Growing champignons at home has become very popular in recent years. The agricultural technology for obtaining a valuable dietary product is simple and accessible even to beginners. This activity has many advantages: the cost of homemade mushrooms is incomparably small compared to mushrooms purchased in the supermarket, and a self-grown crop is guaranteed to contain no chemicals harmful to health. How can you grow champignons at home: in an apartment, in a country house, in a greenhouse or in a garage?

Preparatory work

Before you start growing champignons, you need to determine what you need to purchase and prepare for this. First of all, you need to find a suitable room. You can do this:

• in the garage;
• in the basement;
• in the cellar;
• in the barn;
• in the greenhouse.

The most popular room is a heated basement. With proper arrangement, you can grow champignons in it, both seasonally and year-round.

You will also need the following equipment to grow champignons:

• ventilation system;
• heating system;
• humidifier;
• thermometer and hygrometer;
• lighting fixtures (mushrooms do not need light, but maintaining a plantation in the dark is very inconvenient).

Successful cultivation of champignons in the basement is possible only if the temperature (from +12 to +24⁰С) and humidity (70 - 90%) are maintained. It is also necessary to provide ventilation, since without fresh air the mushrooms will stretch in length. The best option is to arrange ventilation under the ceiling, protecting the mushrooms from exposure to cold air. The ventilation holes are covered with a fine mesh to prevent the entry of debris and pests.

Before planting mushrooms, the room must be disinfected. To do this, you can use a solution of lime with copper sulfate or bleach, which is used to thoroughly treat all surfaces. You can also spray the room with formaldehyde. After treatment, it is necessary to ventilate properly and take a break for several days before planting.

What equipment is needed?

Amateur cultivation of champignons in the country or at home does not require special equipment. If cultivating mushrooms is used to earn money or is an exciting hobby, then, in addition to the substrate and mycelium, you will need the following kit for growing champignons:

• Shelving. They can be made from metal or wood. When arranging a shelving system, you need to take into account the minimum passages between them of 60 cm, and the height of the shelves should be at least 40 cm. Typically, such sets include no more than 5 levels. The depth of the rack does not matter; it is important that it matches the dimensions of the boxes with the substrate and that it is possible to approach the shelf from both sides.
• Containers for mycelium. These can be boxes or pallets. They are installed in a racking system. When preparing them, it should be taken into account that the thickness of the productive layer should be at least 15–20 cm.
• Ventilation equipment. Necessary to ensure constant temperature and humidity. This is especially true for the basement.
• Control means – thermometer and hygrometer. The optimal indoor humidity value is 50–80%, temperature range is +12…+20 degrees.

Nuances of purchasing and processing the substrate

The substrate, a nutrient mixture for mushroom growth, can be purchased at a specialized store, which is the most convenient option. To make compost yourself you will need:

• straw (wheat) – 60%;
• manure (horse or cow) – 30%;
• gypsum – 4%;
• chalk – 3%;
• superphosphate – 1.5%;
• urea – 1.5%.

Preparing the soil for champignons is the most labor-intensive stage. Compost is prepared either outside or in a well-ventilated building, as the process releases ammonia.

Cooking technology:

1. The straw is soaked in water for 24 hours.
2. The soaked straw is laid out in layers, alternating with manure and urea and watering each layer. The total height of the heap is 1 – 1.5 m.
3. The compost is covered with a film, protecting it from rain, but it is imperative to leave gaps for air access. In the sun, the ripening process goes faster.
4. After 7 days, the pile must be thoroughly turned with a pitchfork and plaster added.
5. After 3-4 days, shake it again, adding chalk and superphosphate. All this time it is necessary to maintain the humidity of the substrate.
6. Then the pile is shaken out every 3-4 days.

In about 20-25 days the substrate will be ready. The pungent ammonia smell will disappear. The mass will acquire a uniform dark brown color, become soft, loose, moderately moist, and elastic. The finished compost does not stick to your hands, and the straw in it breaks easily.

Before you start growing champignons

You need to think carefully and weigh your desire and capabilities on two scales. If they are approximately at the same level, it is worth taking the risk. Information for beginners: growing champignons at home is a more labor-intensive process than growing oyster mushrooms. But less long-term and more effective than growing porcini mushrooms.

Certain costs will be required for the purchase of materials, arrangement of the premises, as well as patience and certain skills. Provided that you already have a suitable room and you just need to create favorable conditions in it.

Planting mycelium

Most mushroom growers prefer to buy ready-made mycelium at specialized points for growing champignons, but some grow the raw materials themselves, citing the fact that this is the only way to obtain the highest quality product. Growing mycelium yourself is not easy, so it is better to leave it to experienced specialists and use purchased material from a trusted seller.

The finished compost is laid out on beds or in containers (boxes or bags) and compacted a little. Next, you need to wait a couple of days until the temperature inside the substrate drops to +23… +25⁰С. After this, you can begin planting the mycelium.

