How to Grow Mushrooms

A mushroom is an organism that has no leaves or flowers which grows on plants or other decaying matter; hence they are commonly referred to as a fungus. There are approximately thirty to thirty-five thousand different species of mushrooms that exist, but scientists are unable to give a more accurate amount to these numbers based on the fact that most of them have the same genetic composition. In spite of the many species of mushrooms that exist not all of them are edible. One research stated that less than 10% of the species of mushrooms that exist are edible. The ones which are not edible, such as the ones known as Toadstool (these have some resemblance to an umbrella), have poisonous substances that can lead to death. These toadstool mushrooms are at times confused for edible mushrooms. The edible mushrooms such as the white mushrooms are very tasty and have a lot of nutritional values. Based on the nutritional value of these edible mushrooms you may be interesting in growing them, but do not know what to do and how to start. Growing mushrooms is very easy as you will when following the instructions.

The tools needed to grow the mushrooms

• An appropriate outdoor / indoor space
• Spawn Bag Straw (these bags already contain mushroom seedlings)
• Gardening tools such as a hand-held fork for digging the soil and a scoop/spade
• Chips of wood (soaked in water overnight)
• Water
• Protective hand gloves
• Sieve

Other materials that you will need

• Compiled/corrugated board
• Sawdust

Instructions

1. After selecting a suitable outdoor space, preferable under a cool tree, use your fork to dig a 15 cm bed.
2. Place the compiled/corrugated board at the base of the bed.
3. Place the soak chips of wood in the sieve to get rid of the excess water, and then place half of the chips on top of the board.
4. The spawn bag that contains the mushrooms should be first shaken carefully as it contains essential mineral needed to enhance the growth of the mushrooms.
5. Place the mushrooms evenly in the bed.
6. Cover the mushrooms with the remaining chips of wood.
7. Use the scoop or spade to spread the sawdust evenly on top.

Tips and warnings

• The best time to plant the mushrooms is in the spring as sunlight is very important to the development of an essential vitamin found in them; that of vitamin D. Studies show that for those mushrooms that had an ample amount of sunlight showed a high level of vitamin D present.
• Make sure that you keep the bed hydrated but not saturated with water as too much water will cause the mushrooms to rot or become saggy.
• Snails love to live in the bed of mushroom but if you are planning to get rid of them, do not use any harmful chemicals to do so as this can be absorbed by the mushrooms and if eaten by us may cause poisoning.