For the first time, we will learn what mycelium is in biology lessons, but many do not fully understand why it is necessary to grow it and what is its use. In this article, we will look at how to grow mushroom mycelium, the details of growing mycelium, and first of all, we will understand what it is for.

Often mycelium is also called a mycelium, let's figure out what it is. Mycelium is the vegetative body of fungi. Mycelium in its structure may differ in the presence or absence of partitions between cells, therefore, the mycelium consists of thin, branched filaments called hyphae, as well as nuclei and septa (depending on the type of mycelium: coenotic or septate).

Did you know? The mycelium of home-grown mushrooms can not only be eaten, but also drunk, like, for example, kombucha. Thanks to the achievements modern science growing mycelium at home will help you get a crop of mushrooms without much difficulty. These mushrooms not only have high taste qualities, but are also good helpers of nature, as they contribute to the speedy decomposition of dead trees. In addition, from ordinary mycelium, you can start the production of such cultivated types of mushrooms as champignons, mushrooms or oyster mushrooms, or by planting mycelium in open ground, eventually harvest porcini mushrooms.

Types of mycelium

Before making mycelium, you need to know exactly which type of mushroom mycelium is best used for growing. We have already dealt with the fact that the mycelium of the fungus can be differentiated according to the type of internal structure, and with the fact that these two groups are called coenotic mycelium and septic mycelium.

There is another classification, which is based on the type of nutritional basis for the mycelium, here we can distinguish grain mycelium, substrate mycelium and liquid mycelium. Each of these types can be made at home. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. So, for example, substrate mushroom mycelium grows slowly at home, but it can be stored better. As for grain mycelium, this species may not take root on wood, and also its shelf life is not long; liquid mycelium is used extremely rarely due to the increased demands of this species for sterility and conditions.

Important!Grain mycelium prefers grain sterilization, however, if the procedure is unsuccessful, mold will appear, which will negatively affect the yield of mushrooms.

How to organize a place for growing mycelium

Mushroom mycelium is quite possible to get on your site, but before growing it at home, you need to create some conditions for the growth of mushrooms. The first thing to take care of is a place to grow mushroom mycelium. An important condition here is humidity, because any mushrooms grow most efficiently in humid places, therefore, in order for the mushrooms to please the harvest, the humidity must be at a high level. The second factor that must be taken into account when choosing a place for growing mycelium is temperature, it is important to follow all the rules here, preventing the plants from overheating.

Did you know?If the room temperature rises above 30° C, the mycelium will die, and at temperatures below room temperature, growth may slow down. It is better to choose a place for mycelium not only where room temperature is maintained, but also such that sudden temperature changes do not happen, this will negatively affect the mycelium. Also, if you are thinking about how to get mycelium indoors, you need to take care that the place is well lit and well ventilated.

Grain mycelium cultivation technology

Growing mycelium from grain at home is a technology that is very popular among mushroom pickers. Grain mycelium of fungi is most often produced in specially equipped laboratories, however, the manufacturing technology does not require special material costs and efforts. Let's see how to make it at home. There is no single scheme for preparing mycelium at home, everyone simply uses the technology that suits best.

The simplest technique is the following:

• pour the grain into a large saucepan or aluminum basin and fill it with water so that the grains are covered by 2-3 cm;
• put on the stove and boil for 30 minutes;
• remove, filter and dry on a flat flat surface;
• we fill the grain in jars by 2/4;
• sterilize the jars in a large saucepan;
• jars should cool, then we lay out a small amount of mycelium in each.

You will notice the first signs of mycelium growth in three days - white fluff will appear, but the real mycelium will become noticeable after a week. After another week, the mycelium can be sown on straw and mushrooms can be grown.

Important!Before planting the mycelium in a nutrient medium, it must be disinfected, and all manipulations are best done under light. quartz lamp to prevent contamination of the mycelium by microbes.

How to grow mycelium from mushroom legs on cardboard

There are many various ways grow mycelium, one of them is growing mycelium on cardboard. Cardboard is an inexpensive and readily available material. In addition, cardboard is made of wood, and mycelium takes root better on it, and corrugated cardboard will allow future mushrooms to breathe, which will contribute to the development of mycelium.

The technology for growing mycelium from mushroom legs on corrugated cardboard is simple:

• cardboard cut into pieces without inscriptions must be soaked in warm water for an hour, although if it lies in water longer, it will not get worse;
• prepare seed;
• the mushroom must be divided into fibers using a sharp knife or blade;
• in the container in which you are going to plant the mycelium, you need to make holes to drain excess moisture;
• carefully remove the top layer from the cardboard;
• put the mushrooms on the cardboard and cover with the previously removed layer;
• put the cardboard with the material into a container, pressing them down;
• the container must be covered with polyethylene;
• at the first sign of cardboard drying out - moisten with a spray bottle;
• remove the bag every day to air the material.

After a few weeks (on average from 3 to 6), the cardboard will turn white and overgrow, then it can be transplanted into a nutrient medium.

As you can see, growing mushrooms at home is quite affordable. Mycelium will help you harvest mushrooms at home without problems, the main thing is desire and patience.

The entire kingdom of fungi can be divided into three types: hat, mold and yeast. The first group of mushrooms is the most common, it is its edible representatives that people and animals use. Each of these groups is divided into various subspecies, differing in their characteristics, but their common feature is the uterine body, the scientific name of which is mycelium. You can learn how to grow and get oyster mushroom mycelium from this article.

What is mycelium

Mycelium is the vegetative body of the fungus, which is able to change its structure, depending on environment, through the formation of special bodies. It has thin processes that create a whole network of microscopic fibers. These fibers penetrate into a variety of structures (tissues of trees, bark, roots), into the substrate, dead tissues of living organisms, and so on, in order to receive useful and nutritious substances from there for their growth. Mycelium is a uterine material that is produced from fungal spores in special laboratories. To understand more, it is worth briefly reviewing its structure.

• Vultures. These are the threads that penetrate the fertile surface (wood, plant roots, soil, substrate) and absorb all the minerals necessary for the growth of mushrooms.
• Sclerotia. Such a strange name was given to dense, solid neoplasms that arise as a result of changes in the vegetative body of fungi. This is a protective reaction of the microorganism to adverse conditions. Thus, it sinks into a hard capsule and is able to retain its spores under unfavorable conditions.
• stroma- small cocoons (mummies) separated from the main body. These are small, dense formations that appear in the tissues of a plant infected with fungal mycelium. Stromas take part in the formation of new forms of mycelium.

These are the three main structural elements of the intermediate mycelium. There are other structural elements that mycelium forms as a result of its germination on a certain soil and in a certain environment.

