Growing Mushrooms: Indoor and Outdoor Tips for Beginners

Mushrooms can be a delightful and nutritious part of your meals, offering varieties that aren't typically found in stores.

Unlike plants, vegetables, or fruits, mushrooms belong to their unique kingdom of fungi. Although growing them might seem unconventional, they can still be integrated into your garden plans, with a few adjustments for their specific needs.

Learn the basics of cultivating mushrooms inside, in your garden, or even in containers.

Beginner's Guide to Growing Mushrooms

To start your mushroom-growing journey, it's essential to recognize the various types available. Each type may require specific conditions and temperatures, making it easier to cultivate them in controlled environments like containers.

'Mushrooms fall into three main ecological categories: mycorrhizal, parasitic, and saprophytic,' notes Paul Stamets, the author of Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms.

In North America, over 11,000 mushroom species have been identified.

Understanding Mushroom Growth

Mushroom seeds are actually spores, tiny cells that allow reproduction without pollination. These minuscule spores are often invisible to the naked eye and can travel through the air to surfaces suitable for growth. They require substrates like sawdust or straw to thrive.

Spawn, a blend of spores and nutrients, is provided by mushroom cultivators as a starting point. This spawn is applied to substrates such as straw, cocoa bean hulls, or logs, where the mushrooms can flourish. Initially, threadlike mycelium appears before the mushrooms develop.

You can also find mushroom growing kits that include spawn and a suitable growing medium.

Indoor Mushroom Cultivation

Growing mushrooms indoors provides a controlled environment, often leading to better success rates.

Some mushrooms adapt to various mediums, while others require specific conditions. For instance, certain types prefer composted manure, hardwood sawdust, cardboard, or straw.

'Oyster mushrooms thrive on straw in containers, mono tubs, or fruiting blocks,' suggest experts from North Spore.

'Reishi mushrooms do well in special filter patch bags and can complete their lifecycle in this environment.'

A bathroom can be an ideal location for growing mushrooms due to its humid conditions.

Growing Mushrooms in Your Garden

Mushrooms can add a fun twist to your garden's productive areas.

The wine cap variety, Stropharia rugoso annulata, is an excellent choice for those interested in growing mushrooms alongside vegetables, as they can tolerate some sunlight,' according to the team at North Spore. They also enhance garden soil by mobilizing nutrients. Wine cap mushrooms thrive in wood chips or straw.

Alternatively, you can grow mushrooms in containers on your deck, allowing you to manage the growing conditions.

Other suitable mushroom varieties for outdoor growth include:

• Wood blewitt – Clitocybe nuda
• Shaggy mane – Coprinus comatus
• Pearl oyster – Pleurotus ostreatus

Optimal Conditions for Mushroom Growth

Mushrooms thrive in cool, dark environments with adequate moisture. Basements and under-sink cabinets are excellent for indoor cultivation, maintaining an average temperature of 57°F (13°C) without drafts.

According to North Spore experts, wine cap mushrooms perform well in outdoor beds.

'These mushrooms can tolerate more sunlight than others, but it's best to find a darker or low-light area.' Consider adding these to your shade vegetable list.

Some mushrooms can grow on logs outdoors, but this process takes longer. Always check the growth conditions needed for your chosen variety.

Timing for Mushroom Growth

Start growing mushrooms after the last frost in your region, unless they're indoors.

Whether cultivated indoors or outdoors, you can enjoy fresh mushrooms year-round. In some U.S. regions, mushrooms can be grown outdoors nearly all year, with different species thriving in various temperatures.

Growth Duration for Mushrooms

The time it takes for mushrooms to grow varies by species and environmental conditions.

For example, Shiitake mushrooms may take months to colonize before fruiting. Beginners are encouraged to grow oyster mushrooms indoors, as they can produce a crop in about a month.