Cultivating Your Own: A Beginner's Guide to Mushroom Farming

In recent years, mushroom farming has emerged as a lucrative venture, attracting enthusiasts and entrepreneurs alike. This fascinating niche within agriculture offers not only a sustainable source of income but also contributes to culinary diversity and promotes eco-friendly practices. In this comprehensive guide, we delve into the world of mushroom farming, exploring its benefits, methods, and potential for growth.

Mushrooms have captivated us for centuries, both for their culinary delights and mysterious lifecycle. But did you know you can cultivate these fascinating fungi at home or even start a small-scale business? Mushroom farming, also known as mycology, is a surprisingly accessible and rewarding practice. This guide provides a beginner's roadmap to cultivating your mushrooms, from choosing the right variety to harvesting your delicious bounty.

The Benefits of Mushroom Farming:

1. High Demand: With the growing interest in healthy eating and sustainable food sources, the demand for mushrooms continues to rise. Whether for gourmet restaurants, local markets, or health-conscious consumers, mushrooms are a sought-after commodity.

2. Year-Round Production: Unlike traditional crops, mushrooms can be cultivated indoors throughout the year, making it a viable option for farmers regardless of season or climate.

3. Minimal Space Requirements: Mushroom farming doesn't demand vast expanses of land. It can be done in small spaces such as basements, warehouses, or even unused rooms, making it accessible to urban and rural farmers alike.

4. Fast Turnaround: Compared to many other crops, mushrooms have a relatively short growth cycle. Depending on the variety, they can be ready for harvest within a few weeks, allowing for quick turnover and steady income.

Essential Steps in Mushroom Farming:

1. Selecting the Right Species: There are various types of mushrooms suited for cultivation, each with its own growth requirements and market demand. Common varieties include:

• Oyster mushrooms: Fast-growing and forgiving, oyster mushrooms come in various colours and have a mild, oyster-like flavour.
• White button mushrooms: The familiar white button mushrooms you find in stores are surprisingly easy to cultivate at home.
• Shiitake mushrooms: These flavourful mushrooms enjoy cooler temperatures and are a popular choice for home growers seeking a meatier texture.

Table 1. Requirements for Mushroom Cultivation (Reference: Borah et al. 2020)

Characters	Oyster Mushroom	Button Mushroom	Milky Mushroom	Paddy Straw Mushroom
Species	Pleurotus spp.	Agaricus spp.	Calocybe indica	Volveriella spp.
Growing Temperature	20-25°C	15-20°C	30-35°C	30-35°C
Relative Humidity	85%	85-95%	85%	85-95%
Total Life Cycle	35-45 days	90 days	45-50 days	90 days
Days for the first harvest	15-25 days	60-70 days	24-28 days	10-15 days
Protein %	23.6	23.9	32	23.9
Shelf Life after harvesting (days)
Normal condition	2	2	3	1
Refrigerated	3	3	5-7	2

Table 2. Medicinal properties of Mushrooms (Reference: Borah et al. 2020)

Mushroom Species	Common Name	Compounds	Medicinal Properties
Ganoderma lucidum	Reishi mushroom	Ganoderic acid, Beta-glucan	Augments immune system, Liver protection, Antibiotic proper
Lentinula edodes	Shiitake mushroom	Eritadenine, Lentinan	Lower cholesterol, Anticancer agent
A. bisporus	Button mushroom	Lectins	Enhance insulin secretion
P. sajorcaju	Oyster Mushroom	Lovastatin	Lowers cholesterol
G. frondosa	Reishi mushroom	Polysaccharide, Lectins	Increase insulin secretion, Decrease blood glucose
Auricularia auricula	Jew’s/Wood /Jelly ear mushroom	Acidic polysaccharides	Decrease blood glucose
Flammulina velutipes	Winter mushroom	Ergothioneine, Proflamin	Antioxidant, Anticancer activity
Trametes versicolor	Turkey tail	Polysaccharide K (Kresin)	Decrease immune system depression
Cordyceps sinensis	Caterpillar fungus	Cordycepin	Cures lung infections, Hypoglycemic activity, Cellular health properties, Anti-depressant activity

