How to grow champignons at home. How to grow champignons at home? Where to get mycelium for planting
Tasty and aromatic champignon is one of the most sought-after products in the kitchen. It is used to prepare various types of salads, appetizers and first courses. Such popularity of the mushroom arouses interest in growing it at home. It is not necessary to engage in this process on a large scale. It only takes a little ingenuity and effort to enjoy environmentally friendly mushrooms all year round and not spend money on buying them in expensive supermarkets.
You can grow champignons not only at your summer cottage, in a greenhouse or basement, but also in an ordinary city apartment. You just need to strictly adhere to a certain growing technology.
Preparing the soil to grow champignons. This is perhaps the most difficult stage of the home growing process. The substrate is based on compost made from straw and horse manure in a 2:1 ratio, which is tightly laid in layers and watered abundantly. We saturate the finished compost with fertilizers (superphosphates) and urea at the rate of 1 kg per 250 kg of horse manure. It should be borne in mind that the composting process involves the release of sharp-smelling rotting products, so it is carried out in well-ventilated areas. Planting mushroom mycelium at home. In the prepared substrate, the fermentation process should be completely completed, and the temperature should reach 25 C. The purchased compost mycelium is placed in small portions into the soil to a depth of 5 cm in a checkerboard pattern. Grain mycelium (namely, it is the most productive) can simply be scattered over the substrate and lightly covered with a small layer of soil.
In general, champignons are unpretentious and will grow with any care. This instruction is only for those who want not only to grow champignons at home, but also to get a large harvest (up to 12 kg per sq.m.).
Growing champignons at home for both beginners and experienced mushroom pickers is a modern, fashionable, exciting and profitable activity. This is both a kind of hobby and a source of additional income, if you approach the matter rationally and competently. Knowing how to grow champignons at home, you can provide yourself, as well as your friends and relatives, with a quality product. Champignons are a fairly popular, always in demand, tasty and healthy food product. They do not linger on store shelves, despite the fact that they do not have the lowest cost. By growing them yourself, you will always be sure of their “pure” origin.
Champignons, photo:
They are healthy: they contain glucose, carbohydrates, vitamins, 18 amino acids, and easily digestible fats. They also go harmoniously with any food; they can be boiled, fried, baked, pickled, canned.
This mushroom is incredibly tasty, low in calories, and is an excellent alternative to meat (which undoubtedly attracts the attention of vegetarians).
Before you start mushroom growing, you should sensibly assess your desires and capabilities. In addition to time and financial investments (purchase of materials), you must have appropriate premises. Some skills, detailed study of information on relevant Internet forums, the presence of a competent adviser will never hurt you. If we compare the process of growing champignons and oyster mushrooms, then our case, of course, is more labor-intensive. But if you compare it with the worries and nuances of growing porcini mushrooms, then it will be much easier and shorter in time.
Where do champignons grow in nature?
If we consider natural conditions, they are found almost everywhere. Forests, steppes, meadows, forest edges, lowlands, open spaces with moist soil and even semi-deserts, mountain forests are common places of growth.
As for “home” conditions, they can grow in a garden or vegetable garden, cellar, basement, specially equipped garage, or greenhouse.
How to grow champignons? Many years of experience of mushroom pickers have proven that they grow best where the basement is equipped with good ventilation.
In this case, the air temperature should be relatively cool (not higher than +20 °C), and if this process is put into operation, then the mercury column on the thermometer should vary between +12..+18 °C year-round. The humidity percentage should be approximately 70..85%, lighting does not play a special role.
Conditions for growing champignons at home
Necessary factors for a successful process are:
- The right choice of location.
- Disinfection of the premises.
- Organization of microclimate.
- Proper preparation of the substrate.
- Laying compost.
- Selection of mycelium.
- Planting mycelium.
- Appropriate care.
As mentioned above, under properly organized conditions, mushrooms can be grown all year round. The technology itself is not highly complex, as it might initially seem. From the very beginning, you need to arrange everything correctly, and then the process will follow the well-worn path. This work can even be called creative, something like a hobby. To date, breeders have developed approximately 50 varieties of this mushroom, which have slight differences in appearance. The color of the cap, its structure, and storage duration may vary, but all cultivated varieties are “children” of the ordinary white champignon.
An example of a light brown variety in the photo:
Let's take a look at basement growing as a basic example, since this method is considered the most common. For so-called “cellar” breeding, it is best to choose high-yielding varieties such as Sylvan 130, Hauser A15 or Somycel 512. They are quite unpretentious, not difficult to care for, and are also very prolific.
Remember - the most important factor for the successful outcome of your efforts is the presence of well-established ventilation in the room where the mushrooms will grow!
A constant supply of fresh air is very important, since during growth they emit carbon dioxide, and its excessive concentration in the room leads to stretching and elongation of the mushroom stem.
How to grow champignons in the basement
How to grow champignons at home - disinfection of the premises:
- The most common and frequently used is whitewashing the ceiling, walls, and all surfaces with lime with copper sulfate (copper sulfate) added to it. The so-called “recipe”: 2 or 3 kg of slaked lime + 100 g of copper sulfate per bucket of water (10 liters). When working with disinfectants, be sure to wear a protective mask on your face!