Features of growing oyster mushroom mycelium at home: advantages compared to buying ready-made

The technology of growing oyster mushroom mycelium from grain at home is very popular among amateur mushroom pickers.

Grain mycelium of oyster mushrooms, as a rule, is produced in specialized laboratories, under sterile conditions and at the required temperature. This gives a guarantee of quality, rapid growth and formation of mycelium. Naturally, the most productive will be the cultivation of oyster mushroom mycelium in special greenhouses, where all climatic conditions are met, with high-quality, professional equipment and specially trained personnel. But it often happens that people who want to grow mushrooms on their own and in small quantities do not have the opportunity to purchase the desired type of mushroom mycelium in their region.

In such cases, it would be more rational to independently prepare oyster mushroom mycelium for home cultivation. The need for this may be due to the poor quality of the purchased material. This happens very often, because many intermediaries are aimed only at making a profit, not observing all storage conditions. Such a mycelium loses its properties and is not able to fully bear fruit. Therefore, more experienced mushroom growers prefer to prepare planting material on their own.

Based on this, several advantages of home-made oyster mushroom mycelium can be distinguished:

• First of all, it's the price. Like it or not, the material prepared on your own will cost much cheaper than the finished purchased one.
• You will be 100% sure of its quality, and in some cases, homemade mycelium is superior to the laboratory one.

The only one flaw home mycelium - a long growth rate.

Production technology at home:step-by-step instructions for growing oyster mushroom mycelium

Growing oyster mushroom mycelium at home is not difficult. It is necessary to stock up on patience and faith, as this is a long and laborious process. Most often, the vegetative body is bred on corrugated cardboard or on wood, but this will require large areas and special conditions. The easiest way to grow a good mycelium is on a cereal grain substrate - grain. This technology is used by most of the leading manufacturing companies.

The whole process of obtaining oyster mushroom mycelium can be divided into several stages.

Extraction of uterine mycelium

The uterine body (spores) is the basis for the origin and development of the mycelium as a whole. It is produced from the fruiting body of mushrooms, or rather their upper part (cap). It is under the cap of the oyster mushroom that the spores are located. For cultivation, only fresh mushrooms are used, without damage and diseases.

Note! The most important thing in this business is sterility. It is necessary to completely exclude the contact of the mycelium and the substrate with the environment. All instruments must be sterile, otherwise there is a high chance of bacteria developing in the substrate.

Here step-by-step instruction obtaining uterine mycelium of oyster mushroom.

Reminder! Developing high-quality oyster mushroom mycelium looks like a fluffy white coating that has the aroma of freshly cut mushrooms.

Obtaining an intermediate mycelium

Nutrient soil for growing uterine mycelium can be prepared independently. An excellent option would be grains of oats or rye.

Important! For the preparation of the substrate, you should not use grains of two types. When interacting with each other, they can ferment, and the uterine mycelium will disappear.

Step-by-step instructions for obtaining an intermediate mycelium:

• The grains are placed in a saucepan and poured with water so that the grain is covered by 3-4 centimeters, and boiled for half an hour.
• Further, the grain is filtered, dried and mixed with gypsum and lime.
• In the meantime, it is necessary to sterilize the jars (in the usual way, as for conservation).
• Then put the substrate in jars by 2/3 (grain with gypsum and lime).
• Now it is necessary to add the planting material obtained at the previous stage to the resulting substance.
• Results should be expected for about 2 weeks, again leaving the jars in a warm room.

Important! If you notice that during the germination of the mycelium, dark spots and black dots began to appear on the grains, this means that extraneous bacteria are present in the substrate. Most likely, the substrate or working tool was not sterile enough. Don't panic right away! Put the jars under the light of a quartz lamp for a day, this will help kill all bacteria and prevent their further spread.

Step-by-step video instructions for growing oyster mushroom mycelium at home

How to store oyster mushroom mycelium

It is not very difficult to store oyster mushroom mycelium, because. it is not a perishable product.

At a temperature of +1 ... +5 C on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator (in winter it can be a basement), oyster mushroom mycelium can be stored for up to 1 year.

Mycelium can deteriorate at temperatures above + 30 ... + 32 C.

There are also 2 more ways to store oyster mushroom mycelium for a long time. The first is storage in a freezer at a temperature of -20 C, the second is its placement in liquid nitrogen. The second method is usually used in industrial settings. Therefore, for home storage of oyster mushroom mycelium, it is necessary to use a freezer.

Note! Repeated thawing and subsequent freezing can lead to deterioration of the material.

For more convenient storage, mycelium can be packaged in vacuum bags which are pre-heat treated. They are placed in boiling water for 15 minutes, after which they are dried, and only then the seed itself is packaged in them. In such storage, special care must be taken. If you opened the package or its depressurization occurred due to a rupture, you must urgently disembark, otherwise the mycelium will become unusable. There is no point in repackaging.

Video: how to properly store oyster mushroom mycelium

As it has already become clear, growing oyster mushroom uterine mycelium at home is quite possible and very simple. It takes a little patience and a responsible attitude to work. The main thing is that you will be 100% sure of the quality of your own planting material. It is also important that the cost of such a product will be three or even four times lower than that of products large companies for the production of mycelium. By following a clear guide to mycelium production, you will be able to grow quality intermediate material for oyster mushroom cultivation.

Video: how to make oyster mushroom mycelium at home

Methods for growing mushrooms

Mycelium production

Conditions for planting mycelium

• 10-20 degrees;
• equip the room ventilation system
• set humidity mode 70-90% .

barley or wheat straw. Will also fit:

• buckwheat husk;
• sunflower husk;
• corn cobs and stalks.

grind to 5-10 cm.

disinfection

The finished base should be wet and soft

Oyster mushroom mycelium in a package

19-23 degrees

premises open air

Sowing time starts spring when establishing positive

10 mm with recess for 5-6 cm

in the shadow

Aug. Sept

On substrate briquettes

polyethylene sleeve perforation

• weight - 15 kg;
• length - 70 cm;
• diameter - 25 cm.

2-3 pieces per rope Each other

Substrate briquettes

Advantages of the method:

• convenient application;
• simple care;

On the shelves

no more than three 70 cm, and between the mushroom bags - 15-40 cm.

Mycelium is planting material

on wood or grain

in laboratory conditions

• agar;
• thermometer;
• tweezers;
• test tubes;
• pipettes.

20 degrees

Growing mycelium in a jar

incubation

On the this stage no ventilation

10-20 degrees 12 hours

75% 13-15 months.

Foods such as mushrooms are a valuable and healthy nutritious food. At home, the cultivation of oyster mushrooms and mushrooms has become widespread. Such cultivation guarantees the absence of carcinogenic substances and nitrates, which are easily absorbed by mushrooms.

The article tells how to grow mushrooms and make oyster mushroom mycelium with your own hands.

