Contrary to what some of you may believe, you don’t have to go foraging in the forest to get your mushroom fix. You also don’t have to depend on the canned mushrooms available in the supermarket. While these canned fungi are healthier than other canned goods, it is still high in sodium. In fact, one can of processed mushrooms contain almost 30 percent of the daily recommended sodium intake. Of course, you’d probably argue that you won’t be eating the whole can in one sitting or that you’ll just limit your further intake of sodium for the rest of the day. Your best option would be to eat fresh mushrooms and the best way to do that on a regular basis is if you grow mushrooms indoors.
Yep, you can have your own mushroom farm right in your very home. This will not turn you into a Supersized Italian plumber with a Mexican name but, at least, you’ll have a regular supply of mushrooms for your diet.
Why Grow Mushrooms Indoors?
Before you start thinking of how to grow mushrooms indoors, you need to know why. The main reason is you want a constant food source that you grow on your own. Aside from having the independence and a sense of accomplishment, you also get a good source of nutrition. Mushrooms are also versatile. It can make for a good meat substitute if ever you decide to go vegan or vegetarian. Mushroom burgers, anyone?
Some mushroom growers started out as hobbyists. They wanted something to do and thought, “why mushrooms?” Then something in them answered back, “Because you can’t grow pot, doofus!” But that was then. Now you can get a license to grow pot for medicinal purposes, at least in most states. But that’s getting way ahead of yourself. Stick to mushrooms for the time being.
There are people who grow mushrooms indoors for the purpose of earning an income. Some decide to do so after being successful in their first foray into mushroom farming. No matter what the reason, it all boils down to the fact that it is not that difficult to grow mushrooms indoors.
Another reason why you should grow mushrooms indoors is that you can avoid pesticides and other harmful chemicals. You don’t know what they put on the mushrooms you buy at the supermarket. If you grow your own, you’re confident that they’re a lot safer than store-brought ones.
Where Should You Grow Mushrooms?
It’s already established that you will grow mushrooms indoors. Choose a place in your home that’s dark and damp as mushrooms thrive in those conditions. Now before you ask your goth daughter or emo son if you can grow mushrooms in their room, you must understand that that’s a silly idea. You need a sterile place for your mushrooms and your teenage children’s rooms are likely anything but sterile.
You can grow mushrooms in your basement, an empty room, or even in a shed out in the yard. If space is an issue, you can grow them inside a closet. Make sure everything is completely clean. Bacteria and molds can ruin your dreams of becoming the new ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom.
What Mushrooms to Grow?
There are different kinds of mushrooms and some are easier to grow than others. You can start off with any of these three types: shiitake, oyster or white button mushrooms. They are the most popular and easiest to grow, especially the button mushroom.
Crimini, enoki, maitake and portabello are the other popular mushrooms grown at home. Stay away from magic mushrooms or what the kids today call shrooms. It’s illegal to grow and possess Psilocybin mushrooms in the United States.
How to Grow Mushroom Indoors?
Start off by purchasing spores or spawns of the mushroom you’re going to grow. There are mushroom growing kits available online and in stores. You also need growing mediums. Button mushrooms thrive on composted manure while oyster mushrooms grow on straw. Shiitake mushrooms, meanwhile, like hardwoods and hardwood dust.
If you’re starting with spores, you need to grow them first in a petri dish filled with agar. Spawns are easier. You just have to place the spawns on the growing medium, which you previously put in a pan or tray. The room or closet where you’ll be growing them needs to be at a temperature of around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a heating pad to control the temperature.
The spawns will grow “roots” in about three weeks. Lower the temperature to 55 to 60 degrees F once their filaments have spread in the medium. This is the preferred temperature range of most mushrooms. The enoki ones like it cooler, around 45 degrees F.
Add an inch of potting soil over the spawn then cover with a damp cloth. Check the cloth and soil regularly. Spray with water if they become dry. Small mushrooms will start appearing in three to four weeks. Wait for the cap to open fully before harvesting.
Growing mushrooms indoors is something that many homesteaders have been doing for quite a while now. By growing their own food, they come closer and closer to their dream of being completely self-sufficient. There are a number of advantages to growing your own mushrooms but the thought of self-sufficiency is basically the most important one.
If you’re interested in more tips on how to be self-sufficient or sustainability, visit The Gentleman Pirate. They have lots of articles on the matter such as this list of skills every homesteader should know to become self-sufficient.
Mushroom Growing 4 You, meanwhile, gives you a more detailed look on how to grow mushrooms indoors. Jake White, who describes himself as a certified organic farmer and mushroom grower, shares “how to grow delicious, organic, pesticide-free mushrooms at a fraction of the cost of buying them from supermarkets.”
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