Key steps in mushroom production

The basic concept in cultivation is to start with some mushroom spores, which grow into mycelium and expand into a mass sufficient in volume and stored up energy to support the final phase of the mushroom reproductive cycle, which
is the formation of fruiting bodies or mushrooms.

The key generic steps in mushroom production – a cycle that
takes between one to three months from start to finish depending on species – are

1) Identifying and cleaning a dedicated room or building in which temperature, moisture and sanitary conditions can be controlled to grow mushrooms in;

2) Choosing a growing medium and storing the raw ingredients in a clean place under cover and protected
from rain;

3) Pasteurising or sterilizing the medium and bags in which, or tables on which, mushrooms will be grown (to exclude other fungi that would compete for the same space - once the selected fungi has colonized the substrate it can fight off the
competition);

4) Seeding the beds with spawn (spores from mature mushrooms grown on sterile media);

5) Maintaining optimal temperature, moisture, hygiene and other conditions for mycelium growth and fruiting, which is the most challenging step; adding water to the substrate to raise the moisture content since it helps ensure efficient
sterilization;

6) Harvesting and eating, or processing, packaging and selling the mushrooms;

7) Cleaning the facility and beginning again.