- The second method is more dangerous for the human respiratory tract and also requires protection. Take 350 g of bleach, dilute it with 10 liters of water, and apply it by irrigating the walls of the room.
- Irrigation of walls and other surfaces with 4% formaldehyde using a construction spray is most convenient.
- You can fumigate a room with a sulfur bomb - it also gives a very effective preventive effect.
- Chlorophos is a radical, destructive method, but it is too poisonous in its composition. It affects not only mold, but also harmful insects.
After any treatment, the room must be properly ventilated - this is also a prerequisite.
Let's return to ventilation, or rather, let's clarify one nuance: the air should be fresh, but drafts should be excluded. It is better to cover the ventilation pipes (“smotherers”) with fine mesh nets - this will create an obstacle to the penetration of insects, as well as a small barrier to air masses. If you have a large, serious room, and cultivation is on stream, then the ventilation system should be more global, with additional fans located above each large box. If opportunities permit, then installing air purifiers with replaceable filters will not be superfluous for this matter.
It is clear that a thermometer and hygrometer are simply necessary for the room where mushrooms are grown. This way you can always control the level of air humidity: if there is a lack, spray with water from a spray bottle, if there is excess, ventilate. With the onset of summer heat, fans solve this problem, but if this type of mushroom is grown throughout the year, then in addition to all the above-mentioned benefits of civilization, you will also need additional heating of the basement or cellar.
Large cellar room, photo:
It is best if your cellar, in addition to all the growing requirements, has an earthen floor (not concrete). By and large, the more purposefully the room is adapted specifically for mushroom growing, the better it will be. Any unnecessary additional factors in the basement, cellar, garage or barn that are not related to the topic of growing mushrooms will only interfere and disturb the “microclimate” of the room.
To the “advantages” of mushroom science we can add the fact that they are able to bear fruit perfectly even in complete darkness. This distinguishes them from all other green inhabitants. The weakest light bulb is enough - they will feel comfortable, but the light will most likely be more useful to you in order to comfortably navigate the place.
If growing champignons at home initially has far-reaching plans, and the owner has a large room, then dividing it into 2 zones will be a reasonable, convenient solution. Simply put, mushrooms must originate somewhere, and a specially prepared substrate is designed for this process (more on that a little later). So, in one zone there will be a substrate along which the mycelium will spread (this is called incubation). In the second compartment the boxes with mushrooms will be placed directly, where they will be forced out.
The temperature regime of these two compartments should also be different: the mycelium usually grows at a temperature of +23..+24 C°, and the growth of fungi occurs at a temperature column of +16..+18 C°. If you get used to it and develop your own “schedule” for moving boxes from one zone to another, you will be able to grow these delicious, beloved mushrooms all year round.
Compost for growing champignons
Preparation of compost (substrate) is one of the most critical aspects of mushroom growing. The quality of the mushrooms will directly depend on the properly prepared substrate. Usually, when you buy champignon mycelium, the packaging with the contents indicates the substrate corresponding to the given variety, as well as the nuances of its preparation. The varieties are different, and the composition of the compost and its collection technology may vary. However, most often these parameters do not differ significantly.
The substrate should be prepared either in a room specially designated for these purposes, or in the open air (on the street), under a well-equipped canopy. It is important that the compost is not exposed to precipitation (rain) or sunlight. It is also highly recommended not to pour compost onto “bare” soil - lay a sheet of thick plastic film. Thus, unwanted insects or any other pests will not penetrate into the substrate. It should not come into contact with the ground, but blowing air on it from all sides is a must!
Compost for champignons should be moderately moist, as excess moisture can disrupt proper fermentation processes.
Be that as it may, the street is the best place for the maturation of the substrate; the active release of ammonia and carbon dioxide will not be beneficial to anyone. The average time for the substrate to be “ready” and fermented is approximately 25-30 days. During this period, it is recommended to stir it at least three times (to ensure uniform fermentation). You will know that the process has come to an end by the absence of the specific smell of ammonia. By this time its color acquires a brownish tint. While the substrate is fermenting, the temperature inside it can be approximately +50..+65 C°, and ready-to-use compost has a temperature of no more than +24..+25 C°.
By the way, to enrich the contents of the compost when first mixing it, you can add crushed lime to the general composition. During the second mixing - superphosphate fertilizer, during the third - ground gypsum or its construction analogue (alabaster). The already “ready” substrate, in addition to the characteristics described above, does not stick to your hands, is springy upon tactile contact, the straw is extremely softened, and is easily divided into fragments.
As an alternative to the process of making your own substrate, you can recommend purchasing ready-made compost, which is sold in the gardening departments of supermarkets or flower shops. Of course, such a substrate will be of lower quality than one prepared by hand, even though it will be written on the packaging that it has all the required characteristics.
Here it’s up to you to decide what is more convenient for you, whether you have time to carry out all the preparations for growing these mushrooms. Looking at the general characteristics of “good” compost, let's highlight the main ingredients.
