In our gardens, many of us are interested in cultivating fruits, vegetables, and herbs. But have you given any thought to the potential of growing mushrooms as well? Growing mushrooms is frequently thought of as a more specialised activity. However, you’ll discover that growing your own food is simpler than you would have thought if you’re interested in doing so.
cuisine that is suitable for consumption by all demographic groups. Why not attempt producing this healthy food at home when mushroom cultivation is so simple?
The necessity of the hour is to start growing your own food at home and become self-sufficient. Growing fruits, vegetables, and flowers is practical for gardeners and can yield much more. Why not try cultivating nutrient-dense, healthful edible mushrooms at home in addition to these greens? I’ll explain how to produce oyster mushrooms at home in these simple steps.
Despite not being plants, mushrooms are classified as fungi. There are two types of mushrooms: edible mushrooms and dangerous mushrooms.
Edible mushrooms: Edible mushrooms contain a lot of phenolic compounds, as well as lots of carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids. There are primarily three types of edible mushrooms:
Genera Agaricus and Lentinus
Oyster mushroom, from the genus Pleurotus
Certain mushroom species contain a class of toxins known as toxic cyclopeptides, which can be harmful. Examples include
Muscaria amanita
Amaranthus virosa
Aspergillus bisporigera
Health benefits of mushroom
Consuming mushrooms gives you a lot of energy.
rich in minerals, proteins, and antioxidants.
strengthens heart health
By eating mushrooms, you might live longer.
aids in maintaining brain function as we age.
may enhance memory
Grow ing mushroom
One kilogram of high-quality paddy straw is required for each standard 20 x 40 cm polythene bag.
100 grams of spawn from oyster mushrooms
20 by 40 centimetre polythene bag ( opened at both the sides)
Water disinfected by hydrogen peroxide.
Best place to grow mushrooms.
Temperature: Mushrooms may thrive at temperatures between 20 and 37 degrees Celsius.
Dark environments are preferred by mushrooms for growth. or a shadow.
relative humidity of 80% to 90%
The fall and winter seasons are ideal for growing
Steps to cultivate mushrooms
paddy straw preparation
Measure out a straw that is 2 inches long.
Overnight or for six to eight hours, soak the straw in water. The water should be entirely immersed under the paddy straw.
Boil the straw for an hour at 80 degrees Celsius the following day. It implies to boil the straw for one hour over medium heat. This stem was necessary to eradicate all other potentially hazardous microbes found in straw. also to give the mushroom soft growing medium.
To drain the surplus water from the boiled straw after it has finished boiling, clean the indoor surface area with hydrogen peroxide (purchased in pharmacies).
Don’t let the straw entirely dry out. Its moisture level should be between 50 and 55 percent. Squeeze the straw firmly to check this situation.
How to prepare a growing bag
Place the spawn in a clean bowl or tray after removing it from the container.
Tie one end of the polythene bag firmly to form a cylindrical shape.
Place one-fourth of the straw in a plastic bag.
Put one-fourth of the spawn into the polythene bag around the sides of the bag’s wall to produce the ring of spawn.
Up until all of the spawns have been used, repeat this step three more times.
Once all the air has been removed from the polythene bag, crush the straw with your palm and tie the bag.
Using a needle or other sharp object (which should be sanitised), make 7-8 small holes that can hold cotton balls. To prevent dust from entering in with the air, cotton balls are placed inside.
After 15 days in a cold, dark environment, you should be able to see white mycelial growth on the straw. The straw appears to have a spiderweb on it.
We refer to this phase as spawning. Depending on the temperature, it takes 15 to 25 days.
At this point, take the cotton balls out of each hole.
Through the holes you previously dug, you may observe the growing of pinhead-sized mushrooms three to five days after spawning.
To harvest your mushroom, it takes between 30 and 35 days.
If you grow a mushroom once, you can harvest it three times.
How to take care while growing mushroom.
Sterilize any tools you use at all times.
When handling spawning and other media, wash your hands.
Using high-quality paddy straw has an impact on the mushroom’s growth.
Therefore, always choose premium paddy straw and spawns.
For optimum mushroom production, never purchase mushroom spores; instead, always purchase mushroom spawn.
As long as you keep the area where you grow mushrooms clean, it is simple to cultivate oyster mushrooms at home. When cultivating brand-new plants or mushrooms, always use the trial-and-error method. When you get the hang of it, start by cultivating them in little quantities. Don’t forget to try growing nutrient-rich mushrooms at home so you can enjoy chemical-free, homegrown mushrooms