What is oyster mushroom mycelium, breeding history

The mycelium of any fungus, including oyster mushrooms, is called its vegetative body, in other words, the mycelium, consisting of the thinnest branched roots-threads. The development of the mycelium occurs inside the substrate and on its surface. You can get this branched network both at home and by laboratory methods.

AT natural environment Mushrooms reproduce mainly by spores. In order to answer the question of how to make oyster mushroom mycelium in the laboratory, scientists tried several different methods.

At the beginning, fragments of mycelium for reproduction in specially adapted greenhouses were taken in the forest, in places where mushrooms accumulated, then planted in prepared soil. After its complete weaving with mushroom threads, the substrate was dried and was ready for breeding. The qualitative characteristics of such material were weak, the mycelium degenerated and gave meager yields.

Later, in France, they found a way to remove mycelium from fungal spores under artificial conditions, which was very limited in use and also did not take root.

The latest and most accepted patented method was the cultivation of oyster mushroom mycelium on the grain of almost any grain crops, sawdust, straw.

Methods for growing mushrooms

Oyster mushrooms are very unpretentious mushrooms that quickly yield crops. One and a half months after landing, you can make the first collection. With square meter plots usually receive about ten kilograms of mushrooms per month.

Several methods can be used to grow this product:

1. Extensive. This method is an imitation of natural growth and requires certain areas. For him, wood stumps are harvested, cuts are made in them and first oyster mushroom caps are placed in them, and then parts of the mycelium. The method is dependent on weather conditions: under adverse circumstances, the growth of mushrooms can be delayed for three months.
2. Intensive. Mushrooms are grown in this way, for example, in plastic bags. It is very effective, does not require much labor and is inexpensive.

To grow mushrooms at home, the mycelium can be obtained in two ways: buy oyster mushroom mycelium, the price of which is currently about 150 rubles. per kilo, or make it yourself.

Mycelium production

Oyster mushroom mycelium - mycelium - is planted in the substrate, where it will germinate. At home, do-it-yourself oyster mushroom mycelium can be grown on wood or grain. Cultivation takes place in three stages in the following way:

1. Obtaining uterine mycelium. It is made in the laboratory from spores and stored in test tubes or the material is propagated from pieces of fungal tissue.
2. Preparation of intermediate mycelium. At this stage, the mother culture is transferred from the test tubes where it was stored to a nutrient medium, where the basis for the sowing mycelium receives the initial development.
3. Obtaining seed mycelium. The intermediate material is sown in the substrate, where it grows. Parts of this substrate are used to sow the place where the mushrooms will be directly grown.

How to prepare the base for planting

To get a good harvest, it is necessary to properly prepare the soil for planting. The manufacturing technology provides that for this you need to grind dry and clean husks, straw and husks (barley or wheat), and then heat treat them. These actions will allow you to remove from the composition of insects that have fallen into it during collection.

In order to thermally treat the substrate, it is placed in a large metal basin, filled with hot water (70 ° C) and boiled for a couple of hours, after which the liquid is drained and the mass is cooled to room temperature. To check moisture saturation, a small amount of the mixture is squeezed in a fist: for normal humidity (about 70%), a little moisture should come out or nothing at all, waterlogging is not allowed.

For cultivation, both a greenhouse with stumps installed in it, and large plastic bags at home on the balcony are suitable. Below we will consider how to cook oyster mushroom mycelium at home, plant and grow mushroom crops. Oyster mushroom is the only mushroom that is easy to grow if you follow all the necessary conditions.

Oyster mushroom mycelium at home: stage one

To obtain the uterine mycelium, parts of the fruiting body of fresh mushrooms are taken. Oyster mushrooms need to be divided in two and cut a small piece from the leg. Then it must be dipped into a solution of hydrogen peroxide for disinfection - the material is ready for planting in a nutrient medium.

Then, the treated piece is placed in a container with a nutrient substance and closed with a cork disinfected by fire. Such home production of oyster mushroom mycelium requires mandatory sterility, therefore, after processing, the material is not touched by hands, but taken with auxiliary tools, cleanliness should also be maintained in the room.

A closed container with seedlings placed inside in an inclined position is left in the dark for a couple of weeks.

The nutrient medium in this production can be agar from wort, carrots, oatmeal, potatoes or glucose. After cooking, it is sterilized, poured into containers and waiting for solidification, after which a piece of mushroom is introduced.

Stage two: obtaining an intermediate mycelium

The second stage is the direct breeding of oyster mushroom mycelium. The manufacturing technology of the intermediate mycelium of the oyster mushroom requires the use of cereal grains. For these purposes, healthy quality grains are used, which are boiled for fifteen minutes in a ratio of material and water of one to two. Then the boiled grains must be dried well and mixed with calcium carbonate and gypsum.

Next, the mixture is placed in glass containers, filling them by two thirds, and subjected to sterilization. After processing, pieces of the nutrient medium prepared earlier are placed in the resulting substance. After two to three weeks, when the mycelium grows, it can be stored for storage, having previously been decomposed into plastic bags. It is allowed to store the mycelium for three months at a temperature of from zero to twenty degrees.

Properly prepared do-it-yourself intermediate oyster mushroom mycelium, which is developed and viable, looks like a lush white coating that has a pleasant mushroom smell.

To plant the seed mycelium, similar actions are performed, sowing more spacious containers. To do this, add one spoonful of intermediate mycelium to liter jars. This prepares the substrate for further growing mushrooms on it.

Conditions for planting mycelium

You can grow oyster mushrooms in an old barn, stone garage or other suitable room. The criterion for its selection can be considered:

• the possibility of creating high air humidity, which should be maintained at the level of 85-90%;
• maintaining the ambient temperature in the region of 15-20 degrees - at a higher temperature, the mushrooms cease to bear fruit;
• the creation of a good ventilation system - the accumulation of carbon dioxide is unacceptable due to the high sensitivity of fungi to it;
• the possibility of sufficient lighting - sunlight without direct rays or fluorescent lamps for nine hours a day.

Mushroom cultivation technology

After the oyster mushroom mycelium is grown with your own hands, you can start planting it, which is performed as follows. At the bottom of the plastic bag, a substrate is laid out in the amount of one kilogram, and on it is a layer of mycelium, and so on in layers to the very top. The weight ratio of the substrate and mycelium in the bag should be 1:0.05. Mycelium should be placed closer to the walls of the bag, in which cuts should be made to allow air to enter. The weight of the finished block is 13-15 kg.

After filling, the polyethylene blocks are left in the dark at a temperature of about plus twenty Celsius - a higher one can lead to the death of the mycelium, since inside the block it can be ten to fifteen degrees hotter.