If grain mycelium is chosen for planting, then it is simply scattered over the surface of the substrate, based on the proportion per 1 square meter. m about 6 kg of substrate and 500 g of mycelium. Next, the surface is sprinkled with a thin layer of compost.

If compost mycelium is used, it is first crushed into small pieces and then placed in holes 3-4 cm deep, staggered at a distance of about 20 cm from each other. Then each hole is also filled with compost.

Planting is carried out immediately after preparing or opening (depending on whether purchased or homemade raw materials are used) of the substrate and mycelium.

Room

It should be moderately cool, such as a cellar or basement. If there is neither one nor the other, it is difficult to advise anything. Perhaps a garage or greenhouse will do (during the cold season). In spring and early summer, before the onset of extreme heat, champignons can be grown without any room at all. The main thing is that the air temperature should not be higher than +20°C. Indoors, in the case of year-round cultivation, the temperature should be constantly maintained in the range of +12°C... 18°C, and humidity in the range of 65-85%.

Room for growing champignons

Growing technology step by step

The best way to grow champignon mushrooms at home is to plant them in bags, as this is the simplest and most convenient way. To do this, you will need to install special supports in the room on which the bags will be hung. It is advisable to use plastic structures that do not deform, do not corrode and are inexpensive.

To grow mushrooms in the basement, it is very important to observe the temperature regime depending on the stage of development of the mycelium.

The step-by-step scheme of actions is as follows:

1. After the mycelium is planted (during the incubation period), mycelium begins to form. At this time, visual changes are invisible, but this is the most important moment for the further growth of mushrooms. Humidity during this period must be maintained at 70-90% so that the soil does not dry out; it is covered with a cloth made of natural material, which is regularly moistened by spraying from a spray bottle. It should be taken into account that at this time the temperature in the room will rise, so you need to carefully monitor the thermometer readings and not allow values ​​above +26⁰C.
2. After 8–10 days, white threads begin to actively spread across the substrate. This is the mycelium. After the threads become clearly visible, they must be sprinkled with a layer of soil mixture 3-4 cm high. The soil mixture is prepared from 5 parts peat, 4 parts soil and 1 part limestone.
3. Over the next 5-6 days, the soil must be moistened periodically. Then the temperature is lowered to +13… +16⁰С.

Next, it is necessary to maintain high humidity (90%) and a constant temperature, and also do not forget to ventilate the room so that the carbon dioxide released does not stagnate, which can slow down the growth of mushrooms.

Caring for future mushrooms

Caring for mushrooms is very easy. It is necessary to constantly maintain microclimatic conditions:

• water the substrate moderately, only in cases where its humidity is below 60%;
• ventilate the room daily - this measure is necessary to remove excess carbon dioxide, which inhibits the processes of vegetative development;
• maintain the air temperature at 16 - 18 degrees, using periodic heating and ventilation, but avoid drafts, which champignons really don’t like;
• regularly review the covering material to identify possible diseases and pests and destroy them in a timely manner;
• Harvest regularly, preventing the mushroom body from overgrowing.

Harvesting

Champignons ripen several times, the entire fruiting period takes from 8 to 14 weeks. Typically, the first waves bring the majority of the harvest (about 75%), and in total mushrooms are harvested from 3 to 7 times. Champignon yield per 1 sq. m on average 15 – 20 kg.

It is necessary to collect champignons when the film connecting the cap and stem of the mushroom has not yet broken. If the film is damaged and the inside of the cap is darkened, the champignon is overripe and is not suitable for food.

In order not to damage the mycelium and maximize the fruiting period, when harvesting, it is necessary not to cut the mushrooms, but to carefully twist them. The holes are filled with a mixture of earth, peat and limestone, then moistened with water using a spray bottle. In this place, new mushrooms will grow in 12–15 days.

After all the harvest has been harvested, the substrate is disposed of. It is not reused, as it completely loses its nutritional properties.

Substrate preparation

For those who have realized that growing champignons at home is worth it, the question of preparing the soil mixture is no less interesting. The substrate (in some sources it is called compost) is a nutrient medium for planting mycelium, from which the mycelium develops. Instructions for its preparation are placed on the back of the package with planting material or attached on a separate piece of paper. Therefore there are no problems with this.

Main components of the substrate:

• Rotted manure (horse).
• Hay or straw (fresh).
• Various additives - chalk, bone meal, superphosphate and a number of others.

In principle, following the manufacturer’s instructions, preparing a nutrient medium for champignons, knowing the proportional ratio of the components, is not difficult. Especially if we are talking about a relatively small amount of substrate.

The article provides complete information on growing champignons. Well, it’s not difficult to decide which method to choose, taking into account your capabilities and the required volumes of mushroom production.

How to store?

