Life Cycle Of Mushrooms
- Vegetative growth of mycelium.
Spores germinate in the substrate (what the mushroom grows on) and form hyphae, thin fungal threads that weave through the substrate and digest it. The collection of hyphae is called mycelium.
- Reproductive growth and forming of fruiting bodies.
The hyphae consume enough nutrients that they begin to form fruit: mushrooms. These could be the typical stalk-and-cap variety, or they may be in another form.
- Spore production by fruiting bodies.
Spores are produced by the mushroom and when mature, millions are released, which germinate in a new substrate, continuing the life cycle of these delicacies.
Feeding Habits
Mushroom feeding habits can be split into 3 categories:
- Saprobic: Grows on dead organic matter.
- Symbiotic: Forms relationships with trees (e.g. chanterelles) where fungi help trees mine nutrients and transport water and in return the tree feeds the fungi sugars in return.
- Parasitic: The mushroom attacks a living tree and becomes a disease to the tree.
Growing Your Own Mushrooms
Substrates
Composted substrates:
- Straw
- Corn cobs
- Hay
- Other agricultural products
Wood substrates:
- Hardwood logs
- Sawdust
Symbiotic substrate:
- Inoculation of roots of living trees (chanterelles)
Specific mushrooms prefer different conditions and substrates, for example…
| Substrate | Mushrooms Suitable |
| Rice straw | Straw, oyster, common |
| Wheat | Oyster, common, straw, roundhead |
| Saw dust | Shiitake, oyster, pom pom, ear, Ganoderma, maitake, winter |
| Coffee pulp | Oyster, shiitake |
| Sawdust and straw | Oyster, roundhead |
| Cotton seed hulls | Oyster, shiitake |
| Logs (hardwood) | Shiitake, nameko, white jelly |
| Sawdust and rice bran | Nameko, Shiitake, Ear, Shaggy mane, Winter |
| Corn cobs | Oyster, shiitake, pom pom |
| Horse manure | Common |
| Water Hyacinth, water lily | Oyster, straw |
| Oil palm waste | Straw |
| Coconut coir | Oyster |
| Banana leaves | Straw |
| Distillers spent grain | Pom pom |
Process:
- Choose your substrate: Either pick a mushroom that grows on a substrate you have available or get a substrate to grow the specific mushrooms you desire.
- Pasteurize the substrate: This kills any fungi or diseases that might be present already.
- Spawning the beds: Add the spores you have bought or harvested to the substrate, then spawn the bed.
- Managing the growing conditions: This is the most difficult part. The substrate should be kept moist (more on this later).
Sterilization is an important part of mushroom growth and harvesting. Cleanliness is essential for indoor growing.
Do experiments to see which mushrooms are best suitable for your climate. Shiitakes are a good starting point for most regions…