Guide on Cultivating Oyster Mushrooms Within a Laundry Basket
Growing your own oyster mushrooms at home can be a rewarding and delicious endeavour. Here's a step-by-step guide, provided by horticulturist and botanical designer Nathan Heinrich, on how to grow these versatile mushrooms using a simple laundry basket.
Firstly, you'll need a plastic laundry basket with plenty of ventilation holes. Gather your supplies: a large pot or tub for pasteurizing the substrate, mushroom spawn (grain or sawdust), substrate (such as straw, hardwood sawdust, or a premade mushroom mix), a plastic sheet or humidity tent, a spray bottle, thermometer, hygrometer, rubber gloves, twine or elastic bands, and a clean work area.
Begin by soaking the straw in hot water for at least one hour to pasteurize it. After soaking and cooling, wring out the excess moisture, and cut the straw into 1 to 3 inch lengths. Now, layer the straw in the laundry basket, keeping the layers about 3 inches thick and pressing them down gently without over-packing. Scatter the mushroom spawn into the straw after every layer, with a ratio of 90% straw to 10% mushroom spawn.
Cover the basket with clear plastic to maintain humidity during the incubation period. During this time, which lasts between 2 and 4 weeks and occurs in a warm and dark room or grow tent with temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, regularly check humidity levels under the plastic cover and spray with distilled water to maintain high moisture levels. A humidity sensor is helpful during the fruiting phase to ensure humidity is between 85% and 95%.
Once the heads of the mushrooms flatten out, they are ready to harvest. Make sure they are picked before the tips curl upward. To trigger the mushrooms to fruit, move the basket into a cooler space with indirect light and a lower temperature of 55 - 65 degrees.
Oyster mushrooms are often used as a meat substitute due to their fibrous texture and ability to absorb flavors. They provide an endless supply for making various delicious dinners and healthy snacks. Prices for oyster mushrooms range from $5 to $15 per pound, depending on how they're grown and where you live.
Before starting the process, ensure that you do not have an allergy to oyster mushrooms. Happy growing!
Note: The author of this information on growing oyster mushrooms in a laundry basket is not specified.