Composition of compost for growing champignons:
- For these purposes, it is generally accepted that horse waste products are the best. In addition, it is important to consider that the horses ate hay, and not green grass. The moisture content of horse manure for making up the substrate should be approximately 45%. Horse waste can be replaced with cow or poultry waste, but, according to the experience of experienced mushroom pickers, the harvest on such a “basis” will be much worse. So, you will need about 100 kg of horse manure.
- Straw - it is better to choose a dry, rye or wheat variety. You will also need about 100 kg of this.
- Alabaster (gypsum) – approximately 6 kg.
- In other cases, alabaster is replaced with urea (2.5-3 kg) or the same amount of saltpeter (per 100 kg of straw and 1000 kg of manure). As we remember, these fertilizer additives are added when mixing the compost.
- Again, using 100 kg of horse waste, 100 kg of well-dried rye straw, 3 kg of urea, 5 kg of chalk, 2 kg of superphosphate, 8.5 kg of gypsum when mixed will create the optimal ratio of ingredients.
How to grow champignons at home? Use fresh animal products while they still contain the most nutrients. Make sure that the added components do not contain pine shavings or sawdust - they release resin, and these mushrooms sense it and react painfully to its presence. Phosphorus fertilizers, as well as urea, are actually very recommended and useful - they are sources of phosphorus and nitrogen, which are so necessary for champignons. But chalk normalizes the acidity of the substrate and maintains an optimal pH level.
Champignons: growing at home is the easiest way to create layers:
- We take a convenient wide container, fill it with hot water, and soak the straw for about 24 hours.
- After this, we lay it in layers along with manure. You will get approximately 5-6 layers. Do not forget to moisten each layer with not very hot water, lightly, but do not wet it abundantly.
- After 3 days have passed, we take a pitchfork and thoroughly mix the compost-straw “pie”, but at the same time add fertilizers - superphosphate with urea (urea). At this stage, the substrate begins to smell strongly of ammonia. After 4 days, we shovel the substrate again, additionally adding those feedings that are required according to the standard for this variety.
- In general, mixing the compost should be done approximately 4 or 5 times throughout the entire process. Spare no effort on this - the useful elements will be evenly distributed throughout the entire composition, and the mass will acquire a relatively uniform consistency.
The so-called “care” of compost has already been described above, but I would like to add and repeat the warning regarding excessive moisture. Too much moisture in the substrate will slow down its maturation, but what’s even worse is that it will wash out from the mixture all the useful ingredients required for development and growth.
Compost components (dry hay, horse manure, fertilizers), photo:
Champignon mycelium - planting
The substrate, of course, should be purchased from a reliable representative (special laboratories are best). When the compost is already ripe, we transfer it to an appointed place, put it in boxes or special forms, where further actions will take place:
- To get a good harvest of champignons, 1 m² of compost will require approximately 500 g of mycelium or 400 g of these varietal spores.
- If mycelium is used, then small holes, 4 or 5 cm deep, should be made across the entire surface of the container with compost, at a distance of 20 cm from each other. An appropriate amount of mycelium is placed in these holes; if fungal spores are used for sowing, they are simply scattered evenly over the surface of the substrate.
- After some time, you will notice spider threads covering the surface of the compost containers. By this time, the humidity temperature in the room should be at the level of 75-95%. To prevent the substrate from drying out, it can be irrigated from time to time with clean, settled water from a spray bottle, and additionally covered with a clean, damp cloth or paper.
- The mycelium of champignons begins to grow at a temperature of +20..+28 C°, the active phase of the spread of the mushroom “web” begins after about 10 or 12 days, then the top layer of compost will need to be sprinkled with the appropriate soil mixture (about 4-5 cm), wait another 3 days, after which transfer the containers with future mushrooms to a colder room with a temperature of +12..+16 C°. Or forcibly lower the temperature in the room to a given mercury column.
- Please note that ordinary garden soil for “sprinkling” will not suit you. Prepare in advance a mixture of 1 share of limestone, 5 parts of peat, 4 parts of clean soil. After 3 – 3.5 months, expect the first well-deserved results of your labors.
A harvest from one mycelium can produce from 5 to 8 periods of ripening of new mushrooms. This is called a “wave”; the most generous collection of champignons occurs in the first three “waves”. Here it is important to catch the moment of ripening - when the cap underneath is still covered with thin white skin (film), and the brown plates are not yet visible. The mushrooms need to be unscrewed from their place of growth, but not cut off (so that harmful bacteria do not penetrate into the mycelium through the cut site).
After the crop is harvested, carefully sprinkle the substrate again with the soil mixture described above. During the next two weeks they will grow especially actively.
A mushroom correctly extracted from the soil, photo:
Cap in optimal state of maturation, photo:
How to grow champignons at the dacha in open ground?
In addition to the above-described, most commonly used “basement” method of growing mushrooms, there are other alternative options. For example, how to grow champignons at home, namely in a summer cottage. Sometimes, for some reason (lack of a basement, garage or other suitable premises), the desire to grow these mushrooms seems impossible. But if you are the happy owner of a summer cottage, everything is possible!
