Using Mushroom Kits.
Mushroom Growing Kits have been available for sale in Australia for many years. They seem to be making a comeback with more varieties of mushrooms available for growing in kit form. Growing mushrooms from kits is fairly easy and a great activity for family, you will need a dark place for your kit, but most people can successfully grow a variety of mushrooms at home with little fuss.
Mushrooms are easily grown at home using grow your own mushroom kits purchased online or at retail outlets.
Types of Mushrooms and Kits
Growing edible Mushrooms at home such as Button Mushrooms is the most popular however more exotic mushrooms such as Oyster and Shiitake mushrooms can also be obtained in spawn bags. Portabello or Swiss Brown Mushroom Kits are also available. Grow your own Mushroom Kits are also a great educational activity and are being used in Primary Schools across Australia.
Kits
Mushroom kits come complete with growing medium and spores in a box. All that is required is a cool dark place and a sprinkle of water. Good mushroom kits will contain full instructions.
A second type of kit is a Mushroom growing board, a little different but very effective.
All that is left over is spent mushroom compost, great for the garden…..
Mushroom growing kits are readily available for sale from online suppliers as well as from retail nurseries.
You can also find kits that work on a bag system, as well as kits that are made from all organic materials.
An interesting new addition is a kit that uses spent coffee grounds as a growing medium.
How many mushrooms will a kit grow?
Most kits will produce 3 crops over a period of 3 – 4 months. After this, you can compost the kit.
HOW DO MUSHROOM KITS WORK
All kits work in a similar manner, by using mushroom compost inoculated with mushroom spores (mycelium), they usually simply require the addition of moisture to activate the mushroom spores and begin growing mushrooms.
Mushroom kits are available that will grow a range of mushroom varieties including Shitake, Swiss Brown (Portebello), Oyster and White Button mushrooms.
All mushroom kits should come with specific growing instructions including :
- How to set up the Mushroom Kit
- Light requirements
- Moisture requirements
- Safety precautions
- Recycling instructions for spent or used mushroom kits
