The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Home Mushroom Farming 2024

Don’t be fooled, learning to grow mushrooms at home is no more difficult than other crops.

Of course it requires care, but in this mini course you will be trained to start your cultivation in the easiest and most comfortable way for you.

In this Mini Course For Complete Beginners you will learn:

• How To Do The First Steps Of Mushroom Growing Without Expensive Equipment.
• How To Grow A Mushroom Kit
• How To Grow Mushrooms In A Growing Bag
• How To Grow Mushrooms In A Bucket
• How To Grow Mushrooms In A Box
• How To Grow Mushrooms On Logs
• How Much To Start Growing Mushrooms Indoors
• What Is The Easiest Mushroom To Grow?
• How To Start Your Own Food Mushrooms
• How To Make A Living From Mushrooms?

3 Rules You Need To Know About Growing Mushrooms At Home

Whether you grow a mushroom grow kit or decide to make it more manual and homemade with a mushroom spawn, these are basic rules to keep at the top of your mind (please).

Control the Environment

Mushrooms can be grown indoors or outdoors.

If you are reading this, it is because you are just starting out, so I recommend indoor growing, as it will be a controlled environment and will give you better results.

Classification of the methods that I am going to teach you:

In outdoor cultivation, we can’t control the weather conditions, although the ones grown on logs are usually more successful.

Maintain Sterility

Cleanliness: Always work in a clean environment to avoid contamination.

Sterilize all tools and surfaces before use.

Sterilization Methods:

• Alcohol: Use 70% isopropyl alcohol to wipe down surfaces, tools, and gloves.
• Bleach Solution: Prepare a diluted bleach solution (1 part bleach to 10 parts water) to clean surfaces.

Handling: Wash hands thoroughly before handling any materials. Use gloves if possible.

Substrate Preparation: Ensure the substrate is properly pasteurized or sterilized before inoculation to kill unwanted bacteria and fungi.

Monitor and Adjust Regularly

Observation: Regularly check your growing setup for any signs of contamination, drying out, or improper conditions.

How To Mushroom Growing Kits

The mushroom growing kits are basically boxes in which everything is already prepared and ready to spray with water (more or less, maybe there are other instructions depending on the manufacturer), leave it in an environment with the necessary conditions and wait for them to grow.

Pros:

• Very easy to use.
• Super Cheap (from 9 dollars)
• Fast growing (1 to 4 weeks).
• You don’t need expensive material.

Disadvantages:

• Sometimes customers complain that the blocks inside the boxes arrive damaged, with moo, disintegrated or too wet.
• Also, with the kits you lose a little bit the essence of growing them yourself, but it’s ok if it’s your first time.

My recommendation

Don’t get carried away only by the negative comments, as they usually grow without any problem or in the worst case you can ask for a refund.

If this is your first contact with growing mushrooms at home, honestly, I think it is an excellent option to try and see how it goes.

You won’t waste money or time investing in other materials and tools.

If you are going to buy a mushroom growing kit I recommend one that is 100% organic, not GMO, i.e. not genetically modified.

Of course there are many types of mushrooms and kits, but personally, I highly recommend the oyster mushroom, as it is a very resilient mushroom and requires normal care.

How to Grow Mushrooms in Grow Bags

The truth is that growing mushrooms in grow bags is one of the ways I recommend, since you will have more control over the crop if you have the tent, the hygrometer and the fan.

But this, in turn, makes it a bit more expensive than growing mushrooms in the bucket.

What Are Grow Bags?

Grow bags are specialized bags designed for mushroom cultivation.

They have a structure that supports mushroom growth and include filters to allow air exchange while keeping contaminants out. 

What Is The Easiest Mushroom To Grow In Growing Bags?

Oyster mushrooms are highly recommended for beginners because they are resilient and less likely to get contaminated.

They grow quickly and adapt well to various substrates.

Step-by-Step Guide

Materials Needed

Optional, but strongly recommended:

1. Preparation and Sterilization

1. Clean Your Workspace:
   • Wash your hands thoroughly.
   • Sterilize all surfaces and tools to avoid contamination.
2. Prepare the Straw Pellets:
   • Measure the straw pellets using a scale. For beginners, a ratio of 40% straw pellets to 60% water is recommended.
   • Sterilize the straw pellets. Although they are already partially sterilized, ensure they are fully clean by using one of the methods below.

Method 1: Boiling the Straw Pellets Directly

1. Boil the Water:
   • Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a rolling boil.
2. Add Straw Pellets:
   • Carefully add the straw pellets to the boiling water.
   • Ensure that the pellets are fully submerged.
3. Boil and Sterilize:
   • Let the straw pellets boil for about 30-45 minutes. This ensures that any contaminants are killed.
4. Drain and Cool:
   • After boiling, carefully drain the water from the pot using a strainer.
   • Let the sterilized straw pellets cool down to room temperature.
5. Hydrate Pellets:
   • The boiled pellets will absorb water during the sterilization process, making them ready for inoculation.

Method 2: Boiling Water and Soaking Pellets

1. Boil the Water:
   • Boil a large pot of water.
2. Prepare the Container:
   • Place the dry straw pellets in a heatproof container (like a large bucket or plastic container).
3. Add Boiling Water:
   • Pour the boiling water over the straw pellets in the container.
   • Make sure the pellets are fully submerged.
4. Cover and Sterilize:
   • Cover the container with a lid or foil to keep the heat in.
   • Let the pellets soak in the boiling water for 60-90 minutes. This method allows the heat to penetrate and sterilize the pellets.
5. Drain and Cool:
   • After soaking, carefully drain any excess water.
   • Allow the straw pellets to cool down to room temperature before proceeding with inoculation.

