Growing mushrooms outdoors can be a rewarding and fun experience, and it can also provide you with fresh, nutritious mushrooms for cooking and eating. Here are some tips to get started:
- Choose a suitable outdoor location: Mushrooms thrive in cool, moist, and shady environments, so look for a location in your garden or yard that meets these criteria. A spot under a tree or near a water source can be ideal.
- Decide on the type of mushroom you want to grow: Different types of mushrooms have different growing requirements, so choose a type that is well-suited to your location and climate. Some common outdoor varieties include shiitake, oyster, and lion’s mane.
- Prepare your growing substrate: Mushrooms need a substrate or growing medium to grow on. This can be a variety of materials, such as hardwood sawdust, straw, or coffee grounds. You may need to sterilize or pasteurize your substrate to eliminate any competing microorganisms.
- Inoculate your substrate: Once your substrate is prepared, you will need to inoculate it with mushroom spawn, which is the vegetative growth of the mushroom. You can purchase mushroom spawn on the website. Spread the spawn evenly throughout the substrate by layering woodchips and sprinkling generous amount of spawn on each layer.
- Create a suitable environment: Mushrooms need a cool, humid environment to grow properly. Cover your inoculated substrate with a layer of straw or other organic material to help retain moisture and provide shade. You may also want to cover it with a tarp or plastic sheet to protect it from rain and wind.
- Monitor your mushrooms: Check your mushroom bed regularly for signs of growth and development. Depending on the type of mushroom, you may start to see small fruiting bodies emerge from the substrate after several weeks or months.
- Harvest your mushrooms: Once your mushrooms are mature and fully developed, you can harvest them by gently twisting or cutting them off the substrate. Be sure to harvest them before they start to decay or rot.
Growing mushrooms outdoors can be a fun and rewarding hobby, and it can also provide you with fresh, healthy mushrooms for cooking and eating. With a little patience and care, you can successfully grow a variety of delicious and nutritious mushrooms in your own backyard.
Soaking and pasteurizing straw with lime is a common method for preparing mushroom substrate. Here are the general steps for soaking pasteurizing straw with lime for mushroom substrate:
How to pasteurise straw using lime for growing oyster mushrooms
Materials:
- Straw
- Grain spawn
- Agricultural lime
- 50 gallon drum/barrel
- Water
Steps:
- Chop the straw into small pieces, about 2-3 inches in length.
- In the 50 gallon drum, add agricultural lime. Use approximately 1-2 cups of lime per 5 gallons of water.
- Add enough water to the container or bin to fully submerge the straw.
- Stir the lime into the water until it is fully dissolved.
- Allow the straw to soak in the lime water for at least 12 hours or up to 24 hours.
- After the soaking period is complete, drain the excess water from the straw.
- Transfer the straw to a large pot or container, and add enough water to cover the straw.
- Pasteurise the straw for 1-2 hours, maintaining a temperature between 160°F (71°C) and 180°F (82°C). Use a thermometer to monitor the temperature throughout the process.
- After the pasteurization process is complete, remove the straw from the barrel and allow it to cool.
- Squeeze out any excess water from the straw and transfer it to a suitable growing container or area.
- Add your chosen grain spawn to the straw and mix well
Note: Always wear protective gloves and goggles when working with lime as it can cause irritation and burns on your skin.
Different species of mushrooms have specific requirements for growing, so it’s important to research the specific needs of the mushroom you want to grow before starting the process.
Inoculating a whole straw bale for growing oyster mushrooms
Inoculating a whole straw bale for mushroom cultivation is a popular method for growing mushrooms on a larger scale. Here are the general steps for inoculating a whole straw bale for mushroom cultivation:
Materials:
- Whole straw bale
- Mushroom spawn
- Large container or bin
- Sprayer or hose
- Plastic sheet or tarp
Steps:
- Soak the straw bale in water for at least 24 hours or until it is fully saturated.
- Remove the straw bale from the water and drain any excess water for a few hours.
- Create large holes in the bales to allow for adding grain spawn. (ideally into the centre of the bale)
- Add grain spawn to the holes and cover up with the straw again,
- Cover the inoculated straw bale with a plastic sheet or tarp to create a humid environment for the mushrooms to grow. The plastic should be loosely tied or perforated to allow for air circulation.
- Place the covered straw bale in a shaded area, preferably under a tree or in a greenhouse, where it will receive indirect sunlight and remain moist.
- Check the straw bale regularly for signs of mushroom growth. This typically takes several weeks to several months, depending on the species of mushroom.
- You can remove the plastic/tarp when you start to see small mushrooms forming
- Harvest the mushrooms as they mature, and continue to mist the straw bale to maintain a humid environment for new mushrooms to grow.
Different species of mushrooms have specific requirements for growing, so it’s important to research the specific needs of the mushroom you want to grow before starting the process.
Growing mushrooms using hardwood chips
Making a mushroom growing bed with hardwood chips is a popular method for cultivating certain species of mushrooms, such as shiitake, wine cap and oyster mushrooms. Here are the general steps for making a mushroom growing bed with hardwood chips:
Materials:
- Hardwood chips
- Mushroom spawn
- Large container or bin
- Water
- Spade or shovel
- Spray bottle/hose
Steps:
- Choose a suitable location for the mushroom growing bed, such as a shaded area in your garden or backyard.
- Prepare the hardwood chips by soaking them in water for at least 24 hours. This will help to remove any harmful substances and create a suitable environment for the mushroom mycelium to grow.
- In a large container or bin, mix the mushroom spawn with the hardwood chips. Use approximately 5-10% spawn by volume, depending on the size of the container.
- Spread the hardwood chip and spawn mixture evenly in a layer of about 4-6 inches thick on the prepared location.
- Cover the hardwood chip and spawn mixture with a layer of straw, cardboard or another suitable organic material to help retain moisture.
- Spray the mushroom growing bed with water to keep it moist. The bed should be kept moist, but not waterlogged.
- Check the growing bed regularly for signs of mushroom growth. This typically takes several weeks to several months, depending on the species of mushroom.
- Harvest the mushrooms as they mature, and continue to mist the growing bed to maintain a humid environment for new mushrooms to grow.
Note: Different species of mushrooms have specific requirements for growing, so it’s important to research the specific needs of the mushroom you want to grow before starting the process.