How to Grow Portabello Mushrooms

Mushrooms are vigorous growers that sprout wherever they can find a foothold. Although they're a fungus, mushrooms grow like all plants. They have a root system, which grows beneath the surface, and fruit or flowers, which are the mushrooms themselves. Like all plants, they need some specific conditions–lots of moisture, warmth and nutrition. In nature, they are often found growing on compost piles, in nutritious yards and from rotting wood. Portabello mushrooms are a large breed of mushroom that are favored in cooking and snacking. Like most mushrooms, they are easy to grow. One way to do so is to buy a specialized mushroom kit.

Things You'll Need

Portabello mushroom kit
Water (distilled)

Spray bottle

Instructions

- 1
  Order a mushroom kit from a retailer. Make sure you order a portabello-specific kit. The kit will come with a growing box, substrate (growing foundation) and portabello mushroom culture (this culture will most likely be within the substrate, but may also come in an injectable form). The culture has been developed from portabello mushroom spores, and will only grow portabello mushrooms.
- 2
  Prepare your mushroom kit for growing, following the directions that came with the kit. Add the recommended amount of water to the substrate, using distilled water. The chemicals in tap water could harm and even destroy the mushroom culture. Put the kit in a warm, dark place, like a cupboard, for the duration of the incubation period. Monitor the temperature inside the kit, depending on the directions, but keep in mind that most mushrooms need a temperature of at least 65 degrees to sprout. Spray the mushroom kit with water once a day, or whenever you notice the kit getting too dry. Mushrooms won't sprout without plenty of moisture. For this particular project, always keep the mushroom kit in the dark; portabello mushrooms require dark conditions to grow.
- 3
  Look for portabello mushrooms after about 10 days. Harvest the portabello mushrooms by plucking them up or cutting them off at the base, and start again. Most kits re-sprout two to three times. Expect up to 6 pounds of portabello mushrooms over 3 months.

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