Growing Mushrooms

[Sue]

Hi
Has anyone done this successfully using horse manure?
I've got hold of some 3-year old organic horse manure and wondered if this is suitable. It's been rotted down with organic straw and chopped horsehair, gorgeous stuff. I was thinking of using polystyrene boxes on the bottom shelf of the greenhouse staging. Would this work over winter or is it a warm weather activity?

It looked a bit complicated when I looked it up, but basically all I want to do is grow bog standard white button mushrooms. As I try not eat any fruit or veg other than my allotment produce I do miss mushrooms (and avocado, but that's something that's not going to happen!)

best wishes
Sue

[johninblackpool]

I don't know if it would work i have never grown mushrooms personally but i remember years ago when i was a kid my dad growing them in the shed in a chest of drawers they seem to like dark damp places
Hopefully someone else will come along and give you more help

[sabbeygirl]

Hey
this is something im going to do next year as im just starting out with growing my own veg,,,i understand the best place is in a shed as they need to be grown in the dark,, hope this helps

[Sue]

Sabbeygirl
And just where in the shed are they going to go!!!!
Trugs, hen bedding, netting, fleece, enviromesh, wheelbarrow, chairs and all the other stuff, hardly room to shelter from the rain let alone grow mushrooms. Will have to block the light on the low greenhouse staging if they need that much dark.

But what I want to know is do they grow on rotted horse manure or does it have to be fresh?

best wishes
Sue

[SlugLobber]

Hi Sue,

It's not very scientific, but my older muckheaps frequently sprout mushies, especially when I remove the upper layers for garden compost. Some of the manure producing wild mushrooms is easily 8yrs old!