Page 18 - Cornwall Issue 6 2024

NATURE

Button mushrooms are common
in most supermarkets

Growing Mushrooms you have chosen to cultivate them. A heating pad can

be used to achieve this;
in your Garden *After about an hour, the medium should be warm

enough and you can then place the spawn on it.
The spawn will have rooted after about three weeks,
meaning that the filaments would have spread into the
Knowing how to identify mushrooms is important growing medium. At this stage, reduce the temperature
and helpful if you’d like to grow your own. Different to around 15 degrees C;
mushrooms grow in particular settings and mediums
and as such, be sure to find out what kind of medium *Cover the spawn with two to three centimetres of
you will need for the species of spores you have potting soil, then cover the pan and potting soil with a
purchased. The most popular choices are Oyster, damp cloth. It’s important to keep spraying the cloth
Shiitake and White Button mushrooms. To grow them and the soil as they dry, to keep them both moist;
yourself, you first need to buy a selection of spores
or spawn – either can be used. However for home *It should take about three to four weeks before you
growing, spawn is much easier to use. see the mushrooms appearing. Shiitake mushrooms
take a little longer and will be ready in about seven to
Shiitake mushrooms usually grow on hardwood or eight weeks. They will be ready to pick once the cap
hardwood sawdust, while Oyster mushrooms prefer has fully opened and has fully separated from the
an environment of straw, and Button mushrooms stem.
grow from the nutrients of composted manure. Be
sure to find out what kind of medium you will need for Happy mushroom farming!
the particular species of spores or spawn you have
purchased. In general, mushrooms like a cool, dark
and damp place to grow in, so if you have a basement
or wine cellar this is ideal but if not, an old cupboard
or trunk is also fine. As long as you can control the
temperature, humidity and keep the area relatively
dark, your mushrooms will thrive.

Once you’ve chosen the mushrooms you want and
collected their correct growing medium, follow these
basic steps:
*Place the growing medium in a pan and raise the
temperature to about 21 degrees Celsius in the area Field mushrooms are versatile in any dish
INFORMATION AND PHOTOS COURTESY OF LIFE IS A GARDEN

16 Cornwall View • Issue 6 2024