For many, mushroom farming seems like something only experts can do. However, this is not the case. Anyone can grow mushrooms, but only if you know the best conditions to grow them. There are many types of mushrooms that one can choose for farming, such as Pink Oysters, Phoenix Oysters, Reishi, Shiitake, King Stropharia, Garden Giant, and many more. Different types of mushrooms grow well in various weather conditions. Some do well outdoors, and others grow well indoors. Six steps are involved in mushroom farming, i.e., composting, phase II composting, sprawling, casing, pinning, and cropping. All these steps are crucial and require a lot of attention for a successful mushroom yield.
The following are the best conditions for growing mushrooms.
Darkness
Mushrooms are fresh fungus types, spore-bearing fungi that usually grow above the ground. They can thrive in mediums like dead animal bodies, soil, tree trunks, and many others. In most cases, mushrooms grow in dark areas because, unlike plants, they do not contain chlorophyll. Thus, they do not need sunlight for photosynthesis. Wild mushrooms often grow in areas that are shady or wooded, where light has been filtered. To grow mushrooms indoors, you’ll need places where there is little or no light. A good example is in the basement of your home.
Humidity and Water
Like other plants, mushrooms need water to form a fruit. However, they lack a skin, which means they lose water quite quickly compared to many other plants. For this reason, mushrooms need to grow in areas or places that have high humidity. Therefore, when growing them outdoors, you need to ensure their growing environment does not lose moisture quickly. If you are growing them inside, always ensure the soil is moist but not wet. Mushrooms that grow in the wild will disappear during dry weather conditions and appear when the level of humidity and moisture has improved.
Temperature
The temperature condition is critical when you're in the business of growing mushrooms. For a good mushroom yield, you need to grow them in a temperature-controlled environment. The best temperature is 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit. However, some can thrive in temperatures above 80 degrees Fahrenheit, such as mushroom mycelium. Above 80 degrees Fahrenheit, though, they will have difficulty producing fruits. Therefore, the best areas to grow them are indoors, since the temperature can be kept below 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Growing Medium
Mushrooms require a medium for growth. As mentioned earlier, mushrooms grow in mediums such as mulch, soil, compost, trees, decomposing leaves, or dung. For commercial farming, mushroom cultivators use a combination of straw and manure. However, wild mushrooms, mostly their mediums, may not be visible because decayed vegetation is underground.
In conclusion, for successful mushroom farming, it's essential to ensure you are maintaining the health of the soil. For mushrooms, moist soil is vital for you to reap the best crop.
Contact OutGrow to learn more about growing mushrooms.