The most successful period for this is summer and autumn; here it is also important to choose a comfortable place. Champignons - where do they grow? In shaded places, on specially prepared soil, the place for the mycelium should be moderately moist, the soil should not dry out, and the sun's rays should not illuminate the chosen place too much. To protect against drought on hot days, beds are often covered with plastic film or special covering material to create a certain microclimate. It is important to bring mushrooms as close as possible to conditions similar to their natural growth environment. Since we cannot influence weather conditions, we need to try to give the mushrooms moisture when they need it, as well as the presence of fresh air.
In the garden bed under the trees, photo:
After sowing the mycelium on the beds, in the open ground, growing champignons - their technology is practically no different from the rules for growing in the cellar. After a couple of weeks, the “webs” of mycelium grow over the soil surface; at this point, the temperature is lowered by sprinkling the soil surface with a thin (up to 5 cm) layer of damp soil. The temperature, similarly, should vary within +12..+15 C°, but in no case reach above +20 C°. As with the method described above, it will be much more productive if this land contains peat and limestone. Regular watering (or rather, gentle irrigation) is best done after sunset - this will optimally moisten the soil and prevent the formation of a dense earthen crust. With the right approach to business, in about 3-4 weeks you can expect a harvest of your own mushrooms.
The mycelium puts out “cobwebs”, photo:
Let's summarize how to grow champignons in the country:
- It is better to plant mycelium or spores on soil specially prepared for this purpose. This may be soil brought from a forest area.
- The soil should be optimally saturated with fertilizers, well moistened, and free of stones, fragments of bricks or remnants of old roots.
- It is best to plant mushrooms in open ground at a neutral air temperature - +21..+22 C°.
- If a greenhouse is chosen for planting, you should carefully monitor the level of humidity and air temperature in it. The conditions are not much different from basement or garage mushroom cultivation. It should be remembered that heat and drought are destructive for them.
- As already mentioned, the planting method does not differ from the “basement” analogue (20 cm from each other, shallow holes, sprinkling with earth mixture after the “cobwebs” appear).
- Once the first mushrooms are obtained, the amount of watering can be reduced (so that the roots do not rot), irrigation is everything in this matter.
After all the waves of the mushroom harvest have died down, the spent substrate can simply be disposed of, or can be quite successfully used as organic fertilizer or mulch for some trees or even flower beds. Of course, it will no longer be suitable for re-growing mushrooms, but it will serve well as an excellent supplement for your green inhabitants. As for all kinds of containers, boxes after harvesting and composting, they will require mandatory disinfection, as well as the room where the mushrooms were grown.
How to grow champignons at home: choosing a room for a mycelium + how to prepare a substrate + where to put compost + how many days does it take for a mushroom to bear fruit + how to grow champignons step by step at home + is it possible to grow mushrooms in bags + investing in a champignon growing business.
There are many culinary recipes in which the presence of mushrooms is simply necessary. Champignons are eaten pickled, fried, boiled, in salads, main courses and hot lunches.
With such demand, selling this product can be a good business idea, so today we will share with you the secret of how to grow champignons at home, while spending a minimum of personal savings.
How to grow champignons at home and what room is suitable for mycelium?
In nature, the champignon mushroom grows everywhere - field, meadow, forest, garden, vegetable garden, etc. If you want, you will need to prepare a special room for this.
A basement is most suitable, especially if the floor is earthen. You can try growing produce in a garage, shed or greenhouse, but this will be risky.
The main requirement for the room is ventilation, as well as disinfection. The mushroom quickly absorbs all microbes, fungal infections, etc. As a result, you risk poisoning both yourself and your consumers.
How to properly disinfect a room for growing mushrooms:
- If you have chosen a basement, barn or garage for your mushroom growing, it is advisable to whitewash the walls and ceiling. Add copper sulfate to the whitewash.
Whitewash must be prepared for use with the addition of the following components:
- 2-3 kg of slaked lime;
- 1 bucket of water (10 liters);
- 100 grams of copper sulfate.
- Another option for disinfecting a room is to dilute 350 grams of bleach in 1 bucket of water (10 liters). The walls are treated by irrigation.
- If possible, treat the basement with a sulfur bomb. After such a strong disinfection, you will have to thoroughly ventilate the room.
Do not forget to wear a respiratory mask while disinfecting the room.
Now let's talk about ventilation of the room where the champignons will grow. Fresh air should always flow into the basement, but at the same time prevent the formation of drafts. Ventilation pipes must have a filter that will prevent insects from entering the basement.
If you are planning an entire production in order to be able to grow large quantities of champignons, then install production fans that will stand above each rack. Try to install an air purifier with a replaceable filter.
The mushroom picker must constantly monitor the humidity in the room and the air temperature. Equipment such as a thermometer and hygrometer will help with this. If champignons grow even in winter, you will also have to purchase a fireplace to heat the basement.
The room humidity should be between 70-85%, and the temperature Celsius should be from +12 to +20 maximum, depending on the ripening period of the champignons.