After two weeks, the block becomes like a white monolith. Before the appearance of primordia, the block is sprayed from time to time to maintain humidity and the temperature conditions are strictly observed. After the appearance of primordia, after a couple of days they become full-fledged adult mushrooms. It is not necessary to water them during growth, but it is important to ventilate the room well. When the edges are aligned on the hats, the crop is ready for harvest.

Conditions for the preservation of mycelium

In industrial conditions, the mycelium is stored in low-temperature conditions or in liquid nitrogen. This content allows you to maximize the properties of the material and its germination without loss of quality. The process of freezing and subsequent defrosting for disembarkation is carried out slowly under the supervision of specialists.

In home-made conditions, mycelium is best stored in types of refrigerators that allow you to set the temperature. freezer within minus twenty degrees Celsius. This will allow the material not to deteriorate and not lose its qualities.

After defrosting for a short time, the mycelium restores its vegetative functions.

It is important to prevent multiple abrupt changes in temperature conditions, that is, defrosting and re-freezing. This can significantly worsen the quality of the mycelium, which, accordingly, will negatively affect the yield of the mycelium.

For the successful cultivation of mycelium and mushroom harvest, the following rules must be observed:

• Sawdust is the ideal substrate. hardwood trees.
• The color of the sawdust used should be white or yellow, this will serve as a guarantee of their freshness.
• The substrate should have a fresh smell, without any admixture of rot.
• When transporting mycelium, the required humidity should be maintained within 30-45%. The same conditions must be observed inside the plastic bag in which the oyster mushroom is grown.
• In one block package measuring 35 X 75 cm, you will need to put about 300 grams of mycelium, you need to know this in order to accurately calculate the required amount of material. Buying for future use or defrosting an excess amount of mycelium is highly undesirable due to the short shelf life and loss of sowing qualities.
• When producing mycelium and planting it in the substrate, strict sanitation rules must be observed to avoid pest infestation: containers, tools and hands must be decontaminated.

In general, if you follow the rules and technology for growing oyster mushroom mycelium, and then the fungus itself, you can achieve good results with a not very large investment of money and effort. With careful attention to the process, even a beginner can handle it.

The technology for growing and breeding oyster mushrooms at home with your own hands is quite simple, even an amateur can handle it. However, before you get down to business and grow mushrooms, you should familiarize yourself with the existing methods and requirements for the environment in which mushrooms will develop normally. Where to start and how to make the process from scratch, we will tell you step by step, and even a beginner will easily breed and plant mushrooms.

Conditions for growing oyster mushrooms at home

You can organize a place for the cultivation of mushrooms in basements, cellars or specially designed rooms in a summer cottage. For the cultivation of oyster mushrooms, you need to create the following conditions:

• ability to install and maintain temperature regime within 10-20 degrees;
• equip the room ventilation system for the removal of carbon dioxide and lamps with fluorescent lamps;
• set humidity mode 70-90% .

Mushrooms, due to their properties, absorb elements of the environment, including toxins. Therefore, it is important that all surfaces in the basement are disinfected. free of mold and pests. Cleanliness must be maintained until the very end of the harvest.

When growing oyster mushrooms, it is important to keep clean until harvest.

The temperature regime in which oyster mushroom grows well is limited to marks from 20 to 28 degrees.

Ways to grow mushrooms at home

There are several ways to grow oyster mushrooms at home. Each method has advantages and disadvantages, so it is recommended to read with all the subtleties of technology to choose the most suitable option for you.

How to breed in bags with your own hands

The substrate can be purchased ready-made or prepared with your own hands. The best raw material for oyster mushrooms is considered barley or wheat straw. Will also fit:

• shavings of hardwood;
• buckwheat husk;
• sunflower husk;
• corn cobs and stalks.

Components to be used grind to 5-10 cm.

Ready substrate for growing oyster mushrooms

Those who are just starting to master the technology of growing mushrooms at home are advised to refrain from using sawdust. This method is complex and has special requirements.

Before using the substrate, disinfection material. To do this, it is subjected to heat treatment.

Step-by-step procedure for disinfecting the substrate:

• the selected crushed raw materials are poured into a metal tank or a capacious pan;
• fill the container with water (proportions 1: 2);
• bring the contents of the pan to a boil and cook for about 2-2.5 hours.

The finished base should be wet and soft, but you should not overdo it with water. The correct composition during the spin cycle releases a minimum amount of moisture.

In addition to the substrate, seed (mycelium) is placed in the bag. It is not worth buying much at once, it quickly deteriorates. If proper care is taken, then from 1 kg of raw materials you can get up to 3 kg of oyster mushrooms.

The base is laid in bags in layers, alternating a ball of substrate with seed. The bags are filled tightly, but without tamping. After a strong tie of the edges of the container, cruciform holes are cut with a blade on the surface of the polyethylene. You need to arrange them with an interval of 10 cm in a checkerboard pattern.

Oyster mushroom mycelium in a package

For 2 weeks, the bag is lowered into the basement for an incubation period at a temperature 19-23 degrees. Lighting is not required at this stage.

The main advantage of the method lies in the simplicity of the technology. However, poor fruiting or its complete absence is often observed. In such cases, you need to sort out the substrate, and check for the presence of mold in it.

Mushroom picking begins 1.5 months after planting. Two crops are taken from one bag.

Step-by-step breeding technology on stumps

There are two main ways to grow oyster mushrooms: intensive and extensive. In the first case, special premises with favorable conditions. The second method introduces mushroom cultivation technology open air. The timing of the harvest is completely dependent on weather conditions.

If there is no fall or cellar in the country, you should not be upset. You can grow oyster mushrooms directly on stumps or cuttings of hardwood (chestnut, ash, poplar, beech, etc.).

Sowing time starts spring when establishing positive temperatures. Cuttings are soaked for 1-2 days before use. With a fresh tree, this procedure is not performed.

In the country for growing oyster mushrooms, you can use stumps

On the stumps, holes are first made with a diameter 10 mm with recess for 5-6 cm. Seed material is placed in the holes and covered with moss or adhesive tape. Stick-shaped mycelium is enough to insert into the hole and close it with plasticine.

A place for growing mushrooms is selected in the shadow under dense canopy of trees. This is necessary to prevent the oyster mushrooms from drying out in the warm season.

When using logs, digging holes and laying wet sawdust on the bottom is provided. Next, soaked tree trimmings are inserted into the prepared recesses and buried with soil a third of the length (at least 15 cm). The interval between the stumps should be 35-50 cm.

Further care for mushroom beds is to water the soil around the blanks. The timing of the collection of oyster mushrooms often falls on Aug. Sept. Such a plantation will bring good growth up to 5 years with the most generous fruiting 2-3 years after planting.

