Indoor Mushroom Cultivation

Compost Preparation

• 1

  Prepare a compost of manure, gypsum and straw, plus an activator. This can be obtained from a garden store or nursery. Layer the ingredients until a large heap is built. A heap about 5 square feet will ensure relative success and must be well watered at the start.

• 2

  Leave the heap covered until its temperature reaches at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

• 3

  Turn every week until the heap is dark brown, crumbly and sweet smelling. If any parts are found to be dry while turning, then water should be sprinkled on those parts.

Mushroom Cultivation

• 4

  Fill containers or buckets that are about 9 to 12 inches deep with the prepared compost. Press it down with your fingers. When the temperature of the compost has fallen to 75 degrees Fahrenheit, the surface is ready for spawning.

• 5

  Push 1-inch pieces below the surface at 12-inch spacings if using block spawn, or fungus-impregnated manure. If using grain spawn, or impregnated rye, sprinkle the spawn on the surface and cover with a thin layer of compost.

• 6

  Maintain the temperature at 55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. After two weeks, the spawn will have started to produce white threads, which can be seen on the surface. At this stage, add a 2-inch layer of moist casing mixture. This is 2 parts peat to 1 part chalk. The casing should be kept moist but not wet.

• 7

  After four to six weeks, the first flush should be ready for picking as button mushrooms. These buttons will open into flat mushrooms after about seven days. Once the first flush is harvested, there will be a pause of about two weeks before the next flush appears. Cropping normally continues for about eight weeks.