Growing mushrooms at home has become a really popular activity for many people across the UK. And while in some cases it’s a fun hobby and skill to learn, sometimes it’s not quite as simple as you might initially think it is.
And while this doesn’t mean to be offputting if you’re considering dipping your toes into the world of growing mushrooms at home, we have some tips for you to consider before taking the leap.
The Needs of Different Mushrooms
Before you rush out and buy anything, it’s really important that you understand that different mushroom varieties have different needs.
Most people start with Oyster mushrooms, as these are the easiest to get started with. They grow quickly and fruit really fast. Typically, within a few weeks, they can tolerate a wider range of temperature meaning they’re the ideal starting point as you learn the process and get to grips with things.
Other varieties like Lion’s Man and Shitakee need more consistent humidity or take longer to grow, and while they’re not overly complicated, they’re not usually the gateway mushroom for a growing experience.
So before jumping in, research the different varieties to see what they need and make your decision from there.
Know The Different Setups
The setup you choose to grow your mushrooms matters.
Some mushrooms come already prepared, like mushroom growing kits, where the growing medium is already colonised, meaning the work has effectively been done for you. You won’t need to start from scratch; you just need to maintain something that’s active in the right environmental conditions for growth to happen.
Other setups require more input from you. These will be your grow bags or grow blocks. They’re not difficult, but they’re less forgiving if you don’t get it right compared to the kits.
Then there’s the full DIY set-up that involves preparing your own growing medium, sterilising materials and introducing spores yourself. This gives you full control and reliability over the entire process.
Again, understanding each different type of setup can get you the right one for what you plan or the level of skill or experience you have or need.
Skill Level
Moving on nicely from the previous point, you need to understand your capacity for cultivation, what level of skill you have and the involvement you need.
While mushroom growing doesn’t require specialist knowledge to get started, it does dictate the type of process you embark on.
Mostly it’s about consistency. Growing kits are ideal for beginners to get to grips with the end of the process. To understand how to provide fruitful yields and the impact of the growing environment on the mushrooms.
Then you can move on to more complex methods if you wish, and if you choose the DIY route, this can get more complicated fast.
You don’t need to know everything from the beginning, but you do need to know what you can and can’t commit to, so you’re getting the mushroom growing experience you need and can sustain, rather than it all falling apart because you underestimated what you were getting into.
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