The structure of champignons, like most mushrooms, is delicate and fragile. If stored improperly, the product quickly loses its beneficial properties and presentation. Before storing mushrooms, they must be prepared, namely, cut off the lower part of the stem with the remaining substrate. You should not wash mushrooms before storing them, otherwise they will darken in a matter of minutes.

Then the champignons are laid out in wooden boxes or cardboard boxes of 4-5 kg. You should not put more, as the mushrooms will begin to break and crumble under their own weight. In this form, the product can be stored for up to two weeks at a temperature of +1... +3⁰С.

Fresh champignons can be stored in the refrigerator. They are placed in plastic containers or plastic bags to prevent drying out. In this form, they remain suitable for further consumption for no more than 7–10 days. Periodically, the package must be opened for ventilation.

Fresh mushrooms can also be frozen. They are washed, lightly dried on paper towels, and large ones are cut into pieces. Then they are laid out in containers or bags and placed in the freezer. Frozen mushrooms can be stored for up to six months.

Popular methods of home cultivation of champignons

Planting champignons in containers is not the only way to grow these mushrooms. In addition to the classic version, there are the following options for their cultivation:

• By pouring ridges. To implement this method, you only need a room; no boxes are required (this is very convenient and inexpensive). The substrate is poured in even ridges directly onto the floor of the utility room or basement.

Ridges for growing champignons

The disadvantages of the method include the low location of the crop and the high likelihood of fungi becoming infected.

• Dutch method (growing on shelves). This method is good because the location of the mushrooms is very convenient for caring for them and subsequent harvesting. Another plus is that your champignons will be healthy and grow big.
• In bags. To implement this method of growing mushrooms, the substrate is prepared for twenty-five to thirty days in plastic bags. To plant seed, holes are made in the bag.

Disadvantage of the method: the process is very labor intensive.

Scheme for growing champignons using the Dutch method

• In briquettes. The substrate (in this case, briquettes made by pressing) is made from peat, manure, sawdust, etc. The positive side of the method is the huge savings in effort and time spent on preparing the substrate. The compressed briquettes can be used up to four times and must be replaced after the third or fourth harvest.

Disadvantage: high cost of briquettes.

Forcing fruiting bodies

After the incubation period, you should lower the temperature in the cellar to 12–17 degrees, or move the boxes with the substrate to the room for forcing (if, as mentioned at the beginning of the article, you divided the room into two compartments). The period of growth of the mushrooms themselves begins.

In one harvest, 5-8 waves of mushrooms can be removed from the mycelium, although the bulk will fall on the first three waves.

You can harvest the first wave of harvest in 3-4 months. Do not allow mushrooms to overripe. They should be picked when the lower part of the cap is still covered with a white film and the brown plates are not visible. Each mushroom must be carefully unscrewed from its place, and not cut off. Bacteria can enter the mycelium from the stem remaining after the cut.

After collecting the mushroom, the place where it grew should be lightly sprinkled with soil. The mushrooms will grow vigorously within 1-2 weeks. Under the right conditions and good compost, 5–8 mushroom harvests can be harvested during this time. The main volume falls on the first three waves. Then the yield of the mycelium will sharply decline.

Growing on peat

Champignons grow very well on peat, as it retains moisture well and allows you to reduce the frequency of watering. However, it should be taken into account that the cultivation room must be sealed so that a stable temperature and humidity are maintained inside.

When making compost, peat is mixed with sawdust and cow manure, and the substrate is pasteurized by treating it with water steam. Next, the substrate is laid out on mushroom blocks and the mycelium begins to be sowed. It should be spread evenly over the surface and sprinkled with a small layer of compost.

Further technology remains the same and includes maintaining the correct temperature, humidity level and regular ventilation.

Some gardeners spend the entire summer season at the dacha, so they grow champignons in open ground

For planting, I choose a place on the site that is protected from the sun and windless. It is better to place the bed from west to east. Additionally, protection from the sun's rays is installed.

The beds for growing champignons have been prepared since the fall. At the end of the summer season, a trench is dug up to 1 m long, 30 cm deep and wide enough for harvesting. When arranging several beds, leave a 0.5 m gap between them.

Place drainage made of sand, gravel or crushed stone, 10 cm high, at the bottom of the trench to ensure the drainage of excess moisture.

Then fill the trench with mowed grass and weeds, compact it, and pour slurry on top. A layer of turf is laid on top, but with the grass facing down. Leave the ridge like this until spring.

In the spring, the ridge is filled with prepared special compost with a layer of 25 cm. Main component of compost

– buckwheat straw, which should not be rotted. For 1 m2 you will need 2-3 armfuls. Place this straw in a box, add rotted cow manure - 3 buckets, chicken manure - 5 kg, ammonium nitrate - 2 handfuls.

Mix all ingredients well and place in trenches. After a week, the mixture will settle and it will be compacted. As a result, the layer should be 25 cm.

