How to Grow Mushrooms in a Home Garden

Mushrooms come in a number of varieties, each with their own flavor and texture. These mushrooms can also be planted and grown at home in home gardens. Growing mushrooms involves using mulch as a bed and having mushrooms on hand to act as "seeds" and can be easy as long as you're patient and have some basic gardening experience.

Things You'll Need

Compost
Mulch
Dog food
Wood chips

Shovel
Strip of cardboard
Mushroom spawn

Instructions

- 1
  Dig a trough for the mushrooms about 18 inches wide and as long as you want, using a shovel. It should be about 3 inches deep. This trough will contain your mushrooms and should be in the shade.
- 2
  Line the bottom of the trough with a strip of soaked cardboard. The cardboard should fill the bottom of the trough entirely. It will serve as the foundation for the mushrooms.
- 3
  Place the mushroom spawn or bits of chopped mushroom over the soaked cardboard. Lay as much down as you can. These spores or bits of chopped mushroom will grow into larger mushrooms over time.
- 4
  Fill the trough with a mixture of soil, compost and dog food. The soil will provide a medium through which the mushrooms will grow while the dog food and compost will provide nourishment.
- 5
  Cover the top of the trough with a layer of wood chips or mulch. Pat the chips or mulch down so the trough is nice and even.
- 6
  Spritz the trough with water daily. The troughs should be damp but not soaking wet.
- 7
  Harvest the mushroom caps after about two months. Repeat all the steps annually to keep your mushroom garden growing strong.

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