Substrates are a basic essential for mushroom growing.  A better understanding of substrates will allow more success in growing mushrooms.   

Some of the most common types of substrates include:

• Straw
• Logs
• Sawdust
• Cardboard
• Compost

Oat, Rye, and wheat straw also known as cereal straw serves as a good substrate for growing mushrooms.  It is cheap and readily available.  It is also good for several mushroom types.  Cereal straw is one of the most versatile substrates available.  There is some disadvantages of using straw including the need to treat the straw with heat pasteurization before using to remove the microbes which could inhibit mushroom growth.

Logs can be successfully used as a mushroom substrate.  It is important to select the type of wood, which the mushroom you will be growing, grows on in the wild.  Common woods for log substrates include:

• Beech
• Alder
• Ash
• Elm
• Cottonwood

Hardwoods of a thicker type like oak take a longer time prior for mushroom production.  One of the advantages of using logs is that mushrooms can be produced for several years on the same log.

Enriched sawdust is another substrate that can effectively be used to grow mushrooms.   Since sawdust does come from wood the same factors that should be considered in selecting a type of log should be applied to selecting a type of sawdust.  Sawdust by itself may not be rich enough to grow mushrooms but enriching sawdust with a supplement of nitrogen  can be an effective substrate.  More mushrooms will be yielded with enriched sawdust rather than just sawdust.  One of the drawbacks to using sawdust is that it has to be sterilized much like straw to remove the microscopic competitors.

A lot of mushroom growing kits use sawdust blocks but these blocks come prepared for your ease of use.

These mushrooms are best when fresh making them a great choice to grow.  Mushrooms that are home grown are usually more flavorful than those you will buy in the supermarket.  

Growing these mushrooms at home can be very easily done with cardboard and inoculated sawdust.   You will need a location to grow the mushrooms that is cool. 

First you will need a piece of cardboard about 2 by 3 feet in size.  After soaking the cardboard with water you should peel the cardboard open to reveal the ribbed site of the cardboard.  The inoculated sawdust is then plated on the side of the wet cardboard that is ribbed.  Roll up the cardboard and use duct tape to keep the cardboard from unrolling.  The roll should then be placed in an area where the humidity is maintained at 95 percent and the temperature stays 60-64 Fahrenheit such as a greenhouse.  The cardboard should be kept moist by spraying with a water bottle as needed.  

The thing to remember is the importance of moisture and temperature control when growing porcini mushrooms.  The elements area essential for growing Porcini mushrooms.

Porcini spores can be purchased for sawdust inoculation.  By growing these mushroom at home you will have a fresh supply for all of your Italian cooking needs.  The delicate taste of these mushrooms will add flavor to the dishes you prepare.

During certain seasons and in certain areas these mushrooms can be grown in your garden as long as the temperature stays when the required range.

Learn how to grow other types of mushrooms for your eating pleasure with our how to grow mushrooms ebook.

Anyone can grow mushrooms of the exotic type.  Today there are commercial kits available to get you started in the process of growing mushrooms.

When deciding which type of exotic mushroom you want to cultivate there are several things that should be considered.

1.  Space.  You will need to look at the space you have available for mushroom cultivation.  Larger quantities of mushrooms can be grown outdoors as compared to indoor space.  Small spaces on a porch, den, or a corner in the kitchen can be used for indoor cultivation.
2. Exotic mushrooms require shade.
3. Consider your taste and texture preference.  Each exotic mushroom has its unique texture and flavor.  Select the type you like best.
4. Consider the price for the different types of exotic mushroom growing kits.

Kits are a great way for the beginner to get started with mushroom cultivation.   The process is well outlined and the kit usually has all the materials needed for mushroom cultivation.

After you have gained confidence with obtaining a harvest of mushrooms from your purchased kit you can look at other types of mushrooms cultivations.  Many people continue to use the cultivation kits because of their ease of use and success.

If you are not sure which type of mushroom you would like to cultivate you can make a selection and then try another type later.   You may be like most mushroom lovers and find that you enjoy cultivating and eating several different types of mushrooms.

Don’t hesitate you can enjoy cultivating mushrooms today and enjoy the fruits of your labor in just a few short weeks.   The added flavor and texture of your home grown exotic mushrooms to your favorite dishes is sure to be rewarding.

Shiitake mushrooms grow naturally in the wild and can also be successfully cultivated.   Knowing when and how to harvest the Shiitake Mushrooms will provide a wonderful addition to your culinary efforts.