2. Inoculation

Add Grain Spawn:

• Measure the grain spawn. A good starting point is 10% of the total weight of your hydrated straw pellets.

Mix Thoroughly:

• Add the grain spawn to the hydrated straw pellets in the plastic container.
• Mix the germ and straw granules well to ensure even distribution.

3. Sealing and Colonization

Seal the Grow Bag:

1. Once mixed, use your hands or some (sterilized) glass to fill the necessary grow bags.
2. Seal the grow bag, with adhesive tape, so that there is no space left, that it is completely sealed.
3. Place the bag in a warm, dark place (ideally between 65-75°F or 18-24°C).

Allow for Colonization:

Over the next 2-3 weeks, the mycelium (mushroom root network) will colonize the substrate. You will see white growth spreading through the straw.

In this instance, you don’t have to do anything, just wait.

4. Fruiting

Move to Fruiting Conditions:

1. Once the substrate is fully colonized, move the bag to a location with higher humidity and indirect light.
2. Cut small slits or openings in the bag to allow mushrooms to grow out.

At this stage, if your budget allows it, the ideal would be to buy a greenhouse tent, known in the mushroom world as a martha tent, created by Martha Stewart.

The martha tent allows you to control it better:

• Air exchange
• Co2 levels

These aspects are very very important, as they directly affect the growth of your mushrooms.

Maintain Humidity and Light:

• Keep the environment humid by misting with water if necessary.
• Ensure there is adequate airflow to prevent mold growth.

Harvest

When the mushrooms reach the desired size, usually within a week of pinning, harvest them by gently twisting and pulling them from the substrate.

Tips for Success

• Temperature: Maintain a stable temperature suitable for oyster mushrooms.
• Humidity: Ensure high humidity during the fruiting stage.
• Cleanliness: Always work in a clean environment to prevent contamination.
• Observation: Regularly check the progress to catch any signs of contamination early.

Growing Mushrooms In A Bucket

Materials Needed

Step-by-Step Guide

BEFORE ANYTHING else, start by sterilizing everything.

You can use isopropyl alcohol to sterilize:

• Work surface
• Containers (buckets and lids)
• Tools (buckets and lids)

Everything possible that is in contact with our beloved mushrooms.

1. Pasteurize the Straw

• Fill a Porous Sack or Pillowcase: Place the chopped straw into a porous sack or pillowcase.
• Heat Water: Heat water to a temperature between 60-80°C (140-176°F). It should be hot but not boiling.
• Submerge the Straw: Submerge the bag or pillowcase with the straw in the container for pasteurization with the hot water. Use a weight to keep it submerged if necessary.
• Soak for an Hour: Let it soak for about an hour to pasteurize the straw. This will kill most unwanted microorganisms while preserving some beneficial ones.
• Drain and Cool: Remove the sack or pillowcase from the water and let it drain and cool to room temperature.

As you can read, while sterilization is extremely important, there are also beneficial microorganisms that will help mushrooms to grow.

2. Prepare the Bucket

• Drill Holes for Mushroom Growth: Using the 1-inch (25 mm) drill bit, make two rows of holes around the sides of the bucket. Each row should have about 10 holes evenly spaced.
• Drill Drainage Holes: Using the smaller drill bit, make about 5 holes in the bottom of the bucket to allow excess water to drain.

3. Mix the Spawn and Straw

• Layer the Straw and Spawn: Start by putting a layer of pasteurized straw in the bottom of the bucket. Next, add a layer of mushroom seeds (breaking them up with your hands). Continue layering until the bucket is full and finish with a layer of straw on top.
• Compress the Layers: Lightly press down each layer to ensure that the straw and spawn are evenly packed and in close contact.

4. Seal and Store the Bucket

• Cover the Bucket: Place the lid on the bucket. If your bucket does not have a lid, you can use a plastic bag secured with a rubber band.
• Tape the Holes: Cover the holes with tape to maintain humidity and prevent contaminants from entering.
• Place in a Warm, Dark Area: Store the bucket in a warm, dark place (around 21-24°C or 70-75°F). This is the incubation phase where the mycelium will colonize the straw.

5. Wait for Colonization

• Monitor Progress: Check the bucket periodically. After a few weeks, you should see white mycelium growing through the straw.
• Remove Tape: Once the mycelium has fully colonized the straw (about 2-4 weeks), remove the tape from the holes to allow the mushrooms to start growing.

By the way, the growing mushrooms are so strong that they could remove the tape themselves.

6. Maintain Humidity

• Spray Water: Use a spray bottle to mist the inside of the bucket lightly. Do this daily to maintain humidity but avoid water pooling at the bottom.
• Cover with Porous Sack: Place the bucket inside a porous sack to help retain humidity while still allowing airflow.

7. Harvesting Mushrooms

• Monitor Growth: After removing the tape and maintaining humidity, mushrooms will start to form. They typically appear within a week or two.
• Harvest: When the mushrooms are fully grown but before the caps start to flatten out, gently twist and pull them out of the bucket.