On substrate briquettes

Substrate briquettes are polyethylene sleeve, tightly stuffed with filler. pre-applied on the surface of the film perforation round or other shape. Holes can be spaced evenly throughout the block or cover only two sides.

In the first case, when fixing the briquettes, they should not be allowed to touch, in contrast to double-sided perforation, where the joint has no holes.

The most popular containers are:

• weight - 15 kg;
• length - 70 cm;
• diameter - 25 cm.

The density of the substrate in the sleeve, the level of humidity and the environment depends on the raw materials used and the method of its heat treatment.

There are many options for placing substrate briquettes. They can be hung 2-3 pieces per rope or hang each individually on the armature. The weight of the bags is quite heavy, which ensures stability when storing blocks. Each other. The result is a solid wall.

Substrate briquettes

It is also allowed to place briquettes on the shelves in vertical or horizontal position. A rope stretched from the back of the shelves acts as insurance against falling or falling of the substrate. When growing mushrooms at home, the decision to place the bags is made based on the characteristics of the room.

Advantages of the method:

• convenient application;
• simple care;
• getting a quick harvest (after 1.5-2 months).

The disadvantage is the additional costs for the purchase of substrate briquettes.

On the shelves

Briquettes or bags of substrate and seed in the basement or cellar can be placed on racks if space permits. The shelves themselves should be wooden or rolled steel. Blocks are placed vertically or horizontally.

Racks are manufactured in various designs. Craftsmen independently develop drawings, providing for safety elements that prevent the bags from falling. One of the options is equipped with special pins on the shelves, on top of which blocks are placed. This increases their stability.

Mushroom sleeves can be installed in several tiers, but no more than three. In this case, the distance between the racks should be 70 cm, and between the mushroom bags - 15-40 cm.

Shelves for growing oyster mushrooms

When installing mushroom containers in 2 or 3 tiers, you must leave free space under the lower blocks of at least 30 cm to ensure normal air circulation.

This method of growing oyster mushrooms is characterized by convenient care and harvesting. However, not all summer cottages and cellars have enough space for shelving installations.

How to make mycelium for oyster mushrooms

It is not difficult to buy ready-made mycelium, but you can evaluate the quality of the purchase only after a few weeks. If a low-quality product is identified, it will no longer be possible to compensate for the costs of raw materials and energy resources, so many mushroom growers master the technology for the production of mycelium on their own.

Mycelium is planting material, which is introduced into the substrate to obtain a crop of mushrooms.

At home, mycelium is grown mainly on wood or grain. The method with wood is appropriate to use for the subsequent replanting of mycelium on stumps. Such seed has a long shelf life and disease resistance. The grain type is obtained by applying a mother culture to a substrate of cereal grains.

High quality mushroom picker is obtained in laboratory conditions. At home, this process can be repeated by preparing special equipment in advance:

• agar;
• thermometer;
• tweezers;
• test tubes;
• pipettes.

Also, the work will require water, electricity, gas.

Devices and the surface on which it is planned to perform work must be pre-treated with an alcohol solution for disinfection.

The test tubes are tightly closed and stored in a room with an average level of humidity and a temperature of about 20 degrees. After 2 weeks, a white edge will appear in properly prepared test tubes. This is the uterine mycelium.

Growing mycelium in a jar

Mushroom care during growth

After replanting the mycelium into the polyethylene holes, the bags are sent to incubation which takes up to 3 weeks. The temperature regime should not reach 30 degrees, otherwise the planting material will undergo thermal shock.

At this stage no ventilation. The accumulation of carbon dioxide creates favorable conditions for the development of mycelium. Only daily cleaning of surfaces with the use of chlorine-containing products will be required. This will help prevent mold growth.

Next, the bags are placed in a specially equipped room with a temperature 10-20 degrees. The cooler the air, the less saturated the color of the hat. Lighting should be 12 hours with an intensity of 5 kW per 1 m2. Mushrooms are watered with a special sprinkler 1-2 times daily.

In the room where mushrooms are cultivated, there is a high level of spores in the air, so work should be done in a mask and glasses. This will help prevent an allergy attack.

Profitability of growing at home

You can grow mushrooms in several briquettes, satisfying the needs of your family. But this type of activity, with a reasonable approach, sometimes becomes a means of additional income. Moreover, caring for mushroom beds is not considered difficult.

About 350 kg of oyster mushrooms are obtained from 100 bags

If you create optimal conditions for keeping mushroom briquettes (bags) and adhere to the established temperature regime, then 3-3.5 kg of mushrooms can really be removed from one block. Respectively 350 kg of oyster mushrooms are obtained from 100 bags.

Considering market value(about 130 rubles per kg), the income will be 45,500 rubles. Approximately half of the funds are spent on related costs associated with the creation of conditions for the cultivation of mushrooms. Net profit will amount to 20,485 rubles. Profitability in this case is equal to 75% , payback - 5.2 cycles, which in terms of months means 13-15 months.

If the dimensions of the room allow you to place 200 bags, then the profitability increases to 82%, and the net income will be in the range of 40,000-41,000 rubles. Investments will pay off in just 3.4 cycles or 9 months.

The process of growing oyster mushrooms at home is quite fascinating and informative. By accumulating experience, you can gradually increase the volume, which will allow you to turn a hobby into a small business.

Getting oyster mushroom mycelium at home is the dream of any mushroom grower. Currently, it is not difficult to buy it. However, it is not always possible to find a company that is 100% responsible for product quality. The fact is that such organizations work mainly with wholesalers and practically do not have time to monitor the quality in such conditions.

You can learn about the "inoperability" of the product only when the bags with the substrate become Green colour. And breeding oyster mushrooms requires a certain amount of time and 40% of the costs go to the substrate. In this case, mushroom growers, not trusting unknown producers, grow mycelium with their own hands.

Production of sowing mycelium - mycelium

Now grain mycelium is used by most mushroom growers in the world. In modern mushroom growing complexes, mycelium grown on grains of wheat, rye, barley, oats, millet, corn and other cereals is used for the cultivation of mushrooms. When growing oyster mushrooms and other mushrooms that grow naturally on wood, sowing mycelium can be prepared both on grain and on sunflower husks, grape pomace, a mixture of sawdust, etc. ...

In 1894, the first pure culture of the fungus was obtained at the Pasteur Institute in France, grown on a special nutrient medium from mushroom spores.
Mycelium, grown under sterile conditions, had a much greater potential. The spore mycelium quickly took root, actively grew on the compost, its fruiting occurred much earlier than when using the “wild” mycelium. Therefore, since the mid-1920s, laboratories for the production of mycelium have been operating in most countries producing mushrooms. In the Soviet Union, a method for obtaining sterile mycelium was developed in the early 1930s.

