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Growing mushrooms at home in Australia is a fun, easy, and low-maintenance activity that can be done indoors with minimal light and space. It is important to note that different mushroom mycelium grows on different materials, so you may need a different growing medium for a different mushroom spawn. For example, oyster mushrooms can be grown in recycled food-grade plastic buckets, while shiitake mushrooms can be grown on oak logs inoculated with spores. Proper gas exchange and high humidity are crucial for mushroom growth, and they should be harvested at the right time, depending on the variety. Mushroom kits are available for beginners, but creating a DIY setup is also an option for more experienced growers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Required skills | None; it's as simple as following a recipe |
| Required equipment | A 20-litre bucket, a drill with a 6mm drill bit, micropore tape, protective gloves, a mask, goggles, straw, sawdust, lime, water, pillowcases or nylon brew bags, rope, a clean brick, alcohol gel, a mushroom kit or DIY set-up |
| Mushroom types | Enoki, shiitake, oyster, button, lion's mane, wood ear, wood blewits |
| Mushroom growing mediums | Oak logs, elder, recycled food-grade plastic buckets, grow-rooms, greenhouses, food-grade buckets, straw, sawdust, lime, rice, wheat, barley, corn cobs, seed hulls, sugar cane, carbon-rich organic matter, peat |
| Mushroom growing conditions | Humidity, a fairly stable temperature, fresh air, daylight, cool and dark |
| Mushroom harvesting conditions | Pick at any size, but before the caps upturn and release spores; oyster mushrooms should be picked before the margin of the cap begins to lift; lion's mane should be harvested when the teeth are barely 1-2 cm long |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing a mushroom variety
There are many different varieties of mushrooms to choose from, and you can easily find the perfect mushroom variety for your needs. Mushrooms are incredibly versatile when it comes to cooking and can be added to a pasta dish or used as a meat substitute in a burger.
Oyster and shiitake mushrooms are very costly to buy but are inexpensive and easy to grow, making them a great choice for the home grower. They can be grown all year round in recycled food-grade plastic buckets, and you can get a crop every 10 days or so for about three months. Oyster mushrooms grow well with straw as a substrate, and shiitake spores can be inoculated into oak logs.
If you're looking for something more challenging, you could try growing Lion's Mane mushrooms. Lion's Mane should be harvested when the teeth are barely 1-2 cm long, which can take a bit of experience to perfect the timing.
Truffle mushrooms are also an option, though they are grown in association with specific plants, usually hazelnut trees.
Wood Blewit mushrooms can be grown at home in Australia, but they can be confused with other similar-looking mushrooms that are toxic if eaten, so it's important to be able to identify them correctly before consuming them.
No matter which variety you choose, remember that mushrooms require high humidity and a temperature range of between 15 and 18 degrees Celsius to grow.
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Preparing the substrate
Choose the Right Substrate Material
The first step is to select a suitable substrate material. Mushrooms can grow on various materials, including straw, sawdust, and agricultural waste. Certain mushrooms have specific substrate preferences. For example, oyster mushrooms thrive in recycled food-grade plastic buckets, while shiitake spores are often inoculated into oak logs. Wood ear mushrooms, on the other hand, can grow on elder. If you're using sawdust, ensure it's hardwood sawdust, avoiding pine or conifers. Untreated wood chips are also an option. Additionally, consider using pellets, which are pulverized and pelletized materials, such as Recycled Australian Hardwood pellets.
Prepare the Substrate Mixture
Once you've chosen your substrate material, it's time to prepare the mixture. Break up the mushroom spawn into small pieces while it's still in the bag to minimise mess and reduce direct contact. Wear protective gloves, a mask, and goggles for safety. Combine the substrate material with other ingredients like straw, sawdust blocks, lime, and water. Mix them together in a container, such as an icebox, following the specific recipe for your chosen mushroom variety.
Pasteurise the Substrate
Pasteurisation is a critical step to kill and eliminate harmful microorganisms living on the substrate. Place the substrate mixture into pillowcases or nylon brew bags, tie them securely, and then submerge them in 80°C water in the icebox. Place a clean brick on top to ensure the mixture stays underwater. Leave it to pasteurise, then hang the bags to drain.
