Do It Yourself – Homegrown Button Mushrooms

Button mushrooms (Agaricus Bisporus), also more simply referred to as white mushrooms, are a common type of mushroom found in many a culinary delight. If you are one of those people who love mushrooms and will find a way to incorporate them into any recipe on the family menu, you probably realize the potential benefits of growing mushrooms in your own home. Never again would you have to run to the store at the last minute for fresh mushrooms and find you are going to have to settle for less than fresh or go home empty handed. Growing your own mushrooms is not extremely difficult, but will require a bit of due diligence. Get started with these easy to follow directions:

• You will need a dark and cool location to grow button mushrooms. If you live in a house with a basement or cellar, the answer is right downstairs. If not, make a spot in an unused cupboard or closet. Extreme temperatures must be avoided as should exposure to sunlight. Whichever location you choose you must be sure to keep it easily accessible so you can keep an eye on your “garden” as necessary.

• Mushrooms are not grown from seeds, so to speak, but from mycelium. This is the formal name for the spores found on the under side of a mushroom. If you can not get mycelium from your local nursery, you can order it from mail order catalogs or via the internet.

• You will need to purchase sterile compost from a local nursery or home and garden chain. Pour a couple of inches of the compost into a good sized, shallow pan and spread it out evenly. Dampen the compost by misting it lightly with water. A spray bottle works well for this step.

• The mycelium should be sprinkled across the dampened compost as evenly as possible. A magnifying glass will come in handy as you attempt to track the thoroughness of your application of mycelium over the pan of compost.

• Mist a touch more water over the mushroom spores with your spray bottle and cover loosely with a sheet of brown paper (package wrapping paper).

• Maintain the moistness of the soil during the growth of your button mushrooms. You should also dust the top of your mushrooms after they start to grow with some rich clay based soil. This will assist production.

• You will want to harvest your mushrooms prior to the opening of the cap. Carefully pick the mushrooms that are ready so as not to disturb the ones that need a little more time to mature.

• Completely remove any signs of compost and cut off the root. Soft, brown spots can be easily removed with a damp microfiber cloth.

Follow these simple directions and you can enjoy fresh mushrooms any time you want.