Page 22 - Kyalami Issue 4 December 2024

Kyalami Estates Corporate Brand Bible Design 26
3.0 Folder (Inner)
NATURE

Button mushrooms are common
in most supermarkets

GROWING you have chosen to cultivate them. A heating pad can
be used to achieve this;
MUSHROOMS IN *After about an hour, the medium should be warm

YOUR GARDEN 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 and growing medium. At this stage, reduce the temperature
helpful if you’d like to grow your own. Different mush- to around 15 degrees C;
rooms grow in particular settings and mediums and as
such, be sure to find out what kind of medium you will *Cover the spawn with two to three centimetres of
need for the species of spores you have purchased. potting soil, then cover the pan and potting soil with a
The most popular choices are Oyster, Shiitake and damp cloth. It’s important to keep spraying the cloth
White Button mushrooms. To grow them yourself, you and the soil as they dry, to keep them both moist;
first need to buy a selection of spores or spawn – ei-
ther can be used. However for home growing, spawn is *It should take about three to four weeks before you
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 grow stem.
from the nutrients of composted manure. Be sure to
find out what kind of medium you will need for the par- Happy mushroom farming!
ticular 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 tempera-
ture, 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 Field mushrooms are versatile in any dish
temperature to about 21 degrees Celsius in the area
INFORMATION AND PHOTOS COURTESY OF LIFE IS A GARDEN

20 Kyalami Estates • CONNECT • Issue 4 • 2024