How to Prepare Compost for Mushrooms

Mushrooms are a crop that is not always easy to maintain. If you're using compost to grow mushrooms, it must maintain the correct balance of nutrients to make the mushrooms grow properly. There is a specific type of compost made just for mushrooms. This compost is found at local greenhouses, but it is cheaper to create it on your own.

Shovel
Compost bin
Plastic tarp
1 bag of manure
1/2 bale of hay
1 packet of gypsum
1 packet of nitrogen
Steam
Meat thermometer
1 packet of mushroom spawn

Instructions

- 1
  Use the shovel to put the bag of manure into the compost bin. The manure can be any kind -- cow or horse. Place the bin in direct sunlight.
- 2
  Mix 1/2 bale of hay into the manure.
- 3
  
  Home grown mushrooms can be dried and used for cooking.
  
  Mix both packets of nitrogen and gypsum to the compost bin.
- 4
  Allow the mix to decompose for three weeks. Keep in a room where in direct sunlight to keep the heat or a small room where the room temperature can rise without disturbing the rest of the house.
- 5
  Place the humidifier as close to the compost as possible. If possible, put the steam directly onto the compost with a plastic cover keeping it in. Turn on humidifier to high. This pasteurizes the compost.
- 6
  Use the meat thermometer to check temperature every hour until it reaches 160 degrees.
- 7
  Mix in mushroom spawn and cover with plastic tarp. The mushrooms should grow as per package instructions.

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