The mycelium is planted when the temperature drops to 27 degrees. If it is higher, then there is a possibility that the mycelium will die or will not take root.

The mycelium is planted to a depth of 5 cm in a checkerboard pattern with a distance of 20 x 20 cm, sprinkled with earth. Place a 30 cm thick layer of straw on top of the mycelium to protect the soil from drying out.

In a couple of weeks it will be known whether the mycelium has taken root or not. During this time, keep the straw layer watered so that it does not end up in the compost.

After 2-3 weeks the mycelium will grow and this will be visible. If a week after planting there are no signs of growth, it is necessary to spray the substrate itself with water; the mycelium may lack moisture.

After myceliums have taken root

You can remove the protective layer of straw and add a layer of turf soil 3 cm high, slightly compacting it.

The first harvest of mushrooms will appear 1.5 months after planting. In hot weather, mushroom growth stops.

In open ground, champignons can bear fruit for up to 4 months.

Growing champignons at home is not a very difficult task even for beginners. But you can get a decent result only in one case - if you follow all the rules for choosing high-quality raw materials, preparing the premises, creating and maintaining suitable conditions throughout the entire period from planting to harvesting.

Preparatory work

Before you start growing champignons, you need to determine what you need to purchase and prepare for this. First of all, you need to find a suitable room. You can do this:

• in the garage;
• in the basement;
• in the cellar;
• in the barn;
• in the greenhouse.

The most popular room is a heated basement. With proper arrangement, you can grow champignons in it, both seasonally and year-round.

You will also need the following equipment to grow champignons:

• ventilation system;
• heating system;
• humidifier;
• thermometer and hygrometer;
• lighting fixtures (mushrooms do not need light, but maintaining a plantation in the dark is very inconvenient).

Successful cultivation of champignons in the basement is possible only if the temperature (from +12 to +24⁰С) and humidity (70 - 90%) are maintained. It is also necessary to provide ventilation, since without fresh air the mushrooms will stretch in length. The best option is to arrange ventilation under the ceiling, protecting the mushrooms from exposure to cold air. The ventilation holes are covered with a fine mesh to prevent the entry of debris and pests.

Before planting mushrooms, the room must be disinfected. To do this, you can use a solution of lime with copper sulfate or bleach, which is used to thoroughly treat all surfaces. You can also spray the room with formaldehyde. After treatment, it is necessary to ventilate properly and take a break for several days before planting.

Nuances of purchasing and processing the substrate

The substrate, a nutrient mixture for mushroom growth, can be purchased at a specialized store, which is the most convenient option. To make compost yourself you will need:

• straw (wheat) – 60%;
• manure (horse or cow) – 30%;
• gypsum – 4%;
• chalk – 3%;
• superphosphate – 1.5%;
• urea – 1.5%.

Preparing the soil for champignons is the most labor-intensive stage. Compost is prepared either outside or in a well-ventilated building, as the process releases ammonia.

Cooking technology:

1. The straw is soaked in water for 24 hours.
2. The soaked straw is laid out in layers, alternating with manure and urea and watering each layer. The total height of the heap is 1 – 1.5 m.
3. The compost is covered with a film, protecting it from rain, but it is imperative to leave gaps for air access. In the sun, the ripening process goes faster.
4. After 7 days, the pile must be thoroughly turned with a pitchfork and plaster added.
5. After 3-4 days, shake it again, adding chalk and superphosphate. All this time it is necessary to maintain the humidity of the substrate.
6. Then the pile is shaken out every 3-4 days.

In about 20-25 days the substrate will be ready. The pungent ammonia smell will disappear. The mass will acquire a uniform dark brown color, become soft, loose, moderately moist, and elastic. The finished compost does not stick to your hands, and the straw in it breaks easily.

Planting mycelium

Most mushroom growers prefer to buy ready-made mycelium at specialized points for growing champignons, but some grow the raw materials themselves, citing the fact that this is the only way to obtain the highest quality product. Growing mycelium yourself is not easy, so it is better to leave it to experienced specialists and use purchased material from a trusted seller.

The finished compost is laid out on beds or in containers (boxes or bags) and compacted a little. Next, you need to wait a couple of days until the temperature inside the substrate drops to +23… +25⁰С. After this, you can begin planting the mycelium.

If grain mycelium is chosen for planting, then it is simply scattered over the surface of the substrate, based on the proportion per 1 square meter. m about 6 kg of substrate and 500 g of mycelium. Next, the surface is sprinkled with a thin layer of compost.

If compost mycelium is used, it is first crushed into small pieces and then placed in holes 3-4 cm deep, staggered at a distance of about 20 cm from each other. Then each hole is also filled with compost.

Planting is carried out immediately after preparing or opening (depending on whether purchased or homemade raw materials are used) of the substrate and mycelium.