The only thing mushrooms definitely don’t need is light. They will reproduce even in the dark.
An approximate cost item for preparing the premises:
| Expense item | Quantity | Amount (rub.) |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL: | 10,560 rubles | |
1. Fan for production premises  | 1 | 5 000 |
| 2. Thermo-hygrometer | 1 | 1 000 |
4. Bleach  | 1 pack | 60 |
| 5. Air purifier | 1 | 4 500 |
1) Prepare the correct substrate for growing champignons at home.
Now we will tell you how to properly prepare the substrate at home.
The ideal ratio at which champignons will produce is “one to three” - most of the horse manure and a third of straw.
Instead of horse humus, chicken droppings or cow manure are sometimes used. Replacing such an important component can lead to a deterioration in yield; it is better not to risk it.
The main rule is that the substrate should be prepared only outside or in a place that has good ventilation. During the ripening process, which lasts 3 weeks, toxic gases (ammonia and carbon dioxide) will be released. They are harmful to health, so this process is best done outdoors.
Let's take a step-by-step look at how to prepare the substrate at home:
| Day | Type of work | Description procedures |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Soaking the straw | Take a large container and soak the straw. You will need 200-300 liters water per 100 kg of straw. |
| Day 2 | Stacking | Lay layers of straw and manure (100 kg) one by one. There should be 6 layers in total. Between layers straw and manure need to be added urea (2 kg) and water. |
| 7-8 day | Interruption No. 1 | Add gypsum (8 kg) and water, and then that’s it mix. |
| 12-13 day | Interruption No. 2 | Add water, superphosphate (2 kg) and chalk (5 kg). |
| 16-17 day | Interruption No. 3 | Check if water needs to be added. |
| 20-21 days | Interruption No. 4 | Check again to see if water is needed. At add liquid if necessary and mix everything. |
| Day 22 | Laying | We prepare boxes, racks or bags for compost packaging. |
Note that the smoldering temperature of the substrate rises to 70-80 degrees above Celsius. As a result, we will receive 300 kilograms of compost, which is approximately 3 square meters of area for planting and growing champignons at home.
How to recognize quality compost? It should not stick to your hands, but at the same time it is wet and does not leave any traces of dirt.
If, while preparing the soil for champignons, you added more water than expected, then spread out the substrate and dry it a little. Make sure that the moisture does not drop below the required level. The optimal figure is 60%.
You can buy a ready-made soil briquette with sown mycelium in order to grow champignons at home. Its price starts from 250 rubles per 10 kg. That is, for 300 kg you will have to pay 45,000 rubles.
It will be much cheaper to personally look for everything you need; this will not be difficult if you live in a rural area. In addition, such important components as straw and manure can be given to you free of charge or for a small fee.
2) Prepare the base for laying compost.
Depending on the conditions in which you will grow champignons, soil laying will have its own characteristics.
Option for preparing and disposing of compost:
- If you are going to plant champignons directly on the floor of the cellar, then spread the compost in a layer of 70 centimeters. Be sure to form beds.
- The second option is to prepare shelves with sides. Cover the soil in a 45 cm layer.
- You can grow mushrooms directly in wooden or metal boxes. Make a layer of soil 25 cm, and stack the boxes (the capacity of the box is 4 buckets).
- How to grow champignon mushrooms at home outdoors? You can also do this outdoors or in a greenhouse. In this case, the compost is laid directly on the ground, a layer of 30 cm. Planting in the soil is early spring. Be sure to make a canopy to protect the champignon from precipitation.
In any case, the compost must be laid well and tightly, its surface must be flat.
Detailed instructions on how to grow champignons at home
Now let's get to the point of how to grow champignons at home. Before this, let’s look at how the mycelium planting itself occurs, the so-called. fungal embryos.
Step-by-step description of planting mycelium at home:
How to grow champignons at home in bags?
A polymer bag will help increase the yield of champignons at home. It is used instead of adapted racks and drawers. This technique is today recognized and in demand in many countries around the world.
- Buy plastic film and make the bag yourself. It should hold from 25 to 35 kilograms of compost.
- In the cellar, the bags should be placed parallel to each other or in a checkerboard pattern, i.e. there should be space between them.
- The height of the bags and their width may vary. The main thing is that you feel comfortable working with them, and that the basement is not crowded.
The film is not expensive - 50 m2 will cost about 100 rubles.
If problems arise and one of the bags becomes infected, it should be thrown away. If you use racks, then in order to disinfect the mycelium, you will have to throw away the entire shelf and re-make the substrate.
Technology of growing champignon mushrooms.
How to grow mushrooms yourself?
Business at home.
Business idea - growing mushrooms at home?
To grow champignons at home, you will need approximately 60 thousand rubles, provided that we buy ready-made compost in briquettes. If you do everything yourself, then the maximum expense item is 12 thousand rubles.Do not forget that electricity consumption will increase due to constantly switched on ventilation. Along with this, so do the numbers in utility bills.
What about revenue? From one square meter you can collect up to 10 kilograms of champignons, from 3, respectively, 30 kg.