Initially, the mycelium was grown on sterilized compost, and other nutrient media were also searched for. In 1932, a method for growing mycelium on wheat grain was patented. Now grain mycelium is used by most mushroom growers in the world. In modern mushroom growing complexes, mycelium grown on grains of wheat, rye, barley, oats, millet, corn and other cereals is used for the cultivation of mushrooms. When growing oyster mushrooms and other mushrooms that grow naturally on wood, sowing mycelium can be prepared both on grain and on sunflower husks, grape pomace, a mixture of sawdust, etc.

Mycelium production technology

The uterine culture (mycelium) is obtained as a result of sowing spores, isolation from a part of the fruiting body and as a result of selection work. The following are recommended as nutrient media for the cultivation of higher basidiomycetes:

Wort-agar: for its preparation, take 1 liter of beer wort 7-8 degrees. according to Balling, add 20 g of agar-agar and boil until it is completely dissolved. Hot wort agar is poured into test tubes (about 1/3 of the volume), closed with cotton-gauze stoppers and sterilized for half an hour at a pressure of 1.5 atmospheres and a temperature of 101 degrees. C. After sterilization, the test tubes are placed on the table in a strongly inclined position, so that the medium does not reach the stopper by 3-4 cm and, when solidified, has a large surface;

Oat agar: oat flour - 30 g, water - 970 ml, agar - 15 g. Oat flour is boiled in water for 1 hour with stirring, then filtered through a Gauze filter;

Carrot agar: carrot extract - 400 ml, water - 600 ml, agar - 15 g, pH=6.0. Crushed carrots are mixed with water in a ratio of 2:5, boiled for 30 minutes, filtered.

In addition to the above examples of nutrient media, there are a number of others. The most commonly used is wort agar.

After the medium has solidified, the mother culture, spores, or part of the fruiting body of the fungus are introduced into the test tube under sterile conditions.

Rice. 33. Stages of cultivation of seed mycelium:

1 - a piece of the fruiting body of the fungus; 2 - test tube with pure culture; 3 - Petri dish with mushroom culture; 4 - milk bottle with grain mycelium; 5 - a three-liter jar with mycelium; 6 - ready seed mycelium in a plastic bag

This operation is carried out using an inoculation loop, which can be made from an ordinary knitting needle or steel wire, bending its end by 100 mm and grinding it to nothing. To avoid the ingress of foreign microorganisms, the inoculation loop is calcined over an open flame before use. Then, if a part of the fruiting body is used to obtain a culture, the fungus is carefully broken into two halves and a piece of fungal tissue is cut out from the upper part of the leg using an inoculation loop. To ensure sterility, it is dipped in hydrogen peroxide, and then a test tube with a nutrient medium is opened over the burner flame and a piece of fungus tissue is placed on it. The loop is removed, the test tube is closed with a cork previously burned over a fire. During this operation, you can not put the cork on the table, it is held with the little finger of the right hand (Fig. 34).

Rice. 34. The sequence of operations when introducing a piece of the fruiting body of the fungus on a sterile nutrient medium

Test tubes for the period of overgrowth are placed in a thermostat or a darkened room with an air temperature of 24 degrees. C. After a couple of weeks, the mycelium will fully master the nutrient medium, and it can be used for further reproduction. The uterine cultures are stored at a temperature of 1-2 degrees. C, annually transferring to a fresh nutrient medium. With long-term storage and frequent reseeding of uterine cultures, microbiological control is carried out.

When growing champignon, compost and grain mycelium are used as seed material. To prepare compost mycelium, they take ready-made champignon compost prepared according to the technology described above and place it in three-liter jars. The jars are filled to 2/3 of the volume, the substrate is compacted, a hole with a diameter of 2.5-3 cm is made in the center of the compost. After that, the jar is rolled up with a metal lid having a hole with a diameter of 2.5-3 cm. The hole is plugged with a cotton-gauze plug. Banks with compost are sterilized in autoclaves for 1.5-2 hours at a pressure of 2 atmospheres.
After cooling the substrate to 24 deg. With in a special sterile room (box, inoculation room), a pure culture of the fungus grown on a nutrient medium or on grain is introduced into the jar.

25-35 g of grain mycelium or the content of one test tube with a pure culture is introduced into each jar through a hole in the lid. If the inoculation is carried out with a culture grown on an agar medium, then in order to exfoliate the contents of the test tube from its walls, the test tube and the inoculation loop are held for some time over the flame of the burner. Then, a test tube is opened above the flame, an inoculation loop is introduced into it, and the medium with pure culture is peeled off the glass.
After that, the cork is quickly removed from the lid of the jar and the contents of the test tube are introduced into the jar using an inoculation loop. The hole in the lid of the jar is immediately closed (Fig. 35).

Rice. 35. Introduction of a pure culture on a sterile substrate when obtaining compost mycelium

In more detail we will dwell on the preparation of grain. To obtain grain mycelium, 15 liters of water are added to 10 kg of grain and boiled, depending on the hardness of the grain, for 0.5-1 hour over low heat. The finished grain should not be boiled, but soft. For the production of mushroom mycelium, it will take a little longer to cook the grain than for the preparation of mycelium
oyster mushrooms. Then the water is drained, and the grain is placed on a clean surface with a layer of 2-3 cm to dry. Sometimes, to speed up the process of surface drying of the grain, a device is used, shown in Fig. 36, consisting of a wooden box 1 with an ordinary room fan built into it. From above, the box is covered with fine-mesh nets 3, on which grain is poured 4. 120 g of gypsum and 30 g of chalk are added to the grain.

Rice. 36. Device for accelerated drying of grain

With this operation, the acidity of the substrate is regulated and its structure is improved. Then liter milk bottles, one-, two-, three-liter jars or polypropylene bags are filled with grain. The containers are closed with cotton-gauze stoppers and placed in an autoclave.

Autoclaving is carried out for 1-1.5 hours at a pressure of 2 atmospheres.
After the substrate has cooled, the containers are transferred to the inoculation room, the bactericidal lamp is turned on and left for an hour. 15 minutes after turning off the germicidal lamp, mycelium is introduced into containers with sterile grain, in the same way as in the production of compost mycelium described above.

After inoculation, the containers are placed in thermostats with a temperature of 24 degrees. C, until the complete assimilation of the substrate by mycelium. High-quality grain mycelium can be used for sowing new containers with grain, depending on the type of fungus, there can be 5-7 such reseedings, after which a fresh mother culture must be used again.

Ready grain mycelium (if glass containers were used in its production) are packaged in plastic bags and sell, and glass containers are used for further production of mycelium. Polypropylene bags are used once, when they are used, there is no need for packaging and the likelihood of foreign microorganisms getting on the grain is reduced.