Growing technology step by step

The best way to grow champignon mushrooms at home is to plant them in bags, as this is the simplest and most convenient way. To do this, you will need to install special supports in the room on which the bags will be hung. It is advisable to use plastic structures that do not deform, do not corrode and are inexpensive.

To grow mushrooms in the basement, it is very important to observe the temperature regime depending on the stage of development of the mycelium.

The step-by-step scheme of actions is as follows:

1. After the mycelium is planted (during the incubation period), mycelium begins to form. At this time, visual changes are invisible, but this is the most important moment for the further growth of mushrooms. Humidity during this period must be maintained at 70-90% so that the soil does not dry out; it is covered with a cloth made of natural material, which is regularly moistened by spraying from a spray bottle. It should be taken into account that at this time the temperature in the room will rise, so you need to carefully monitor the thermometer readings and not allow values ​​above +26⁰C.
2. After 8–10 days, white threads begin to actively spread across the substrate. This is the mycelium. After the threads become clearly visible, they must be sprinkled with a layer of soil mixture 3-4 cm high. The soil mixture is prepared from 5 parts peat, 4 parts soil and 1 part limestone.
3. Over the next 5-6 days, the soil must be moistened periodically. Then the temperature is lowered to +13… +16⁰С.

Next, it is necessary to maintain high humidity (90%) and a constant temperature, and also do not forget to ventilate the room so that the carbon dioxide released does not stagnate, which can slow down the growth of mushrooms.

Harvesting

Champignons ripen several times, the entire fruiting period takes from 8 to 14 weeks. Typically, the first waves bring the majority of the harvest (about 75%), and in total mushrooms are harvested from 3 to 7 times. Champignon yield per 1 sq. m on average 15 – 20 kg.

It is necessary to collect champignons when the film connecting the cap and stem of the mushroom has not yet broken. If the film is damaged and the inside of the cap is darkened, the champignon is overripe and is not suitable for food.

In order not to damage the mycelium and maximize the fruiting period, when harvesting, it is necessary not to cut the mushrooms, but to carefully twist them. The holes are filled with a mixture of earth, peat and limestone, then moistened with water using a spray bottle. In this place, new mushrooms will grow in 12–15 days.

After all the harvest has been harvested, the substrate is disposed of. It is not reused, as it completely loses its nutritional properties.

How to store?

The structure of champignons, like most mushrooms, is delicate and fragile. If stored improperly, the product quickly loses its beneficial properties and presentation. Before storing mushrooms, they must be prepared, namely, cut off the lower part of the stem with the remaining substrate. You should not wash mushrooms before storing them, otherwise they will darken in a matter of minutes.

Then the champignons are laid out in wooden boxes or cardboard boxes of 4-5 kg. You should not put more, as the mushrooms will begin to break and crumble under their own weight. In this form, the product can be stored for up to two weeks at a temperature of +1... +3⁰С.

Fresh champignons can be stored in the refrigerator. They are placed in plastic containers or plastic bags to prevent drying out. In this form, they remain suitable for further consumption for no more than 7–10 days. Periodically, the package must be opened for ventilation.

Fresh mushrooms can also be frozen. They are washed, lightly dried on paper towels, and large ones are cut into pieces. Then they are laid out in containers or bags and placed in the freezer. Frozen mushrooms can be stored for up to six months.

Conclusion

Knowing and taking into account all the subtleties of the process, you can grow champignons at home without much difficulty. Even a little experience will allow you to soon get a good harvest and, if desired, turn your hobby into a profitable business.

If you love mushrooms, or perhaps want to start selling them, you definitely need to know how to grow champignons at home. After all, the main advantage of these mushrooms is their affordable production method, which many people take advantage of, growing them in garages, basements, and even apartments.

Champignons are the most popular mushrooms in the world: they account for more than 37% of total global production. They are valued, first of all, for their nutritional qualities: they contain essential amino acids for humans and the necessary amount of protein, and antibiotics are isolated from some varieties.

When you start your own home plantation, you will be able to provide yourself with this valuable and useful product all year round.

Champignon plantation in a house, apartment, basement or country house

It is possible to grow champignons in an apartment, but the process will require attention and strict adherence to instructions. To get a good harvest of mushrooms in an apartment, you need to take the following steps step by step:

1. Prepare compost (or substrate).
2. Prepare and lay the soil.
3. Plant mycelium.
4. Provide care for mushrooms.
5. Harvest the champignons.

Compost

So, let's start with the first point.

