Whats the best way to grow mushrooms?

[4390evans]

Ive never thought to grow mushrooms but this year Im going to try and give it a bash, but what is the best way to grow them? When Ive looked some say from spore and some say from seed. I cant use a greenhouse yet so a out door kind would be best. Any ideas?

[Nicos]

You can't grow them from 'seed'...but spores - yes.

I've grown them from kits in the airing cupboard very successfully.


Or- are you talking about buying plugs to drill into logs?

Nope- mine weren't at all successful

[solway cropper]

I would say the best way to grow mushrooms is in a field, then pick them early morning and straight into the frying pan with a rasher of bacon and some tomato!

All my attempts to grow them at home have been failures, but that might just be be me.

[Bill HH]

i used to go into the field in the early morning and would find dozens of what we called jack mushrooms, huge things 8 inches across in some cases. My dad loved them but if you kept them a couple of days they would often be writhing with maggots! The dirty old so n so still ate em .
Also puff balls, some a foot in diameter,they are edible too.

[Dorothy rouse]

I used one of those 'kit' thingies, got a Whole, single mushroom, was very nice tho. Not sure what I did wrong, it was a reduced sale offer, maybe that's why.

[Bill HH]

years ago i tried several kits, only the last one of three worked, it was white all over with button mushrooms. It came in a box and you just watered it and shut the box up again. We kept it by the coke boiler in the kitchen. i think it would have been cheaper to buy them though.
The most wild ones i ever saw used to grow in the rotting hay around the barn, it was virtualy composting so maybe a compost heap would be a good place to spread the spores.

[RedThorn]

There was a Hugh episode a few days ago. Guy boiled the logs first in a tin bath, then soaked in a puddle outside for a day or 2 then drilled and plugged. Stacked the logs under a tree and left 'em. Not tried meself mind

[4390evans]

I was gonna get these but I might just get the spores and these see what happens
3 x Packets MR FOTHERGILLS White Button MUSHROOM GRAINS SEEDS Sow date 2014 | eBay

[daviddevantnhisspiritwife]

A thick slice of puffball fried next to some bacon is awesome. Not had any for a long time. Came across a few small ones recently in the garden - 'I was too late. They was puffy.'

[OssettOnions]

I'd also like to grow mushrooms but have had no success so far. I was told a box with damp straw and mushroom spores covered and left moist in a cool dark place for three months would result in mushrooms every morning for at least a month but 3 mths later and nothing is happening. I put a thin layer of potting compost over the straw and another layer of spores but only thing that's coming through are some leggy seedlings. Brought into the light but still nothing happening. Gone back in to the dark outhouse again, will check in a couple of weeks time.

[polc1410]

How cool is cool? Think you are looking for about 15C

[Philthy]

Personally I hate mushrooms.
But I still like to experiment with new growing concepts.

I tried the plugs drilled into logs method: total disaster.. nothing after weeks of waiting.

And the mushroom kit for the airing cupboard method: moderately successful.

I think mushrooms on a small scale are another of those crops where you have to wonder whether the investment is really worth the end result. In my (albeit limited) experience, I'd say no. It's a fun project, and something different, but the supermarket in this case represents far better value in the longterm. But I don't eat them, so...

If you live near open spaces, you could always go and forage a few.