Even if we take into account that the champignons will produce only 5 waves, we will collect approximately 150 kilograms of product in the end. The price of raw mushroom on the market is approximately 120 rubles per kilogram. If you preserve them and sell them, you can set a price of 200 rubles for 1 liter of champignons.
Even a small harvest can bring a stable profit of 30 thousand rubles. If you grow champignons at home all year round, your income will increase, while the costs of such a business are minimal. This allows us to conclude that the mushroom business has great potential.
Useful article? Don't miss new ones!
Enter your email and receive new articles by email
Mushrooms are a very healthy and nutritious product. Besides, they are very tasty. They have long been used to prepare various dishes. Champignons have become very popular recently. They have even become available for growing at home, so many are interested in how to grow champignons at home. There is no need to observe special conditions; you only need a cool room where the air humidity is quite high. A basement or cellar is good for these purposes. As a result, you can get a very good harvest, which you can use yourself or grow mushrooms for sale.
Useful properties of champignons
Champignons have a wonderful aroma and a very piquant taste. In addition, they contain a lot of useful substances. The mushroom contains:
- protein, necessary for cell renewal and their formation;
- different amino acids, which have a beneficial effect on many functions of the human body;
- vitamins A, B, C, D;
- phosphorus- champignons contain a large amount of this element and can be used to replace fish.
In addition, champignons are used for external use. For example, mushroom juice helps to heal wounds, ulcers and cuts faster, and can be used as an antiseptic.
Preparing the growing site
The most important and first stage is preparing the place for planting champignons. As already mentioned, it should be dark and with high humidity. In addition, it is very important to use the right and good soil. When preparing it, all steps must be followed. The soil composition includes:
- compost - about 25% (it should consist of wheat and rye straw);
- horse manure - about 75%.
The substrate should be prepared either outside or in a well-ventilated room, because during the fermentation of the soil ammonia, carbon dioxide, and moisture are released. Additionally, per 100 kg of soil add:
- urea - 2 kg;
- superphosphate - 2 kg;
- chalk - 5 kg;
- gypsum - 8 kg.
The result is about three hundred kilograms of the finished mixture for growing. It should be enough for approximately 3 m².
When preparing soil using bird droppings, the proportions will be slightly different. For this use:
- straw - 100 kg;
- chicken droppings - 100 kg;
- water - 300 l;
- gypsum;
- alabaster.
The cooking procedure is also different. It consists of the following actions:
The resulting substrate is left for further smoldering. The temperature inside will rise to 70 degrees. This compost can be used after three weeks.
Planting material
A very important point when growing champignons at home is purchasing high-quality planting material. It is better not to skimp on this. The quality of the mycelium or mycelium should be of the highest. It is desirable that it be grown in special laboratory conditions. Manufacturers specializing in the sale of mycelium usually present several types of planting material:
- compost mycelium;
- grain mycelium.
Compost-type mycelium can be seen on sale in glass containers. Its shelf life depends on temperature. If the room temperature is maintained at about 0 degrees, then it can be stored for about a year. However, when the temperature stays at 20 degrees, the shelf life is sharply reduced, and the mycelium must be used within three weeks. It should be noted that the yield of compost mycelium is much lower than that of grain.
Before you start growing champignons at home, the prepared substrate must be heat treated. That is, first it is heated and then cooled to 25 degrees. If the substrate is prepared correctly, then when you press on it it will spring back.
The process of planting and caring for mushrooms
The planting process begins with the need to take a small piece of mycelium (about the size of a chicken egg) and place it in the substrate to a depth of about five centimeters. Between each portion of mycelium there should be a gap of approximately 20 centimeters. Place portions of mycelium in a checkerboard pattern.
You can use another method. To do this, the mycelium is distributed evenly over the soil surface. It also needs to be buried no more than five centimeters.
Next, it is necessary to provide proper care for the germination of the mycelium. Air humidity should be high - about 90%. The soil must be constantly moistened. It shouldn't dry out. The top of the planting can be covered with paper sheets and watering can be carried out through them. A very important point for the engraftment and germination of mycelium is maintaining an optimal temperature. It should be at 22-27 degrees. If there are deviations in one direction or another, they should be adjusted.
The layer of covering soil is kept on the substrate for about three days, and after that, the temperature in the room is lowered to 15-17 degrees and moistened with a sprayer. The room must be constantly ventilated, but avoid drafts.
Harvesting
The first harvest after planting can be harvested in about 120 days. Only those mushrooms in which the plates under the cap are not yet visible are suitable for consumption. Larger mushrooms are considered overripe, and their plates have a brownish tint. Such crops are prohibited from being used as food, as poisoning may occur.
It is better not to cut the mushrooms, but to carefully pick them with twisting movements. The depression that is formed should be sprinkled with covering soil again and moistened. Fruiting of the mycelium will last approximately two weeks. During this period, about seven harvests can be collected.
