How to Fertilize Mushrooms With Manure

Add fresh manure to the compost bin daily. The compost is ready to use for growing mushrooms when it has a rich dark color and an earthy smell. The compost bin breaks down the manure, and the heat from the decomposition process kills any pathogens that may have been present in the fresh manure.

Fill each of your mushroom growing containers with a mixture consisting of 80 percent aged manure to 20 percent sawdust or straw. Fill each of the containers to a depth of at least 6 inches.

Dampen the manure and straw mixture slightly, just enough to make the top a bit wet. Sprinkle the top of the growing medium with the mushroom spores, then gently press those spores into the manure mixture.

Sprinkle additional water on the mushroom spores and manure-based growing medium. Place the growing boxes with their manure fertilizer in a cool spot. The temperature should be between 60 and 70 degrees for proper fertilization to take place.

Wait two weeks, then cover the original manure-based growing medium with an inch of quality potting soil. Leave the growing boxes in place, then check them in about 20 days. You should begin to see the mushrooms emerging from the top of the growing medium.