The Shiitake mushroom is ready for harvest with the mushroom cap is opened about 50-70%.  This is generally about when the veil breaks.  The veil is located between the stem and cap.     It is during this stage the cap edges remain rolled beneath the cap.

Harvesting Shiitake from logs
Shiitake mushrooms can be broken from the log upon which they are growing by using a twisting and pulling motion.   The mushrooms can also be removed by cutting them from the bark of log.  There should only be a small amount of wood remaining on the stem.    You can trim the stem base off using scissors or a knife after harvesting.

Harvesting Shiitake from sawdust
Sawdust grown shiitake usually have stems that are longer than those gone on logs.  You will want to trim the stems to prevent the sawdust which clings to the stems from falling into the gills of other mushrooms.  Keep the stem length under two thirds of the size of the cap diameter.

Storage
The fresh picked mushrooms should be placed in a container providing maximum ventilation and cooling.  Plastic containers specifically for mushrooms can be purchased.  These containers usually accommodate 6-15 pounds of mushrooms.

The size of the mushroom varies by species from only a few inches to surprisingly several metres.  Mushrooms absorb water and will grow astonishingly quickly when large amounts of water have been absorbed.  The fruit appears almost overnight.

Both animals and humans eat from the fruits of the mushroom body.  There are an abundance of types of mushrooms with species totally more than two thousand.   Most of these mushrooms are poisonous with only 2.5 to 5% of the mushrooms being edible.  Another unique feature of these poisonous mushrooms is that they often take on the appearance of the edible mushrooms.   This can prove to be fatal for the careless hunter and lover of mushrooms.

The toxic components of the mushroom become elusive.  Some of the mushrooms have enough toxins to cause sudden death to the person eating them.  Yet other types of mushrooms build up toxins within a person over time.  These mushrooms if eaten may not be associated with any problems until one fatal day when the toxins of the last mushroom accumulate to a deadly proportion in the persons’ body.

Medicinal Mushrooms
Chinese medicine has used mushrooms essentially for years.  Mushrooms are known to contain, vitamin B, C, and D.  Mushrooms are recognized as lowering cholesterol and blood pressure.  Some have indicated that mushroom may prevent cancer.

The mushroom is a mystical addition to your cultivation and culinary delight.

Several varieties of mushrooms are in season during the fall time.   These wonderful, rich and flavorful varieties make for a perfect complement or addition to other harvest vegetables.  For a unique flavor and eye appealing dish add a few of your favorite mushrooms to any harvest dish to awaken your family and guests taste buds.

Mushrooms make a delicious warm soup that is just the right addition to any meal on a cool fall evening.  The earthy smell of the mushrooms enhance the harvest flavors and smells that are indicative of the fall season.     Those who enjoy gardening should consider mushroom cultivation as a complement to their other gardening passions.

Try this mushroom recipe out for flavor as the weather gets cool this fall.

Fall Harvest Soup

• 1 large sweet potato
• 1 squash
• ½ onion
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup fresh mushrooms
• Water
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• Dash pepper
• Garlic if desired.

Peel and dice sweet potato, squash, onion.  Place prepared vegetables in large pot.  Add chicken broth, salt, cinnamon, pepper.   Add water to 2 inches above other ingredients.  Cook over medium high heat to boiling.  Reduce heat and simmer until vegetables are tender.    Adding water if needed.  The potatoes, squash, and mushrooms should cook down to make a rich flavorful soup.

Mushrooms can be dried and used in dishes throughout the year for a little robust flavor in the general and holiday recipes.   Mushroom kits are a simple way to start mushroom cultivation.

Another difference found in the production of mushroom is they reproduce asexually by spore and sexually by way of underground growth.   One of the challenges in growing mushrooms is the potential of airborne microorganism contamination.  

The active culture of a growing mushroom is referred to as Mycelium.  The mycelium or culture is put on a substrate for seeding.  This process is referred to as inoculation.   Another type of inoculation is spores.   Spores are not as developed as mycelium.  Spores should only be handled in a lab setting under a laminar flow cabinet.

Various substrates are used for growing various types of mushrooms.   Some substrate options includes sawdust and logs.   Cultivation of different types of mushrooms has specific details about how to achieve success in cultivation.

Atmospheric conditions are essential to successfully growing mushrooms.  Continuous monitoring and adjustments to maintain the recommended atmospheric condition is vital in mushroom production.

Following the established guidelines mushroom cultivation will provide for a rewarding harvest of delicious mushrooms.