Growing mushrooms in private households, in country houses and even in apartments is becoming fashionable today. Firstly, in the store mushroom products are not sold at a low price. Secondly, homemade mushroom, grown without the use of unknown chemicals, is environmentally friendly and safe for consumption. Thirdly, mushroom growing can be made a profitable business, or at least a good source of additional income. Fourthly, this is a very interesting and exciting hobby. You take a substrate, place mycelium in it, and create conditions. And he begins to grow “like mushrooms.”
You need to think carefully and weigh your desire and capabilities on two scales. If they are approximately at the same level, it is worth taking the risk. Information for beginners: growing champignons at home is a more labor-intensive process than growing oyster mushrooms. But less long-term and more effective than growing porcini mushrooms.
Certain costs will be required for the purchase of materials, arrangement of the premises, as well as patience and certain skills. Provided that you already have a suitable room and you just need to create favorable conditions in it.
Room
It should be moderately cool, such as a cellar or basement. If there is neither one nor the other, it is difficult to advise anything. Perhaps a garage or greenhouse will do (during the cold season). In spring and early summer, before the onset of extreme heat, champignons can be grown without any room at all. The main thing is that the air temperature should not be higher than +20°C. Indoors, in the case of year-round cultivation, the temperature should be constantly maintained in the range of +12°C... 18°C, and humidity in the range of 65-85%.
Substrate
The most important item on the list of prerequisites for the successful cultivation of champignons can be called the substrate (or as it is also called for its composition - compost). The following composition is generally accepted as a fruitful version of compost.
- Horse or cow manure (or pig or bird droppings, which can be taken, but is not advisable).
- Alabaster flour.
Table. Proportions of components for making compost from mullein or horse manure.
| Component | Image | Quantity (kg) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | ||
| 5 | ||
| 0,2 | ||
| 0,2 | ||
| 0,7 | ||
| 0,5 |
Table. Proportions of components for making compost from bird droppings.
| Component | Image | Quantity (kg) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | ||
| 3 | ||
| 0,2 | ||
| 0,7 | ||
| 0,5 |
By the way! To cover an area of one square meter with mushroom compost, you will need compost made from 40 kg of straw base (other components, according to proportions).
Video - How to disinfect mushroom substrate
How to compost
It is better to carry out this procedure in the air or, as a last resort, in a regularly ventilated room. During the process of ripening compost in a heap, where the straw is layered with manure and watered, the heat can rise to +70˚C. There is an intense release of carbon dioxide, water and ammonia vapor into the atmosphere. Of course, a person should not breathe this mixture for long.
It is good to place the compost site in the sun (the higher the temperature inside this “layer cake”, the faster and better the compost will ripen). But it is worth providing shelter from rain, since heavy rain can wash out from the compost all the useful components necessary for the growth of future mushrooms.
Advice! If it is not possible to protect the compost heap with a canopy from precipitation, cover it with roofing felt or thick film before the rain. Be sure to lift the film from the sides, leaving the sides open.
The straw for the substrate must be fresh, dry, free from mold and other defects. Before laying, the straw is soaked in a large tank of water for a day. If there is no such reservoir, spread the straw on polyethylene and water it generously several times a day, without letting it dry out.
Laying the compost heap
The straw and manure prepared in this way begin to be laid in layers.
The first layer is straw. Then - manure or droppings.
Each layer of straw is sprinkled with ammonium nitrate and urea in the proportions indicated in the table.
Each layer of straw is watered abundantly with water.
In total there should be at least 3-4 layers of straw and, accordingly, the same amount of manure.
You need to finish the laying with straw.
Give everything a final watering to keep the compost heap moist at all times.
The height of the pile must be at least a meter. Length and width are arbitrary.
Preparing compost for growing
champignons
For a week the multilayer structure basks in the sun. Then comes the moment of the first shake-up. The procedure is carried out with a pitchfork. Shaking out a compost heap is no easy task. But it cannot be neglected, since for speedy composting it is necessary to ensure oxygen access inside.
During the first shaking, gypsum is added. It will improve the structure of the compost.
The second shake-up is carried out without waiting for the next week, 3-4 days after the first. This time superphosphate and chalk are added.
Important! If the pile in the sun is slightly dry, it is watered generously. You cannot let the compost dry out; its formation will stop.
The third and fourth shaking is carried out after four subsequent days. After three weeks, the compost heap will lose its pungent ammonia smell and turn a pleasant chocolate color. The straw in the compost will acquire a soft structure and will be torn with your fingers.
A high-quality compost substrate, completely ready for use, does not stick to the palm, springs in the fist when squeezed, and leaves a wet but not dirty mark on the skin.
Advice! If you have over-moistened the pile, and moisture literally flows out of the compost when compressed, it should be spread out to dry (but not dried, just reduce the humidity to 60%), adding half the amount of chalk.
The finished substrate is filled with racks, boxes or other containers where champignons will be grown. The temperature of the substrate must be reduced before introducing the mycelium.
The process of laying compost for germination
If you plan to grow mushrooms in a room specially designated for this enterprise, for example, on the earthen floor of a cellar, compost is poured directly onto the floor in a layer of 70 cm, forming beds with an area of ½ m² or 75x75 cm.
