Can you grow mushrooms?

[Chef Robert]

Can you grow muchrooms? Not those red ones that are poisonous, but obviously edible ones like white button and oyster mushrooms. I use them a lot in cooking, but they're quite expensive.

[mudbug]

Absolutely! And they're great fun to grow because they grow so fast.

Look here for oyster mushroom kits and other types.

[Kayakado]

Originally Posted by Chef Robert

Can you grow muchrooms? Not those red ones that are poisonous, but obviously edible ones like white button and oyster mushrooms. I use them a lot in cooking, but they're quite expensive.

Child's play...we grew them in 6th grade in a classroom closet. I lived near kennett Square, PA so getting mushroom spawn and soil was easy. One of my friends grows shitakes on his farm outside Gainesville, FL. He supplies the local restaurants and his friends.

[Chef Robert]

What about those brightly colored ones? Haha, just kidding. I certainly don't intend to poison anyone, soon that is.

I'll see if I can procure one of those mushroom kits and grow them here. However, I have a sneaking suspicion that they may not gorw that well in Hawaii with all the birds and such.

[mudbug]

Originally Posted by Chef Robert

I have a sneaking suspicion that they may not gorw that well in Hawaii with all the birds and such.

I grew mine indoors with no problem. Don't worry, it's easier then you think!

[MuskyHopeful]

I would love to grow some mushrooms, but what would be the point, my Wife won't eat them.

Kevin

I like muskies, my Wife doesn't like mushrooms.

[chrose]

Originally Posted by MuskyHopeful

I would love to grow some mushrooms, but what would be the point, my Wife won't eat them.

Kevin

I like muskies, my Wife doesn't like mushrooms.

Hey Kev, I hear you like Muskies.....Maybe you could start a fish farm and raise them instead

[mudbug]

Originally Posted by MuskyHopeful

I would love to grow some mushrooms, but what would be the point, my Wife won't eat them.

Just because your wife doesn't eat them doesn't mean you should deprive yourself of growing them for yourself! They're a joy to watch grow (and would be even for your wife). Anything you don't eat fresh can be dried for future use for anything you make for yourself.

[jfb1060]

Hey, growing mushrooms!!!!!! That's a great idea. Never thought of doing that.

Heck, I grow everything else including corn so guess I'll add that to the agenda.

Thanks for idea folks

[shroom]

i

Originally Posted by mudbug

I grew mine indoors with no problem. Don't worry, it's easier then you think!

Hi,

I'm really interested in growing those delicious white button mushroms because they're quite expensive in local supermarkets.

I've never grown mushrooms before so I looked for some information on the web.

Basically it seems there are 2 options.

1. Indoor growing with a kit. It seems like the kits you can buy aren't sustainable... in other words, after a couple of "crops" of mushroom "harvests", then no more mushrooms will grow and you have to buy a new kit. Is this right?

2. Outdoor sustainable growing. Requires thousands of dollars of equipment for sterile air, a glove-box, etc., to ensure you don't contaminate your spores and introduce competing organisms. Only practical for large-quantity commercial-scale mushroom production.

(2) is too much investment for me, so I'm looking at a kit-based solution, but is my information right, that it's not possible to sustain a kit-based mushroom farm forever? Or is it possible to harvest spores to re-use from one generation to the next, without spending thousands of dollars on sterile-environment equipment?

The point is, if I'm going to pay for a kit, I want my money's worth and to at least be able to grow several crops of mushrooms so that the overall cost is less than if I bought the mushrooms in the store!

Also... is it possible to buy some white button mushrooms from the store and start growing my own crop from the store-bought mushrooms? Is this easy or next-to-impossible?

Thanks...

[mudbug]

1) Correct. But certain varieties produce more crops than others. Shiitake for example produces more than Oyster. There are different types of kits. Ready to grow kits will cost about $20 to $30 and produce 1 to 2 pounds of mushrooms in one to two months. "That's about $15 per pound. A $20 log-based kit inoculates about five logs. Although you'll need to wait 9 to 12 months for the first fruits to form, fruiting will continue periodically over four years, eventually producing about 20 pounds of mushrooms total. That's about $1 per pound. If you can't wait, some mail-order companies provide preinoculated logs with the mycelia already running throughout the log. Though more expensive than producing your own (about $38 per log with kit and soaking tray), these will usually produce mushrooms within a week of arrival, yielding 4 pounds over three to four years."

2) Most people who grow mushrooms at home don't do it to save money. If they do save money, it's because they can't get certain fresh mushroom varieties in their area so it's cheaper to grow them then it is to FedEx them.

For most, growing mushrooms is usually an experiment. Wanting to try something new. Or teaching a classroom full of children so more people can benefit from the experience. It's the joy of witnessing their growth and enjoying truly fresh mushrooms.

>is it possible to buy some white button mushrooms from the store and start growing my own crop
Most likely not. Once the mushroom has opened, spores are released. I'd say next to impossible or it would be a much more common classroom/parenting activity with children.

White button mushrooms around here are the least expensive of any other variety. If I were to grow any more, I'd look into higher priced varieties myself.

[Gnome]

Originally Posted by Chef Robert

Can you grow muchrooms? Not those red ones that are poisonous, but obviously edible ones like white button and oyster mushrooms. I use them a lot in cooking, but they're quite expensive.

Hello

I know this is an old thread but it is quite easy to grow oyster
mushrooms on straw.Grain spawn is available at very good prices
and can be used to mix with very many bags of straw.Any one who is
intersted just give a shout.

[George©]

Originally Posted by mudbug

Absolutely! And they're great fun to grow because they grow so fast.

Thanks for those links! Awesome stuff.

[jigz369]

"I'm really interested in growing those delicious white button mushroms because they're quite expensive in local supermarkets."
I can only assume you've lead a sheltered life. White mushrooms are the least flavourful of all the varieties. Next time try a Crimini, Shiitaki, or Portabello; or better yet, a Morel or Chantrelle.... mmmmm!!!
Just my opinion though....

[Cool_Kid]

Now I'm not sure if you can cultivate morels, can you? I've never had them but I've always wanted to try (I've only found false morels in the wild [and I don't consider myself an experienced mushroom hunter by any means]). They're just too expensive... and in my town expensive luxury items are usually not very fresh (dried up in packages). I think a small bag is $15. Any websites offering cheap dried mushrooms?