Have you ever considered growing your own mushrooms?
Even if you haven’t, if you are a mushroom lover, or at least mushroom-curious, then you must read on.
To set things straight, mushrooms are fungi, not plants. Fungi play an important role on earth as soil builders and nutrient recyclers among other things, and there are likely millions of different fungi species in the world. It would be an extremely long article if we tried to cover all of them, so let’s focus on the edible mushrooms we can safely grow in our own gardens.
Why grow mushrooms in your garden?
Here are a couple of good reasons:
- First and foremost, because they are delicious
- They are also nutrient-packed powerhouses full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
- And they boost the immune system, lower blood pressure, improve gut health, and potentially reduce the risk of certain cancers.
As you might know, some species of mushrooms are toxic to humans. The Amanita mushroom species, for instance, is responsible for most mushroom toxicity cases in humans. That’s why growing your own mushrooms in a controlled environment eliminates the need to forage and accidentally harvest toxic mushrooms.
When you are ready to grow your own mushrooms, source the spawn (the mushroom starter material) from a reputable supplier to be sure they are safe to eat and suited to grow in your climate; indoors or outdoors. Some source websites are at the end of this article.
A huge benefit of growing mushrooms in your garden is they feed your soil, suppress weeds, and boost the microbial ecosystem. They are the introverts that quietly keep your garden functioning while everyone else takes the credit!
How to Grow Mushrooms
There are several ways you can grow mushrooms in your garden:
- In your garden bed surrounding your existing plants
- Between your beds in the pathway
- On logs stacked in a corner of your yard
- In straw bales
- In buckets or containers
Each method involves inoculating a “substrate” (what mushrooms like to grow in) with a mushroom spawn.
We are going to introduce to you a few of these possibilities.
Garden Beds
What you will need:
- Shovel and rake
- Straw or wood chips (not hay – hay has seeds that can sprout)
- Mushroom sawdust spawn of your choice-Winecap mushrooms are a good outdoor mushroom choice for beginners
A 6-pound bag of spawn covers approximately 16 square feet or a 4’x4’ garden bed.
Spread about 2” of straw around your plants. Brake up the spawn in the bag so it crumbles before generously spreading it over the straw which is called “inoculating”. Add another layer of 1-2” of straw, then water the straw thoroughly and keep moist.
Garden Pathways
What you will need:
- Cardboard with all tape and adhesives removed
- Wood Chips
- Rake, shovel, and mushroom spawn
Cut and place cardboard in the pathway you have chosen then add a thick layer of wood chips over the cardboard. Break up your bag of spawn and sprinkle it evenly over the wood chips. Top with more wood chips making sure to cover all areas, then water generously. Keep it moist but not swampy over the next several months.
Straw Bales
This method takes up less space in your garden area and heats up fast which is a boost to faster fruiting. Place bales in a shaded area of your garden.
What you will need:
- 4 straw bales
- 4 bags of mushroom grain spawn, which heats up faster
- Adding a little nitrogen powder will speed up the process
Inoculate all sides of the bale by poking deep holes, to the center if you can, and stuffing them with spawn. Water thoroughly for the next few months. You should expect fruiting or full colonization within 2-4 months.
Logs
The classic method for patient gardeners who don’t mind waiting a year for results. Mid-summer to late fall is a good time to start.
What you will need:
- 12-16 logs of freshly cut wood approximately 3 to 4 feet long with a diameter of 4” to 6”. Maple, aspen, birch or other hardwoods work well. Normally you want to inoculate the wood within 2 to 3 weeks of cutting.
- Drill or angle grinder for making holes (5/16-inch drill bit).
- Approximately 500 mushroom plugs (spawn)
- Food grade paraffin wax
- Eye Protection
Make holes 5” to 6” apart down the length of the log in a row deep enough for the mushroom plugs to be flush with the log when inserted. Repeat this process around the log but offset each row. Hammer in each plug. Dab melted wax over each hole to keep out contaminants. Start on a firm base and stack the logs in a shady area on top of a layer of sacrificial logs so the inoculated logs are not touching the ground, then water well. Keep logs moist but not soaked. Mushrooms will take about a year to fully colonize and can keep producing for 5-10 years.
Final Thoughts
Growing mushrooms is part gardening and part science. Do some homework on what varieties will work for you and be sure to check out the information below to dive deeper into the process before you get started.
And don’t forget to enjoy the challenge! Your soil (and your dinner plate) will thank you.
For more information on this article or about Garden by the Sea, contact us at info@gardenbytheseaoceanshores.org.
Sources:
https://www.fieldforest.net/category/shop-by-mushroom-type
https://farwestfungi.com/search?q=Mushroom+Spawn
https://cascadiamushrooms.com/collections/mushroom-growing-kits
Helpful Video:
A Shroom of One’s Own: At-Home Edible Mushroom Production
https://media.oregonstate.edu/media/t/1_lfg812ir
Helpful Article:
How to Grow Mushrooms at Home: A Beginner’s Guide
