mush:mushroom_cultivation

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mush:mushroom_cultivation [2025/12/16 10:41] – Dave Darbymush:mushroom_cultivation [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-# Mushroom cultivation+This topic is part of [[gt:gardening|Gardening, smallholding & farming]]. 
 +====== Mushroom cultivation ======
  
  
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-## What is mushroom cultivation?+===== What is mushroom cultivation? =====
  
 The first thing to say, by the way, is that mushrooms are not plants (even though they're listed in our 'plants' section - we're guessing that most people think they are, and so would expect to find them here). They actually belong to the fungi 'kingdom' rather than the plant kingdom. The first thing to say, by the way, is that mushrooms are not plants (even though they're listed in our 'plants' section - we're guessing that most people think they are, and so would expect to find them here). They actually belong to the fungi 'kingdom' rather than the plant kingdom.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Button mushrooms in a growing box.+_Button mushrooms in a growing box._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 <caption> <caption>
-Oyster mushroom tissue culture in a petri dish.+_Oyster mushroom tissue culture in a petri dish._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### History+==== History ====
  
 Humus-inhabiting: around 1650, in France, it was noticed that button mushrooms appeared naturally in the autumn after the melon crop. So they kept them damp and got another crop - of mushrooms. They died as soon as it became too cold though - and so they put them in trays and moved them to caves, where the season was extended by protecting them from the cold and the winds that evaporated the moisture from the soil. They were soon growing them year-round in a controlled environment in tunnels, and the mushroom cultivation industry was born. Britain followed in the early 19th century, and the US in the early 20th century. Humus-inhabiting: around 1650, in France, it was noticed that button mushrooms appeared naturally in the autumn after the melon crop. So they kept them damp and got another crop - of mushrooms. They died as soon as it became too cold though - and so they put them in trays and moved them to caves, where the season was extended by protecting them from the cold and the winds that evaporated the moisture from the soil. They were soon growing them year-round in a controlled environment in tunnels, and the mushroom cultivation industry was born. Britain followed in the early 19th century, and the US in the early 20th century.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Shiitake mushrooms growing on a hardwood log.+_Shiitake mushrooms growing on a hardwood log._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 In Europe and North America there is a community of fungi associated with oak roots, all of which will compete with truffles and make cultivation very difficult. Oaks are not native to New Zealand, and so the truffle spawn had no competitors. By 1985, they were able to produce a consistent crop within 7 years - so still difficult but not impossible. They can now be cultivated anywhere, on the roots of oak or hazel - but it takes a lot of land as you have to plant the trees as well. A free-draining loam is required - clay soil isn't good for truffles. In Europe and North America there is a community of fungi associated with oak roots, all of which will compete with truffles and make cultivation very difficult. Oaks are not native to New Zealand, and so the truffle spawn had no competitors. By 1985, they were able to produce a consistent crop within 7 years - so still difficult but not impossible. They can now be cultivated anywhere, on the roots of oak or hazel - but it takes a lot of land as you have to plant the trees as well. A free-draining loam is required - clay soil isn't good for truffles.
  
-## What are the benefits of mushroom cultivation?+===== What are the benefits of mushroom cultivation? =====
  
 Mushroom cultivation can be a very interesting hobby with delicious results, that could easily become a profitable small business, due to the low cost of inputs and high value of the crop. Mushroom cultivation can be a very interesting hobby with delicious results, that could easily become a profitable small business, due to the low cost of inputs and high value of the crop.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Mushroom cultivation in a cave, Paris.+_Mushroom cultivation in a cave, Paris._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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-## What can I do?+===== What can I do? =====
  
 First think about what kind of mushroom-growing project you're going for. Do some research on suppliers, what substrate you will need, and how to look after the spawn during the vegetative stage. [Here's some general information](https://www.lowimpact.org/categories/plants/mushroom-cultivation/further-info/) to get you started, as well as advice for selected species: First think about what kind of mushroom-growing project you're going for. Do some research on suppliers, what substrate you will need, and how to look after the spawn during the vegetative stage. [Here's some general information](https://www.lowimpact.org/categories/plants/mushroom-cultivation/further-info/) to get you started, as well as advice for selected species:
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 <caption> <caption>
-Cultivated black truffle, _Tuber melanosporum_.+_Cultivated black truffle, _Tuber melanosporum_._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 <caption> <caption>
-Shiitake mushroom spawn delivered on dowels and grain.+_Shiitake mushroom spawn delivered on dowels and grain._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 <caption> <caption>
-King oyster mushrooms (_Pleurotus eryngii_) growing in coffee grounds through slits in a plastic bag.+_King oyster mushrooms (_Pleurotus eryngii_) growing in coffee grounds through slits in a plastic bag._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 <caption> <caption>
-Truffle plantation - Abruzzo, Italy.+_Truffle plantation - Abruzzo, Italy._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 **Truffles:** Still a very specialist business with a much longer vegetative stage. But it's a high-value crop that could suit an intrepid smallholder. You could plant maybe an acre of inoculated hazels (which grow much faster than oaks) and if you don't manage to produce truffles, at least you can harvest wood and nuts. **Truffles:** Still a very specialist business with a much longer vegetative stage. But it's a high-value crop that could suit an intrepid smallholder. You could plant maybe an acre of inoculated hazels (which grow much faster than oaks) and if you don't manage to produce truffles, at least you can harvest wood and nuts.
  
-### Starting a mushroom-growing business+==== Starting a mushroom-growing business ====
  
 Button, oyster and even shiitake mushrooms are relatively easy to grow. Others are more difficult, but they tend to be more prized and therefore fetch a higher price. The more prized / exotic the species, the higher the chance of failure, but the higher the rewards if successful. Button, oyster and even shiitake mushrooms are relatively easy to grow. Others are more difficult, but they tend to be more prized and therefore fetch a higher price. The more prized / exotic the species, the higher the chance of failure, but the higher the rewards if successful.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Beech mushrooms, originally from Japan, can be grown in any temperate climate, in sawdust.+_Beech mushrooms, originally from Japan, can be grown in any temperate climate, in sawdust._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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-## Further resources+===== Forum ===== 
 + 
 +This topic belongs to the section [[gt:gardening|Gardening, smallholding & farming]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/gardening). 
 + 
 +===== Further resources =====
  
 - [Food Timeline](https://www.foodtimeline.org/foodfaq2.html#mushrooms) - history of mushroom cultivation - [Food Timeline](https://www.foodtimeline.org/foodfaq2.html#mushrooms) - history of mushroom cultivation
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-## Specialists+ 
 +===== Related topics ===== 
 + 
 +- [[lifo:food|Low-impact food & drink]] 
 +- [[wmus:Mushrooms|Mushrooms (wild)]] 
 +- [[urbs:small-space gardening|Urban / small-space gardening]] 
 + 
 + 
 +===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
  
  • mush/mushroom_cultivation.1765881690.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2025/12/16 10:41
  • by Dave Darby