Grain mycelium can be stored at a temperature of 0 + 2 degrees. From 3-4 months, and compost - about a year.

During cultivation, containers with developing mycelium should be periodically reviewed. If green, brown or orange stains (fungal contaminants) or darkened mucous grains and liquid with a characteristic odor (bacterial infection) are found on the grain, such containers are immediately removed from the thermostating room and sterilized in an autoclave specially designated for these purposes at a pressure of 2-2, 5 atmospheres for two hours.

mycelium growth rate different types mushrooms is not the same. So, oyster mushroom mycelium is able to master the volume of grain placed in a liter milk bottle in a week, while ringworm and champignon will need three times more time for this. These features must be taken into account in the production of mycelium.

Mycelium production laboratory

To obtain high-quality sowing mycelium, a special laboratory and qualified mycologists are required. On fig. 37 shows the approximate arrangement of rooms in such a laboratory.

Rice. 37. Approximate arrangement of rooms in the laboratory for the production of mycelium

It has: a pantry for storing grain, chalk, cans, bottles and other inventory; cooking room - equipped with cooking boilers or stoves, in which the process of cooking grain takes place, it is dried and packed in containers; washing room, in which glass containers are washed; autoclave, preferably with walk-through autoclaves; a box (inoculation room) equipped with a bactericidal lamp and equipped with bactericidal filters (the Petryaninov filter has proven itself well), in which sterility must be maintained and where subcultures are carried out; an incubation room, in which containers with growing mycelium are placed on racks; refrigerating chamber - for storage of uterine cultures and mycelium ready for sale.

Amateur mushroom growers often have a question:

Is it possible to cook mycelium at home? In principle, it is possible, although it is hardly worth focusing on it. The grain prepared according to the above technology is packaged in liter milk bottles, closed with corks, and on top with aluminum foil. Then the bottles are placed in a pot of water and boiled twice for two hours with an interval of a day. In this case, the substrate is sterilized, and the microbes present on the grain die.
When boiling, you need to ensure that the water does not wet the plugs (Fig. 38).

Rice. 38. Fractional sterilization at home

The stumbling block when growing mycelium at home can be the moment of introducing a pure culture into containers with grain. The fact is that 1 m3 of air contains from 5 to 20 thousand microorganisms, therefore normal conditions difficult to avoid infection. In order to ensure sterility at the time of inoculation, a microbiological microlaboratory is used, general form which is shown in Figure 39. The home microlaboratory is a hermetically sealed box with built-in glass on the top
cover, a germicidal lamp and an ordinary incandescent lamp attached to the side walls, and sleeves with elastic bands located on the front wall. Having such a microlaboratory and maintaining sterility in it, you will be able to do subcultures in almost any room.

Rice. 39. Home microlaboratory

EPILOGUE, OR BEFORE

Before you roll up your sleeves and get down to business, it would be nice to spend a day or two thinking with a calculator in your hands. The newest and most progressive in mushroom growing is not necessarily the most profitable. A high yield with an expensive technology does not necessarily mean the highest return on investment.

Before you start building a mushroom greenhouse, look around: maybe there is an abandoned bomb shelter or house nearby. Or maybe there is an old canopy under which you can grow something unpretentious without much capital expenditure, say, summer mushrooms.

Before investing in production, do not be too lazy to grow at least one mushroom yourself. The experience will pay off!

Before planning a profit from the sale of mushrooms, think about other sources of income related to mushroom farming. So, the price of one ton of medium quality champignon compost at the beginning 1994 more than $50 a year. Perhaps the production of compost itself will bring more profit than a mushroom crop. Waste compost or straw substrate is a much better addition to greenhouse soil than peat. Wood pierced with mycelium of summer mushroom is an excellent material for mechanical processing, for example
woodcarving.

Before you start canning mushrooms yourself, find out if there is a state-owned cannery nearby. Most likely, it is idle for many months of the year.

Before you start making mushroom soup or powder, consider adding summer mushrooms to the mix. This mushroom is characterized by low production costs and has the property to excite the appetite.

Before renting a room for growing mushrooms, think about the neighbors. If you have chosen the basement of a residential building, then an asthma patient living on the second floor may die suddenly. Residents are at risk of becoming allergic to spores, especially oyster mushrooms. If there is no other way out, install air filters.

Before equipping a compost yard or mushroom house, think about the environment. Smells of ammonia, formalin, sulfur, slurry leakage - all this must be provided for, otherwise it will not do without complaints and fines.

Before hiring a person, ask if he (she) has professional contraindications.

Before cultivating any one mushroom, familiarize yourself with the methods of cultivating others described in this book. You are sure to come across a number of valuable technical ideas. Remember that mushroom growing is an art.

Each novice mushroom picker is interested in several questions. The main ones are:

1. What types of mushrooms can be grown, what are the pros and cons of choosing one or another type, growing features?
2. What is mushroom mycelium and where can I get it? What conditions are necessary for its successful cultivation?
3. What conditions are necessary for growing mushrooms at home, and perhaps how to increase the amount of mushroom harvest to industrial volumes?
4. What mistakes should never be made when growing mushroom mycelium on your own?

Let's look at each question in detail.

What types of mushrooms can you grow yourself

You can grow almost any mushroom on your own. Most often, mushroom pickers choose for self-growing: chanterelles, truffles, porcini mushrooms, honey mushrooms, milk mushrooms, mushrooms. Aspen mushrooms and shiitake mushrooms are also in demand.

But if you're new to mushrooms, it's worth starting with the ones that are the easiest to grow. These mushrooms include: champignons, shiitake, oyster mushrooms. They have high palatability and grow very quickly. You can cope with their cultivation without experience and certain skills, without applying supernatural efforts for this. In this case, you do not need large financial costs.

What is mycelium, how does it happen, and where do they get it

Mycelium is fungal spores, i.e. vegetative body of the fungus. It is made up of numerous finest fibers, which are called hyphae. The hyphae grow in and on the substrate, absorbing the nutrients necessary for fungal growth. Hyphae can have several colors: white, yellowish or brown. It is from these overgrown threads that mushrooms begin to grow.

Mycelium can vary in internal structure. Depending on this, it is divided into two types:

Coenotic (non-cellular)

A feature of its structure is the absence of partitions between cells. Those. in fact, this type of mycelium is one huge cell filled with a huge number of nuclei.

septate

A feature of the structure is the presence of nuclei between cells (they are called septa). Each cell can have one or more nuclei.

Also, the mycelium is divided into several types, depending on the nutrient base intended for the growth of the mycelium:

1. Substrate.
2. Liquid.
3. Grain.

Grain type of mycelium

All of the above types of mycelium can be purchased ready-made in specialized stores, or you can do it yourself at home. Mushroom spores sold in stores are produced in the factory - in sterility.