Dry and Prepare for Inoculation
After pasteurisation, spread the substrate mixture onto a clean surface and allow it to dry thoroughly. Sanitize your hands and the surface with alcohol gel before handling the mixture. Once it's dry, you can prepare the substrate for inoculation with mushroom spores. This may involve placing the substrate into a growing container, such as a bucket or a grow room, and creating the necessary conditions for mycelium growth, including maintaining high humidity and a stable temperature.
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Pasteurising the substrate
The pasteurisation process is essential to kill and eliminate harmful microorganisms living on the substrate. Here is a step-by-step guide to pasteurising the substrate for growing mushrooms at home:
First, break up the mushroom spawn into small pieces while wearing protective gloves, a mask, and goggles. Prepare the growing medium by combining straw, sawdust blocks, lime, and water in a container. Ensure the container is large enough to mix the ingredients thoroughly.
Next, fill pillowcases or nylon brew bags with the mixture and tie them securely with a rope, leaving enough length to hang them up later. Place the filled pillowcases or bags back into the container and pour over water heated to 80°C. Place a clean brick on top to ensure the mixture stays submerged.
Leave the mixture to pasteurise, then hang up the bags to drain. Once they have finished draining and you can no longer squeeze out any water, spread the mixture out on a clean, sanitised surface to dry. Use alcohol gel to sanitise your hands and the surface before handling the mixture.
Common examples of substrates include straw, sawdust, and agricultural waste. However, certain mushrooms can be particular about the type of substrate they prefer. For example, oyster mushrooms thrive in recycled food-grade plastic buckets, while shiitake spores may be inoculated into oak logs.
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Creating the right conditions
High humidity is crucial as mushrooms are more than 90% water. If you can't provide the ideal environment, spraying them with water a couple of times a day can help. A cheap kit greenhouse, misted every day and stored in the bathroom works well. You could also use a grow room, built from bits from the local tip shop, or recycled food-grade plastic buckets, with holes drilled at different heights.
Proper gas exchange is important to ensure the mushrooms have fresh oxygen and to prevent the accumulation of CO2, which stimulates the growth of long stems.
The ideal temperature range for growing mushrooms is between 15 and 18 degrees Celsius.
You can grow mushrooms indoors with minimal light, making it a great option for those with limited space.
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Harvesting your mushrooms
Knowing When to Harvest
Determining the perfect time to harvest your mushrooms depends on the variety you are cultivating. For example, the best time to harvest oyster mushrooms is right before the margin of the cap begins to lift, whereas Lion's Mane should be harvested when the teeth are barely 1-2 cm long. It is recommended to pluck the entire mushroom directly from the mushroom kit. Knowing the exact time to harvest comes with experience.
Frequency of Harvesting
Mushrooms require high humidity and a stable temperature range between 15 and 18 degrees Celsius. With the right conditions, you should get a crop of mushrooms every 10 days or so for about three months. Flushes of mushrooms may take longer in cooler weather. Once the flushes of mushrooms are worth less than the space they occupy, it's time to compost the spent substrate and move on to the next batch.
Safety Precautions
It is important to remember that some mushrooms are toxic and can be dangerous if consumed. Do not eat mushrooms unless you are 100% sure of what they are. Wood Blewits, for instance, can be confused with similar-looking toxic mushrooms. Always cook mushrooms before eating, as consuming them raw may cause digestive issues.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushrooms are low maintenance and very easy to grow at home. They are a great choice for beginner gardeners who are curious about growing their own edible produce. They don’t need much attention or specialised growing conditions, only a dark and cool spot and regular misting to begin growing.
You can use a mushroom kit or create your own DIY setup. One of the easiest ways to grow mushrooms is by using a 20-litre food-grade bucket, which can be reused and is stackable. You will also need a drill with a 6mm drill bit to make holes in the bucket.
Mushrooms require high humidity and a temperature range of between 15 and 18 degrees Celsius. They do not require absolute darkness; a well-shaded area with still, fresh air is best.
Common examples of substrates include straw, sawdust, and agricultural waste. Certain mushrooms can be picky about the type of substrate they prefer. For example, oyster mushrooms grow well with rice, wheat, barley, or straw substrates.
Mushrooms can be picked at any size, from small buttons to flat open caps. Knowing the exact time to harvest depends on the variety of mushroom and can take some experience. For example, oyster mushrooms should be harvested right before the margin of the cap begins to lift, while Lion's Mane should be picked when the teeth are barely 1-2 cm long.