Table 3. Nutritional content in Mushrooms (Reference: Kakon 2012)

Mushroom species	Common Name	Carbohydrate	Fibre	Protein	Fat	Ash	Energy (Kcal)
Pleurotus sajor-caju	Oyster mushroom	63.40	48.60	19.23	2.70	6.32	412
Pleurotus ostreatus	Oyster mushroom	57.60	8.70	30.40	2.20	9.80	265
Agaricus bisporus	Button mushroom	46.17	20.90	33.48	3.10	5.70	499
Auricularia auricula	Jew’s /Jelly ear mushroom	82.80	19.80	4.20	8.30	4.70	351
Calocybe indica	Milky mushroom	64.26	3.20	17.69	4.10	7.43	391
Lentinula edodes	Shiitake mushroom	47.60	28.80	32.93	3.73	5.20	387
Flammulina velutipes	Winter mushroom	73.10	3.70	17.60	1.90	7.40	378
Volvariella volvacea	Paddy straw mushroom	54.80	5.50	37.50	2.60	1.10	305

2. Preparation of Growing Medium / Composting: Mushrooms thrive in specific substrates such as compost, straw, or sawdust, depending on the species. Proper sterilization and conditioning of the growing medium are essential to prevent contamination and ensure healthy mushroom growth. To prepare the compost yard for button mushroom farming, clean elevated platforms constructed from concrete are utilized. These platforms are raised to prevent water accumulation around the heap. Despite being conducted in open-air settings, it's essential to cover the compost to shield it from rainwater. Compost is produced in two varieties: natural and synthetic. 

The composting process occurs within trays measuring 100x50x15 centimetres. The compost, once ready, displays a deep brown hue. When transferring it into trays, it's important to achieve a balanced moisture level – neither excessively wet nor overly dry. If the compost appears dry, lightly mist it with water; if it's too damp, allow some moisture to evaporate. The size of the trays can vary according to preference, but they should be 15 to 18cm deep and crafted from softwood. Fill the trays with compost up to the brim and ensure the surface is levelled.

3. Inoculation (Spawning) and Incubation: Spawning entails the act of introducing mushroom mycelium into designated beds. These spawns are available from certified national laboratories at a reasonable cost. There are two methods for spawning: either by dispersing compost onto the tray's surface or by blending grain spawn with compost before tray filling. 

Following spawning, the trays should be covered with old newspapers, which are then lightly moistened to sustain moisture and humidity levels. It's essential to maintain a headspace of at least one meter between the top tray and the ceiling.

4. Casing: Casing soil is created through a process of blending finely crushed and sifted decomposed cow dung with garden soil. The pH level needs to lean towards the alkaline side. Once prepared, the casing soil needs to undergo sterilization to eliminate pests, nematodes, insects, and other moulds. This sterilization can be achieved either by applying a formalin solution or through steaming. Following sterilization, the casing soil is spread over the compost, and the temperature is maintained at 25°C for 72 hours before being reduced to 18°C. 

Adequate ventilation is essential during the casing stage as it requires ample fresh air circulation within the room.

4. Fruiting and Harvesting: Harvesting begins 15 to 20 days after casing when pinheads become visible, followed by the emergence of small, white buttons within 5 to 6 days. Mushrooms are ready for picking when their caps are firmly attached to the short stems. While harvesting, delicately twist off the cap by gently holding it with your forefingers, pressing it against the soil, and then twisting it off. Proceed by chopping off the base of the stalk where mycelial threads and soil particles may be attached.

5. Post-Harvest Handling: Proper handling and storage are essential to preserve the quality and freshness of harvested mushrooms. Depending on market demand, mushrooms can be sold fresh, dried, or processed into value-added products such as powders or extracts.

At last, the world of mushroom cultivation is vast and fascinating. This guide is just the first step on your journey to becoming a home mycologist. There's so much more to discover about these amazing fungi!