Mycelium, made independently, may not bring the desired yield or even be useless. The reason for this is the high risk of infection with pathogenic bacteria and fungal spores.

That is why it will be easier for beginners to grow mushrooms using ready-made, purchased mycelium.

Mushrooms can be grown in two ways:

1. extensive– i.e. in the natural environment, spending a minimum amount of money;
2. intense– i.e. in an artificial environment by investing an appropriate amount of money. However, it should be said that if this event is planned for the purpose of business development, this method pays off very quickly. With 1 kg of mycelium, it is possible to collect up to 3 kg of mushrooms.

How to choose a quality purchased mycelium

The choice of mushroom mycelium, if you decide to purchase a ready-made seed option, should be taken seriously. You can buy it at garden centers. It is worth choosing a trusted and reliable supplier. If you don't know these
consult with people who already have experience in growing mushrooms. Or ask the consultants at your chosen garden center for advice.

Do not buy a large batch of mycelium at a time - it is better to take a small amount for testing. If there are no special problems with growing this mycelium, you will get a crop that meets your requirements and will be satisfied with everything, opt for purchasing mycelium from this supplier. If something does not suit you, you should try to purchase mycelium from another manufacturer.

Be sure to check the packaging with mycelium. It should indicate the variety of the fungus, as well as its strain. The following information must also be indicated on the packaging:

• percentage and rate of fouling;
• mold resistance;
• storage period.

Before placing the purchased mycelium in the substrate, it must be crushed without opening the package. The temperature of the mycelium should be equal to the temperature of the substrate. Otherwise, the mycelium runs the risk of being subjected to temperature shock, as a result of which its properties will be lost.

Note! Mycelium intended for sowing is stored in a refrigerator at a temperature of 3-4 degrees Celsius. Under no circumstances should it be stored in a freezer.

Each purchased pack of mycelium should be kept at a distance from the other. Thus, air flow will be ensured for each bag. Opening packages with mushroom spores ready for sowing must be accompanied by their parallel treatment with a disinfectant solution.

Important! The laying of the mycelium should be carried out strictly with gloves. A huge role for the successful landing and successful growth of the mycelium is the observance of sterility.

Recently, wood sticks infected with mycelium have come on the market. Their shelf life is about six months, subject to humidity above 50%. This innovation is also convenient for those who do not want to spend time preparing mycelium.

Self-production of mycelium from the body of the fungus and uterine mycelium at home

In order to get mushrooms without buying ready-made mycelium, you will have to produce any of the following types of mycelium yourself:

1. Uterine.
2. Mycelium from the body of the fungus.

The sowing of the mycelium must be carried out under conditions of complete sterility. This requires constant access to water, gas, and electricity.

To prepare the uterine mycelium, you must purchase: test tubes with cork plugs, an alcohol burner, tweezers, sterile gloves, wort, hydrogen peroxide, and agar-agar (it has a jelly-like form).

Do you grow mushroom mycelium yourself?

YesNot

The working area is carefully sterilized and taken for the manufacture of the medium intended for sowing:

If mold is observed in test tubes with mycelium, they should never be opened in a room with healthy inoculum. The contents of such test tubes must be discarded, and the container itself should be thoroughly washed with a disinfectant and hot water.

Making mycelium from mushroom bodies also requires preparation. It is impossible to store this type of crops after production. Therefore, take care in advance about the preparation of the substrate or wood cuttings - depending on which mushrooms you plan to grow. For the preparation of seed, it is necessary to use mushroom caps - the latter must be ripe. It is desirable that the hats are large. They must not be damaged in any way.

Prepared mushroom caps are poured with boiled water that has cooled to room temperature for one day. After the specified time, the water must be drained. Mash the soaked caps into gruel - this is the seed. Now the gruel can be laid in wood cuttings or in layers in the substrate. After planting, the mycelium should be in a room with high humidity, subject to a temperature regime of 23-25 ​​degrees Celsius.

After the first shoots appear, the room temperature should be reduced to 12-18 degrees Celsius and maintained within these limits.

All the nuances of growing mushrooms indoors

For the successful development of the mycelium, it is important to properly prepare the room. It should contain shelves or racks for placing blocks and bags with mycelium. Alternatively, the bags can be suspended from the ceiling using special hooks. A well-thought-out ventilation system must be present.

Heat, light and ventilation - that's what you need for the development of mycelium!

The room must be heated - it is better that the heating takes place using gas. Using electricity will cost much more. And the temperature regime with gas heating is much easier to control. This is very important, since at different phases of growth of the mycelium, the temperature regime must be individual. Another important requirement for the arrangement of the premises is the presence of artificial lighting in it. But if we are talking about growing champignons or shiitake mushrooms, they grow well in dark rooms with high humidity.

It is desirable that the room intended for growing mushrooms was not built of wood. The wooden frame and floors will rot very quickly from the conditions that must be observed in this room.

If the cultivation of mushrooms is not planned on an industrial scale, a garage, a greenhouse, or any existing basement may well be suitable for placing containers with a mycelium.

The technology of growing mycelium in open ground

Indoors, any mushrooms can be cultivated for all year round, creating all the necessary conditions. But some prefer to grow mushrooms in their garden plots. For this, it is recommended to choose the period from May to September. Mushrooms and forest mushrooms will take root best of all in open ground. For their successful cultivation, we recommend that you follow the tips below.

For open ground, forest mushrooms or champignons are better suited.

When planting mycelium in the substrate, it is important to observe the correct proportions. This process is observed by increasing the temperature of the substrate (ordinary sawdust or straw can act as its role). Therefore, an excessive amount of fungal spores introduced can provoke the death of the entire mycelium due to excessive overheating.

Having chosen a shaded place, they dig a hole with a depth of no more than 40 cm. At the same time, it is recommended to retreat from the tree itself, ideally by 50-70 cm. A substrate must be laid out in the prepared hole - it can be leaves, coniferous needles, and sawdust. The layer thickness should be within 20 cm. Seed material is placed on the prepared substrate, having previously mixed it with the soil: local and forest.

For good germination and yield, crops need to create conditions that are as close as possible to their natural growing environment. It is important to monitor soil moisture - it should be moderate. In no case should it be excessively waterlogged or dried out. The ideal solution would be to carry out drip irrigation to crops. The first harvest after inoculation (planting) of the mycelium can be harvested after 3 weeks.

Summing up

Growing mushrooms is an interesting activity. Perhaps, after trying once, you will understand that you want to do this all your life and make it your hobby. profitable business. In order to start growing mushrooms, you do not need large financial influences. Start with the simplest - choose one of the unpretentious species. If everything works out the way you planned, go ahead and start growing more whimsical varieties.