Names of mushrooms that can be grown year-round (+21 photos)

Mushrooms

What could be more delightful than the aroma of freshly made boletus mushroom soup or potatoes with champignons? Pickled oyster mushrooms are also a delightful culinary treat. But what if the harvest of milk mushrooms and chanterelles is still a long way off, and the champignons you see in the supermarket don't inspire confidence? A possible solution could be a "forest on the windowsill," as mushrooms can actually be grown at home year-round.

Peculiarities of growing mushrooms at home

Of course, not all mushroom species can be grown in artificial conditions. However, harvesting mushrooms at home is no longer an insurmountable problem. There are many ways to do this: bring mycelium from the forest and plant it in the garden, purchase spawn and grow a harvest from it, or prepare your own mushroom "seedlings" and enjoy mushroom picking in your own garden, basement, cellar, greenhouse, or even on your windowsill.

Conditions

When considering home cultivation, it's important to decide on the species. All mushrooms potentially suitable for home cultivation can be divided into two groups: woody and soil-dwelling. Based on this, the growing conditions and methods are determined.

Straw—wheat, barley, or rye—is best for growing. However, all material must be fresh, otherwise the crop may be threatened by pathogenic bacteria.

It's best to purchase planting material from specialized retailers, opting for viable fungal organisms. And, of course, it's essential to maintain the appropriate temperature and humidity levels—keep them warm during the incubation period and cool during the growth period. The optimal humidity is at least 85-90%, and the temperature is approximately 25-27°C initially, and 12-18°C after germination.

Please note!

Choosing a growing area or location is important. It should be as isolated as possible, as airborne fungal spores can cause not only allergic reactions but also contaminate other areas.

Inventory and equipment

Selecting the right tools is an important step in mushroom cultivation. It depends primarily on the method used to grow the mycelium. You can buy ready-made mycelium, but experienced mushroom growers recommend making your own using one of two methods: grain substrate or wood. The choice depends on the type of mycelium you intend to grow. In any case, the next step is to decide on the location and how to store the prepared containers.

In the chosen room, place shelves or racks on which containers with the prepared substrate are placed. It's preferable to choose metal racks rather than wooden ones, as wood quickly deteriorates in damp conditions. If you've chosen oyster mushrooms, you can use simple plastic bags or sacks filled with the substrate.

Technologies

Growing technologies depend on both the type of plants selected and the growing location:

The easiest way to grow honey mushrooms is in a jar. This method is the simplest, but it won't allow you to grow anything other than this particular mushroom. In this case, the container with the substrate is simmered over low heat, then, after cooling, it's covered with mycelium and placed in a room temperature room, covered with cheesecloth. After about three weeks, the mycelium will germinate, and the jar containing the future harvest is moved to a cool, shaded area.
Honey mushrooms in a jar
Another affordable option that doesn't require much expense is to transport the mycelium from the forest to your property yourself. It can be placed near trees, on stumps or wooden logs dug into the ground. The mycelium should be placed under a tree species with which the fruiting bodies can form mycorrhiza.
A common and simple method for growing mushrooms is using plastic bags. This method is most often used for oyster mushrooms or shiitake mushrooms, but experienced mushroom growers also use it for button mushrooms. The substrate is poured into the bags, which are slightly slit, and inoculated with mycelium. By placing these bags in a specially equipped room, on shelves, or suspended from the ceiling, harvesting is very simple – the mushrooms are simply cut off, and new ones soon grow in their place.
Oyster mushrooms in bags

Types of mushrooms for growing all year round

Of course, some of the described methods are only suitable for certain times of the year. It's difficult to grow mushrooms outdoors if the ground is frozen or covered in a thick blanket of snow. However, in specially equipped areas—greenhouses or basements—you can harvest year-round. The most common species suitable for year-round cultivation are oyster mushrooms, button mushrooms, and shiitake.

Oyster mushrooms

They are the most undemanding variety. They require minimal care and investment, produce their first harvest quickly, and bear fruit for quite a long time.

The substrate can be wheat, rye, or barley straw, which must be fresh, clean, dry, and free of mold and foreign odors.

Oyster mushrooms don't require special lighting; they can survive with virtually no light. They are best kept in basements, filled with mycelium-containing substrate in plastic bags placed on racks or suspended from the ceiling.

The bags are first cut lengthwise, and the mushrooms emerge at the cut points. A prerequisite for successful cultivation is a gradual decrease in temperature—this simulates the onset of autumn cold, the time when oyster mushrooms actively mature in the wild.

Interesting!

At different times of the year, the harvest can be completed in as little as 30-45 days. Oyster mushrooms are considered the earliest to ripen, and they bear fruit for a long time, up to five years.

Champignon

Unlike oyster mushrooms, champignons are finicky and require specific conditions. However, their flavor is so excellent that they're worth the effort.

Champignons thrive in moisture, shade, high-quality compost, and horse manure. They are best kept in special rooms with temperature control, as they require different temperatures at different stages of growth.

The optimal soil is considered to be manure, preferably horse manure, and if it is not available, cow manure, diluted with straw and leaves, can be suitable.

Mushrooms don't grow immediately. Their shoots resemble mold, which gradually develops into a small, knot-like mushroom. Only after 45 to 55 days can you boast of your first harvest. Mushroom myceliums can bear fruit for up to three months.

Shiitake

A popular product of the Far East, the shiitake mushroom is a relatively new addition to the tables of our compatriots. It is considered to be significantly superior in taste to oyster mushrooms and champignons, and its cultivation method makes it a worthy competitor. These exotic mushrooms are quite capable of growing at home and in the countryside, not only in specialized facilities.

Shiitake are grown either in a substrate or on logs and stumps. Sawdust—up to 90% sawdust—and various additives are considered the optimal substrate. Sawdust should preferably be from deciduous trees, such as oak, beech, maple, alder, birch, and aspen.

Stumps and logs are also necessary, and the mycelium is introduced into the holes made. Regardless of how shiitake are grown, they require humidity and low light. In the wild, shiitake thrive during the rainy season. Therefore, when grown indoors, they require active "bathing" and moisture.

Mushrooms take a long time to germinate, up to 2-2.5 months, in warm conditions, and ripen in cool and humid conditions, yielding a harvest within 4-6 months.

Answers to frequently asked questions

Will mushrooms grow on a windowsill in an apartment?

Honey mushrooms are quite possible to grow. Of course, you first need to germinate the mycelium in a warm place, and once it matures, move the container with the substrate to the windowsill.

Can I use store-bought mushroom spores?

It's possible. However, in this case, it will take quite a while from planting the spores to harvesting the first crop. Growing mushrooms from mycelium and spores is similar to growing plants from seedlings and seeds. While you can certainly get a decent-sized plant by purchasing seeds, the process will take time and require a lot of effort and patience.

Will mushroom growing business be profitable?

Demand for mushrooms is high year-round, and cultivation, especially of oyster mushrooms, requires little skill or experience. All that's needed is a space, high-quality substrate, and mycelium. It takes about six weeks from planting to harvesting the first crop. Provided there's a market and the time to devote to this business, it can certainly be profitable and lucrative.

Mushrooms are a worthy staple. Their nutritional properties, rich composition, and delicious flavor have earned them many admirers. This is why humanity has found ways to enjoy this healthy and delicious protein practically year-round, regardless of the temperature outside.