Mysterious, fascinating and delicious: mushrooms are neither plants nor animals, but something totally different. Perhaps this is precisely why they fascinate us so much — and why more and more people are trying to grow them at home.
Mushrooms are perhaps the most unique food we eat. They are not part of either the plant or animal world. And it is precisely their particularity as a species that makes them difficult to cultivate. In nature there are hundreds of species that are very different in shape, colour, flavor and consistency. Replicating the natural habitat of mushrooms in a controlled environment is extremely difficult since their survival is linked to the delicate balance that is established between living beings, plants and animals. The inert and decomposing matter of these two elements becomes the ideal substrate for their growth. (Mushroom picking: tips to avoid poisoning)
How to start growing mushrooms at home
Growing mushrooms at home is not complicated, but it requires consistency and attention to detail. The first step is to choose the most suitable method: beginners can rely on ready-made kits, already complete with substrate and spores, which greatly simplify the process. Those who want to experiment can create the ideal base themselves using sawdust, wood chips or, alternatively, coffee grounds, an organic material perfect for the growth of mycelia.
The environment plays a fundamental role: mushrooms love humidity and shade, so it is important to place them in a sheltered area, away from direct sunlight and with a constant temperature around twenty degrees. A light daily misting helps maintain the right level of humidity and stimulate growth.
After a couple of weeks, if conditions are favourable, the substrate will begin to “live”: the first small white buds will appear, a sign that the mushrooms are taking shape. From that moment, all that will be needed is a little patience and care until harvest time, when the hat will have reached the size and consistency typical of the chosen variety.
In addition to the satisfaction of watching them grow, growing mushrooms at home is a surprising experience: it is economical, sustainable and allows you to rediscover the natural rhythm of the earth, even within the walls of an apartment.
Which mushrooms to grow
There are very few varieties of mushrooms that can be cultivated and the success of this cultivation is linked to the substrate on which the mushroom grows. Wood is par excellence a perfect base, alive or decaying. But also shavings, sawdust, coffee grounds and a few other organic materials. (read also: The coffee maker that reuses coffee grounds to grow mushrooms at home)
Undertaking mushroom cultivation at home can be a very fun and stimulating adventure, moreover it is done in all those shaded and humid areas of gardens and houses where any other species would suffer.
The Shitakes
Lay people in this sector learned about them by watching cooking programs on TV. They are a type of mushroom much appreciated and used above all in Asian cuisine but now widely introduced in the West too. They are grown on trunks and their development requires patience, experience and attention. In the medical field, this mushroom appears to be studied for its anti-cancer characteristics.
The Oyster mushroom
The delicious mollusc takes its name above all thanks to its appearance but also the flavor is reminiscent of fish while remaining very delicate. It is particularly appreciated since it is also available in winter when other varieties are not available. It grows well both on logs and on sawdust and coffee grounds. There are several kits on the market for growing oyster mushroom (#affiliation link)
The Chicken of the Woods
This mushroom is certainly less common and less known but unlike the Oyster mushroom, it owes its name to the flavor and consistency which is very reminiscent of chicken. It can easily be grown in the garden on both live and dead wood.
The Monkey Head
Difficult to cultivate, the monkey head (Hericium erinaceus), however, repays the efforts made by giving massive production when successful. Scientists are currently studying it to formulate medicines against Alzheimer’s, it seems that its principles have a positive influence on memory abilities. Thanks to its particular taste it is often associated with lobster.
Champignon mushrooms
Among the most used in the kitchen and the most common on supermarket shelves, it owes its fame and use to simple cultivation which also significantly reduces its costs. The delicate taste makes it particularly versatile and this combination absolutely guarantees its success. For those who want to have fun growing mushrooms at home, we recommend starting with Champignons. There are simple kits on the market to start production (#affiliation link), an interesting activity also for educational purposes.
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