We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Home

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Are the Best Tips for Growing Edible Mushrooms?

By Eugene P.
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 36,805
Share

Once everything is correctly set up, growing edible mushrooms can be easy and rewarding. There are three main elements that need to be attended to if one wants to have a good harvest. The first is the growing medium, which can be anything from soil to sawdust to a small wooden log that needs to be prepared and inoculated correctly for the mushrooms to grow. The second element is the environment used for growing edible mushrooms, because it needs to be a certain temperature and have a particular level of light for success. The humidity around the mushrooms also needs to be maintained without allowing it to get too wet and cause the spores to decay.

Even before any preparations are made for growing edible mushrooms, it is important to understand that a great number of mushrooms are actually inedible and potentially poisonous. For this reason, edible mushrooms should only be grown from spores that are attained through reliable sources or commercial growers. Attempting to start spores from wild specimens is difficult and might result in the growth of an unsafe mushroom.

Depending on the exact type, the medium for growing edible mushrooms can be one of several materials. Basic varieties such as button mushrooms use soil, while Portobello mushrooms use a log. The spores might already be spread into the growing medium, or they might need to be distributed manually when ready. Many spores come as a powder or what looks like an empty bag and require a wet growing medium to stick, so the medium needs to be thoroughly watered before dispersing the spores. Other types of mushrooms might have a special piece of mushroom tissue that needs to be embedded in the medium to grow.

Mushrooms grow best in a cool, dim area. This means the temperature should not get too warm and should not drop to freezing. The more consistent the temperature, the better the mushrooms will perform. The mushrooms actually require a small amount of light to grow, but this should be in the form of ambient light only, and the mushrooms should not be in or near direct sunlight.

Growing edible mushrooms also requires a constantly humid environment. This means using a spray bottle to mist the area and increase the moisture around the mushrooms at least once a day in most areas and sometimes three or four times a day, if necessary. Most mushrooms do well when loosely covered in breathable plastic, which will trap the moisture in the growing area. When it comes time to harvest the mushrooms, doing so carefully and leaving a few in the medium can help to get a second, third or even fourth crop of mushrooms from the spores.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-are-the-best-tips-for-growing-edible-mushrooms.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.