• Composition of the mushroom substrate: horse manure (successfully replaced with chicken manure or cow manure) and wheat straw (or any other). The ratio is manure 4\5, raw materials 1\5. Preparing compost begins with finding an area in the fresh air, protected from rain and direct sunlight.
• Soak the raw materials (straw) for a day in water in a large container. Next, prepare a kind of “pie” - lay the manure and soaked raw materials in layers, approximately three or four layers for each component. Laying is done on the litter, and the laid ridge should have a cone-shaped shape, measuring approximately one and a half meters in height and length, and three to four meters in width. At the same time, moisten the raw materials with water and add ammonium sulfate. When adding it, calculate that for one ton of the resulting mass there should be 3 kilograms of ammonium, which stimulates the work of bacteria that decompose manure.
• To obtain high-quality compost, proceed correctly, stirring and wetting it from time to time, while paying attention to ensure that the entire mass is moistened evenly. The mass must be stirred 5 times every five days to start the necessary processes in the resulting mass.
• After this, bring the temperature to the required twenty-five degrees, and begin to place the mass in the container. Make sure that the layer thickness does not exceed 30 centimeters.

Preparing and laying the soil

Before moving on to this point, we note that growing champignons at home requires certain conditions, and if it is difficult for you to equip the necessary conditions in your apartment, you can safely grow them in the basement, using the same recommendations.

• We return to the process of laying the soil, for which you need to equip racks or boxes, which are best placed on top of each other to save space. The optimal dimensions of the box in this case are a height of 25 centimeters, a width of 50 and a length of 100 centimeters.
• After filling the boxes, you begin the tamping process, as a result of which you should have a flat surface. An important detail: if you lay compost in open ground, it is best when the ground is sufficiently warm.

Planting mycelium

Regardless of where you are going to grow champignons - in a greenhouse, apartment or garage - you will need to use special champignon (in this case, compost) mycelium, which will require approximately half a kilo for each square meter of compost.

Reference! Mycelium is a sterile mycelium that is grown exclusively in laboratory conditions to obtain high yields. Sold in containers of 1 or 2 kilograms, there may also be large containers for industrial cultivation of mushrooms).

Technically it goes like this:

1. In the already prepared soil, you place portions of mycelium measuring approximately 5 by 7 centimeters at a distance of 30 centimeters from each other, placing them in a checkerboard pattern. The laying process is as follows: with a sharp object - a stick, a small spatula - you lift the “ground”, equip a small depression in which you place the mycelium. Then you cover this place back and press it, ensuring maximum contact of the mycelium with the ground.
2. It remains to add that if you grow champignons in the garden, then in the area you scatter the mycelium directly onto the soil, covering it on top with a layer of substrate (compost) five centimeters thick. In open ground conditions, you use grain mycelium rather than compost. When purchasing grain mycelium, keep in mind that it must be grown in laboratory conditions; this is more likely to ensure success when growing champignons.
3. But that is not all. Especially for beginners, we point out that after about one to two weeks, your mycelium will begin to grow, and you will need to prepare another substrate to cover it. If your mycelium is in an apartment or house, you will need a substrate consisting of 9/10 peat (many people use sown soil) and 1/10 chalk. If you grow champignons in the garden, then add 1/4 of the soil from the garden to the mixture of peat and chalk so that there is half a quintal of soil per square meter of substrate. Do not forget to also moisten the soil and regularly ventilate the room if you have mycelium in your home.

Caring for mushrooms

When you see photos of beautiful and appetizing mushrooms, know that their appearance and quality largely depend on how they are cared for. Regardless of whether you grow champignons for personal use or it is your business, and then you need production on an industrial scale, the main components of proper care are still the maintenance of two conditions:

1. maintaining the required humidity level: within 60-65% percent;
2. optimal room temperature: at 20 degrees before the mycelium grows (within one to two weeks after backfilling). As the mycelium grows, lower the temperature to 15-16 degrees and maintain it.

Harvesting

Four months have passed and the time has come to harvest the long-awaited harvest. Do not cut off beautiful mushrooms under any circumstances - they must be twisted out, immediately filling the area with soil and moistening it. If you doubt that you will harvest correctly, watch the video, which shows this process in detail and follow the recommendations.

If you did everything correctly, then one square meter of mycelium can easily provide you with 10-12 kilograms of hard-grown mushrooms, some of which can be used for sale, and you can harvest the next harvest in one or a week and a half.

We would like to wish you a good and rich harvest, and that you have these tasty and healthy products on your table all year round.

Video: Instructions on how to grow champignon mushrooms at home from a ready-made kit

It can be argued that representatives of champignon mushrooms are one of the most common edible mushrooms; there are more than 60 species of them. You can meet representatives of this family on all continents except Antarctica; they can grow not only in the forest, but also in the field, in the garden or meadow, in open areas in the steppe and desert. Active growth of mushrooms, provided there is sufficient nutrition and soil moisture in the middle zone, can be observed from May to October. Having studied the conditions for growing champignons, you can easily master the technology for producing them at your summer cottage, not only in the warm season, but also in winter. Champignons are used to prepare various dishes, including original sauces. In Mediterranean countries they prefer to be used raw in salads.

