Growing mushrooms at home using Canadian technology (+15 photos)

Without a doubt, mushrooms are a healthy and nutritious food, containing vitamins A, B, B1, E, PP, and other essential nutrients. Including mushrooms in your diet adds variety and a unique flavor to your dishes.

Therefore, mushroom lovers are increasingly considering cultivating it at home. Canadian mushroom growing technology, used in Europe, the CIS, America, and Russia, allows mushroom lovers to grow mushrooms at home without any special skills.

Features of Canadian technology

This method was patented by Food&Health Tec, a company with offices in other countries. They produce a special substrate with fertilizers that allows mushrooms to be grown in a unique way, even in the comfort of your own home. Representatives claim that growing mushrooms at home or in the garden using this Canadian method requires no special knowledge or skills, no large investment, and no dedicated space with equipment.

Using this method, you can grow many types of mushrooms:

• champignons;
• honey mushrooms;
• chanterelles;
• oyster mushrooms;
• porcini mushrooms.

This technology allows for harvesting throughout the year, ensuring the safety and purity of your home-grown produce.

Set composition

On the Russian market, the product is available from authorized representatives who hold certificates and sell special kits for cultivating forest species. These kits consist of the following components:

• a cardboard box with a growing substrate (the so-called mushroom bed);
• mycelium packed in a separate container;
• composition for mycelium germination;
• special complex of minerals.

Thanks to these components, you can grow homemade fruiting bodies for use in cooking.

Step-by-step growing algorithm

Although there are several companies on the market offering their own mushroom growing kits using the method developed by Canadian scientists, the growing process is identical and consists of the following simple steps:

1. Using scissors or another sharp object, you need to cut the protective film on the box in the place specially designated for this.
2. Dilute the mineral complex for germination in water and spray it on the soil in the box.
3. Place it in the chosen place, preferably dark and not hot.
4. Spray the substrate with plain water from a spray bottle several times a day.
5. The first harvest will appear at the site of the box cut in 4-5 weeks.

Each kit comes with detailed instructions with pictures to help you do everything correctly and achieve the desired result.

Pros and cons of mushroom growing methods

The Canadian method of mushroom cultivation is unconventional; it requires neither special skills nor investment, and its main advantage is its ease of use. Opinions on its effectiveness have been divided between enthusiastic reviews and negative criticism.

Mushroom forums and websites feature video reviews of this technology, some of which claim the method is questionable and doesn't produce any real results, with the cultivation process ending in failure. Let's consider both the positive and negative experiences of mushroom enthusiasts.

The advantages of the proposed product, as stated by the manufacturer:

• guaranteed early harvest - within a month from planting;
• environmentally friendly product at the output;
• no need to work in damp and cold rooms:
• minimal financial investment;
• saving home space;
• safety of the processing process;
• does not require special knowledge;
• Excellent taste qualities of the grown mushroom.

The negative factors identified by the experience of people who have used this method are as follows:

• the substrate does not germinate after the stated period;
• There is no mycelium at all in the kits offered;
• There are many counterfeit versions of the product being sold;
• the actual price of the grown mushroom at the output is very high;
• Buying similar varieties in a store is easier in terms of time and expected harvest quantity.

Customer reviews

Below are reviews from real customers who have tried growing various types of mushrooms at home using Canadian technology:

Ivan: "I've been growing oyster mushrooms in my garage for quite some time. I love the process, and I enjoy the results. It's definitely not an easy process, labor-intensive, and requires constant attention. I was pleasantly surprised by the simplified technology that came from overseas. Now I'm also growing chanterelles."

Sergey: "Despite some skepticism, I tried a porcini mushroom mycelium kit purchased online. The yield was quite decent, and I have no complaints about the taste. The ease of care is truly surprising. I recommend paying attention to the company offering the product and whether they have the necessary documentation, as there are many Chinese and domestic alternatives that don't work and cause negative reviews."

Marina: "I bought a miracle box of mushrooms, followed the instructions, and got no results. I watered the soil thoroughly, but nothing grew. The store's website offered quality certificates. Basically, my expectations of growing my own mushrooms without chemicals were unmet. I don't believe this method works and consider it a fairy tale for grown-ups who just want to grow something."

Margot: "The idea of ​​growing this product on your balcony is excellent. It's a godsend for those who love and appreciate everything organic and chemical-free. I tried growing these mushrooms because I really love adding them to my dishes. The results were quickly disappointing, as the harvest was very small, and I didn't want to wait for the next one. I figured that with the prices of this variety in the store, it would be cheaper for me to buy them five times as often. The method works, but I think it needs to be improved to at least double the yield."

Answers to frequently asked questions

Will growing mushrooms indoors cause dampness? No, the mushroom box itself is small and doesn't require a humid or damp environment for the fruiting bodies to thrive. If you follow the mushroom care instructions, there's no risk of mold growing in your apartment or house.

Growing mushrooms at home is undoubtedly an interesting and rewarding hobby. The technology requires little skill or effort. Whether or not you believe the promises of this Canadian technology is a personal choice, but the only way to truly see if it works is through personal experience.