- If you have installed racks in the basement on which future mushroom harvests will carefully grow, they must be equipped with sides, and then the compost can be laid directly on the racks in a layer of 45 cm.
- If cultivation is planned in boxes, which can be placed in stacks in the same basement or cellar (no more than two meters in height), because champignons do not need light for development, compost is poured into boxes. Backfill layer – 25 centimeters
- If you grow mushrooms in open or greenhouse soil, the compost is rammed directly onto the surface of the ground, 25-30 cm high. Planting begins in early spring, when the ground thaws. Canopies are made over the open ridge to protect from precipitation and sunlight that is too intense for shade-loving champignons.
- The compost is compacted well by hand and the surface is carefully leveled.
Mycelium
After the preparatory work, the most important moment comes - planting the mycelium. Mushroom mycelium can be planted at a soil temperature no higher than +28°C at a depth of 5 cm. You need to check the temperature with a thermometer. This is important because exceeding even two degrees will kill the mycelium.
The planting material for growing champignons, like other cultivated mushrooms, is sterile mycelium, which is grown in special laboratories. Two varieties of champignons have been selected for cultivation:
- bisporous white;
- bisporous brown.
Their taste and nutritional value do not differ significantly. The only difference is the color of the mushroom, according to its name, white or brown. They sell mycelium or mycelium in bags or jars. Packaging is usually 1-2 kg. The mycelium of both varieties is grown in two ways - on manure and on cereals.
The first, dung mycelium, will be needed for planting 500 g per m² of area. Grain – not 100 g less.
Planting mycelium
The dung mycelium is a rather monolithic lump, which before planting must be divided by hand into small pieces, the size of half a matchbox.
- The mycelium prepared in this way is laid out on a large tray in one layer. In the soil, a wedge-shaped peg is used to lift part of the top layer so that a piece of mycelium can be placed there.
- Planting is done in a checkerboard pattern with a cell distance of 20 cm.
- Part of the mycelium is covered with a substrate no more than 3 cm thick.
Grain mycelium is an ordinary grain on which fungal spores are “planted.” Its sowing is done as you would sow any grain.
- The top layer of compost, 3 cm wide, is removed from the bed or box.
- “Mushroom grains” randomly scatter over the surface.
- The compost is poured back in and lightly pressed down so that there is no void between it and the grains.
By the way! Wild mushroom mycelium is also suitable for growing homemade champignons. If you find a place where champignons grow, take a closer look at the soil. The soil, permeated with a “web” of whitish-gray mushroom spores, is quite suitable for starting your mushroom plantation.
Caring for a champignon plantation
After you have planted, the temperature in the room is maintained high. This is a mandatory condition - the germination of the mycelium will not begin at below +24°C and above +26°C. At this time, in the initial phase of mycelium growth, do not expect immediate “sprouting”. Champignons are not vegetables. They grow deep into the soil, gaining a foothold and forming the future harvest. At low temperatures, growth is insufficient; at high temperatures, the formation of a fruiting body is weak.
Compost humidity should be constantly maintained in the range of 55-60%. As soon as it dries, the mycelium “freezes” and stops growth. The compost is moistened superficially, from a sprayer, so that water does not flood the mycelium, otherwise it will mold and die.
It will take 12 days for the mycelium to grow deeper. After this, the temperature in the room necessarily decreases. Either the heating is turned off, or the transoms and ventilation holes are opened - all methods are good to reduce the temperature to +18°C...20°C.
By this time it is necessary to prepare the soil for backfilling. The mycelium will grow upward not on compost, but from nutritious soil of the following composition:
- turf land;
- loam;
- sandstone;
- fine-textured peat soil.
Any of the listed structural types will do. The main thing is that the soil is not heavy. To add “airiness” and ensure air penetration into the fungal spores, the soil is sifted onto a coarse sieve.
Before backfilling, the soil is moderately moistened. And cover it with a 3-4 cm layer of compost.
Maintaining temperature within specified limits. – +16°С... 18°С, plus or minus two more permissible degrees.
Maintaining humidity in the range of 65-85% (air) and not higher than 60% - earthen layer.
Intensive daily ventilation of the room to remove accumulated carbon dioxide.
You can collect the first homemade mushrooms from your own plantation on the 35-40th day. One fruiting cycle lasts about two months.
Despite all the apparent difficulties and conventions, the growing process, starting from the moment of compost preparation, takes no more than four months. In two months of fruiting, the crop can be harvested 6-7 times. From 5 to 10 kg of mushrooms are collected from a square meter of ridge. The next harvest ripens after 5 days.
Important! Mushrooms must be collected at the stage when the film between the stem and cap is intact and tightly connects them. Opened mushrooms with darkened (for white varieties) plates and damaged film, the remains of which can only be seen on the stem, are best not eaten.
When harvesting champignons, do not cut them with a knife. The mushrooms are twisted out with a gentle hand movement. The holes formed after collection are sprinkled with soil and slightly moistened.
Video - Growing champignons at home (part 1)
Video - Growing champignons at home (part 2)
Video - Harvesting champignons