Description of the mushroom

Since champignons are classified as saprophytic plants, humus-enriched soils can be considered an ideal place for them to live, so they can often be found on a forest edge covered with a thick layer of fallen leaves or on a pasture manured by cattle. Successful industrial cultivation of the fungus will also require an environment rich in decomposing organic compounds.

For industrial cultivation, two types of champignon are used:

• four-spore two-ringed
• bisporous.

Meadow and field mushrooms are bred less frequently.

Champignons are hat mushrooms; they have a central stem, its height is 5-6 cm. The mushroom cap usually has a diameter of 5 to 10 cm, but you can find individuals with a cap more than 30 cm in diameter. At the beginning of growth, the mushroom has a bell-shaped or spherical cap, then it becomes convex and outstretched.

Based on the color of the cap, mushrooms are divided into several groups:

• milky color
• white,
• creamy,
• brown, so-called royal champignons.

As the mushroom grows, the shade of its plates changes: if in a young mushroom they have a delicate, pinkish color, then in an older one they are red-brown, then they become dark burgundy.

Where are champignons grown?

To grow champignons in a suburban area, you can use:

• beds and trenches dug in the garden - in summer,
• basements, greenhouses, greenhouses, dugouts, sheds - in the cold season.

Ideal conditions can be considered premises with air humidity of about 85-90% and a temperature above 12°C, preferably in the range from 13 to 30°C. Regarding illumination, it should be noted that champignon is not picky about it; a good harvest can be obtained by growing mushrooms in a dark room.

Substrate preparation

The main attention should be paid to the preparation of the nutrient medium, i.e. substrate. Compost is prepared by mixing straw bedding with fresh horse manure. Straw obtained from winter cereal crops with a mixture of horse and cow manure is often used. But if necessary, pig or sheep manure or chicken droppings are also successfully used; straw is replaced with chopped corn stalks or fallen leaves from trees.

Experts warn: you should never use rotten straw or rotted manure!

To improve the quality of the substrate, add to it:

• ammonium sulfate or urea,
• alabaster, gypsum or chalk as mineral additives.

A stock of manure or chicken droppings intended for preparing a nutrient medium is placed in stacks on a leveled and covered with roofing felt or concrete area, compacted well, then covered - the possibility of exposure to sunlight or rainwater should be excluded. You can also use a shed for storage. They begin to prepare the substrate in advance, about a month before it needs to be placed in boxes, trenches or beds.

Straw mixed with manure is composted, i.e. provoke its decomposition under the influence of microorganisms. Since a host plant is not required for the growth of champignons, it is possible to grow champignons at home only if the champignon compost contains a sufficient amount of:

• nitrogenous compounds obtained from manure,
• carbon, which wheat and rye straw contains in large quantities,
• calcium, which is contained in the chalk additive.

In addition, the quality of compost is increased by adding complex mineral fertilizers and meat and bone meal. The addition of gypsum helps to structure the compost mass and prevent it from caking.

Successful cultivation of champignons largely depends on the recipe and how accurately the compost mass is made in accordance with it. Experienced mushroom growers have their own time-tested formulas for the highest quality substrate. Beginning amateur benders can use the following formulas: to 12 kg of fresh wheat straw, add 1 kg of gypsum or chalk, 25 g of ammonium sulfate, 8 kg of fresh cow or horse manure, or chicken manure. Depending on the type of manure, it will take from 23 to 26 days to prepare the substrate.

If mushrooms are grown throughout the year, you will need to prepare a room with a temperature higher than +10 degrees - this is the optimal temperature for preparing the substrate. If you plan to grow mushrooms in the summer-autumn period, then a moisture-proof canopy over a concrete or asphalt-covered area will be sufficient - the mass should not have contact with the ground.

The technology for preparing compost mass is as follows:

• the straw is crushed and moistened,
• after two days it is laid in layers, alternating a layer of straw and a layer of manure,
• As the straw and manure are laid, they are moistened with water and pre-diluted mineral fertilizers.

The optimal dimensions of the heap are 1.5 m in height and the same in width. When forming a heap, you should remember that it must contain at least 100 kg of straw - with less of it, fermentation may be slow or not start at all - the heating temperature will be too low. The greater the amount of substrate that is prepared simultaneously in the pile, the higher its quality will be and the greater the amount of mycelium can be obtained.

The heap will need to be rebuilt after 5-7 days, which will require additional moisture for each layer. The interruption is carried out in such a way that the areas located on the outside move inside the collar, and the inside areas move outside. In the process of preparing one portion, it is recommended to perform the interruption 4 times - each of them will lead to equalization of the time required to complete the process - the fact is that it occurs at different depths in different ways. Moisturizing is done daily, but you should not give more water than the formed pile can hold.

