrate for your fungi farm.
Here are some mushroom growing requirements to keep in mind for a successful harvest:
- Light: generally, fungi don’t require much light to thrive. In fact, they prefer to grow in a dark environment away from direct sunlight.
- Water: although fungi thrive better in damp and humid environments, you don’t have to soak the substrate with water. Instead, a light misting a few times during the day will be sufficient for them. Also, as your fungi start to grow, it is best to mist around them instead of spraying the fungi directly.
- Humidity: humidity is essential to fungi-growing. This is particularly important during the final growing stage.
Which Fungi can you Grow at Home?
There are a wide variety of fungi that people grow at home. Each type of fungi has different growing requirements. Hence, if you’re new to growing fungi, you might want to start with one of the beginner-friendly types first for your convenience. Some of the common options include:
- Blue oyster mushrooms: Blue oyster mushrooms are known to grow fast (they may double in size daily). They’re also relatively easy to maintain. This makes them perfect for beginners. Blue Oyster mushrooms require a lot of fresh air to grow; hence, they thrive better outdoor than indoors. However, they can be grown indoors as well.
- Lion’s mane mushrooms: Despite their culinary and medicinal importance, lion’s mane mushrooms are not readily available in grocery stores, so the best way to get a fresh supply is to grow them at home on your own. Fortunately, they’re pretty easy to grow as they have a unique ability to adapt to various conditions. Beginners will find them relatively easy to grow.
- Grey oyster mushrooms: Low-maintenance fungi like grey oyster mushrooms are perfect for individuals new to growing mushrooms. They don’t need any special treatment. In fact, they will grow in any substrate, and they grow fast (ready for harvest in just a matter of days).
- Wine cap mushrooms: Naturally, wine cap mushrooms grow directly on the ground instead of trees like other fungi types. This means they can be quickly grown on well-composted garden beds. Wine cap mushrooms can be grown on different types of substrates. They grow very well outdoors and spread fast. You can also be sure that you’ll be getting a big harvest for your effort because they’re aggressive growers.
- Pioppino mushrooms: Pioppino mushrooms or black poplar mushrooms are famous for their culinary significance. They’re fast becoming a popular choice among beginner fungi growers and experienced enthusiasts. They’re pretty easy to grow, and you can make your mushroom bed indoors or outdoors, depending on your preference. The best results are achieved for indoor beds when you grow under low temperatures and humidity. They’re easier to grow outdoors where all you need is a mushroom bed made from straw or wood chip as substrate.
What Supplies do you need to Grow Fungi at Home?
Growing fungi does not require a lot of supplies. The basic things you need may already be available in your home, and you can purchase them at a local garden center. Some of the supplies you need include:
Mushroom growing kits: the most convenient way to start growing mushrooms is to use a growing kit. It does the work of colonizing for you. This means you get to skip several steps in the growing process if you buy a kit. Some of the things you will find in these kits are mushroom spawn and a growing medium.
Substrate: this can be either compost or straw, potting soil, wood chips, or other organic compost, depending on the fungi you’re growing.
Apart from that, you will also need supplies like boxes or planting trays, soil thermometer, and plastic boxes or bags. These will make your work easier.
Growing Fungi At Home: Step-by-step Guide
Once you’ve gotten your supplies ready and decided on the type of fungi you need to grow, you can follow the step-by-step instructions below to learn how to grow fungi.
Step 1: Fill the container with the substrate
The planting tray or box you’ll be using should be at least 6 inches deep. Fill this container with your choice of substrate, then spread the spawn on top of it. After spreading the spawn, cover it with another inch of substrate.
Step 2: Place the container in a warm area
Fungi spawn need warm temperatures to colonize the substrate they’re growing on. Hence, you need to find a warm spot to place them to speed up this colonization process. The temperature should be between 30 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on the specific species of fungi you’re growing.
Step 3: Keep the substrate moist
The substrate should be kept as moist as possible but without getting it soaking wet. You should mist it at least two or three times per day. To further maintain an ideal humidity level, you can cover the container with a plastic bag or box to lock the humidity in.
Step 4: Move the container to a cool environment
After a few days, the substrate should be fully colonized by the fungi. You should notice tiny white thread-like growths in the container. This is the fungi mycelium that is starting to form. Once this happens, move the container to an area with a temperature below 30 degrees Fahrenheit. You can use a tub or a fridge for this.
The goal is to cool the container down to an ideal temperature. After a while, you can move the container to a cool and damp area of your home, where it will continue to grow through its final fruiting stage. Continue misting the fungi daily to maintain a humid environment. It should be ready for harvest in a couple of weeks.
Best Place to Grow Fungi at Home
As earlier said, fungi grow best in cool, damp, and dark environments. Most species thrive better when kept at room temperature or even slightly cooler. They should be misted regularly (at least twice daily) to keep them damp.
Hence, if you’re growing them indoors, the general recommendation is to use a room where you’re likely to pass by often as you go through your day, such as your kitchen. They can also be placed in basements and bathrooms where the humidity level is right for them.
How long will it Take Fungi to Grow at Home?
Fungi are usually ready for harvest within a few days or weeks of planting them. The exact time from planting the spawn to harvest depends on the species of fungi and whether or not you’re growing from a kit.
Your fungus is ready for harvest when you notice that the cap is fully formed and is just starting to unfurl. Note that homegrown fungi may have a slightly different appearance than the ones you’re used to seeing.
To harvest, you can either handpick the fungi or use a knife to cut them. You can then wash them and store them in a fridge until you need them. Mushrooms can also be harvested and used directly if you prefer to use them fresh.
Conclusion
As you can see, growing tasty and nutritious fungi at home is relatively easy. They are simple to grow, and the yield is typically healthy and profitable. As long as you can create the controlled environment they need, you’ll be reaping the rewards of your fungi farm in no time.