Usually, readiness is determined by the disappearance of the ammonia smell and the mass acquiring a dark brown color. As a rule, this happens on the third day after the last breaking of the heap. Now you can form compost beds with a layer at least 10 cm thick for planting mycelium, or put the compost in special containers or polyethylene bags with a layer of 20 cm.

How to sow champignon mycelium

Experienced mushroom growers recommend buying mycelium from well-known manufacturers - if the technology was violated during its production, or its warehousing and storage were carried out incorrectly, then it is very likely that the thread-like formations called hyphae died - in this case, the growth of the mycelium will not occur. The best option is vegetative propagation of champignons, when the mycelium obtained in the laboratory is sown. Most often, rooms with constantly high humidity and stable temperature are used for sowing mycelium, for example, cellars. If the mycelium is purchased in the form of compost blocks, then you will not need to prepare compost yourself.

Only cooled compost is suitable for sowing mycelium - to reduce the temperature, spread it out in a thin layer and wait until it drops below +25 degrees. It is recommended to maintain this condition - otherwise, the subsequent increase in temperature after sowing will lead to inhibition of the development of the mycelium or its death.

Sowing is carried out according to the following standards: 1 ton of compost will require 6 kg or 10 liters of grain mycelium. If you grow mushrooms for your own consumption, in small quantities, then you can focus on the following standards: one two-hundred-gram package of mycelium per 40 kg of substrate. It is sown in prepared holes that are about 8 cm deep and located in increments of at least 15 cm between the rows and holes in the row itself. Adjacent rows should have holes arranged in a checkerboard pattern. Seeding can be done manually or using a special cutter and roller.

To maintain stable humidity, the substrate, after sowing the mycelium, is covered with straw mats or burlap. To prevent diseases of the mycelium, it is recommended to treat it every third day with a two percent formaldehyde solution.

In the case of cultivation using uncovered technology, the air is humidified by watering the floor and walls - moisture getting on the compost can cause mycelium disease. The best temperature for the growth of mycelium is + 23 C, while the substrate temperature should be within 24-25 degrees.

It will take 10-12 days for the mycelium to grow under optimal temperature conditions. During this period, a large number of thin white hyphae will appear in the substrate. If the threads become noticeable on the surface, they need to be covered with a layer of peat mixed with a small amount of chalk. It is recommended to adhere to the following proportion: for 6 parts of peat, take 1 part of chalk and 3 parts of dolomite chips. The thickness of the poured layer should be about 3-4 cm.

After 4-5 days after this procedure, it is recommended to reduce the room temperature to +17C. You should also start watering the top layer of compost using a watering can. The amount of water should not be large - it should moisten only the top layer, without going into the compost layer.

It is very important that during sowing of the mycelium and during the growing process there is an air flow into the room - if the carbon dioxide content in the air exceeds the norm, the growth of mushrooms will slow down. Humidity should be kept at 60-70% throughout the process. Fruiting of mushrooms will begin approximately on the twentieth to twenty-fifth day after planting the mycelium. Fruiting occurs simultaneously, the breaks between its peaks can be 3-5 days. The duration of the period is from 50 to 60 days.

Successful cultivation of champignons ends with harvesting, which is done manually, as if twisting the mushroom out of the mycelium. It is desirable that the air temperature during the harvesting period be from +12 to +18 C. To prevent spots from appearing on the champignon caps, the room is well ventilated before starting work. Experienced mushroom pickers determine the best time for harvesting by observing the film connecting the champignon cap to the stem - it is necessary that it stretches well, but it is undesirable to allow it to break. After harvesting, the mushrooms are sorted, setting aside damaged and overripe specimens.

Harvest every other day or daily. When fruiting ends with the substrate, it will be possible to fertilize the soil in the beds.

How to grow mushrooms in garden beds

You can also use regular open-air beds to grow champignons. This method is more economical and does not require large financial outlays. The main task is proper preparation of compost. To prepare it, you can use horse or chicken manure. In the process of preparing it, which lasts about a month, you will need:

• mix the manure, pour it with a hot urea solution and compact it,
• after 10 days, shake the pile, add chalk and form a new pile, less dense,
• after the next 10 days, add superphosphate, compact again and wait until the substrate reaches a crumbly state and turns brown.

A layer of substrate up to 35 cm thick should be laid out on the bed, the mycelium can be planted at a compost temperature of about +23 +25 C, the air temperature should not be lower than +20 C. The size of the mycelium for planting in one hole should be the size of a chicken egg, optimal the depth of the hole is 5 cm. After planting, the holes are covered with substrate, watered, and covered with a layer of film or newspaper to retain moisture in the soil.

After 20 days, when the mycelium appears, the cover is removed and the bed is covered with a layer of peat mixed with turf soil. Fruiting in open ground continues for two months; the harvest should be harvested in a timely manner - otherwise the mycelium will be severely depleted. Watering the area should be done twice a week with heated water from a watering can.