Have you ever thought about growing medicinal mushrooms all by yourself? You hear more and more about it. Growing your own is not always easy, but with a prepared strain or special growing kit, you can make it easier on yourself. From oyster mushrooms to Lion's Mane, if you provide the right conditions, you can grow any mushroom yourself.
What do you need to grow your own medicinal mushrooms?
When it comes to mushrooms, it is good to know that what you eat from a mushroom is its fruiting body. The fungus grows mainly underground in the form of a fungal network (the mycelium). With this, it gets its nutrients from the soil. From this mycelium, the mushrooms form, which are fruiting bodies. These will then spread the spores.
If you want to grow your own mushrooms, it is important to ensure the right conditions. The advantage is that they can grow on different types of material, which are also very durable. Examples are straw, compost, coffee grounds, dead wood or manure. Mushrooms are the food of the future because they need very little water, space and energy to grow. And they are also highly nutritious:
Mushrooms naturally contain a wide range of nutrients. For instance, many species are rich in fibre, B vitamins (such as niacin and riboflavin), minerals such as potassium and selenium, and contain plant proteins. According to scientific literature, certain mushrooms, such as Lion's Mane and Reishi, may contain substances that have been investigated in laboratory studies for possible anti-inflammatory or antioxidant properties [PMC].
So how can you start growing medicinal mushrooms yourself? The easiest way is to buy a cultivation kit. This contains the spores already dispersed (mushroom spawn) and the growth medium. This is where the mushrooms can grow. But you can also get started in the garden or on the balcony. Prepare plant beds or pots for your mushrooms to grow in. Another special option is to use a chopped-off tree trunk as a growing medium. Into this you can insert plugs prepared with mushroom spawn.
It may seem like a lot of information, but below we give you the handles to start growing your own medicinal mushrooms.
Where can mushrooms grow?
It is important to control as many factors around growing as possible, such as temperature and humidity. Therefore, it is advisable to ensure a covered area or grow indoors. The optimal temperature for mushrooms is around 15 degrees. It should definitely not go below 10 or above 20 degrees.
Therefore, choose a place out of the sun, such as a garden shed, cellar, garage or barn. You may also be able to find a spot in the garden where the mushrooms are always in the shade. Think of a compost heap or a tree trunk.
Grow mushrooms in the ground or in a container
Before you start, it is a good idea to decide what kind of growing medium you want your mushrooms to grow in. For example, you can use horse manure (possibly available from an equestrian centre or stable). If you use fresh, first take the time to shovel it into a pile and shovel it well every few days for a fortnight. Coffee grounds are also good soil for mushrooms. Keep your coffee grounds until you have enough for cultivation.
This is how to grow mushrooms in the ground:
- Make sure you have a moist growing medium
- Take the mushroom spawn and spread it on your growing medium. Mix it up to a depth of 5 to 8 cm
- Place a damp newspaper over it
- After a few weeks you will see white threads appear, this is the mycelium. Remove the newspaper and cover the mycelium with a mixture of garden soil or compost and lime. This mixture can be about 2 to 3 cm thick.
- Spray with some water
- You can usually see the first mushrooms appear within a few weeks
Grow mushrooms on a tree trunk
Another way to grow your own medicinal mushrooms is on a tree trunk. This is perhaps the easiest way. Oyster mushrooms are particularly suitable for this. For this, you need dowels or plugs with mushroom spawn. You can buy these yourself from a reliable shop. Hardwood such as maple, holly, oak, beech or chestnut is suitable as a tree trunk. Do not use softwood. The log should not be older than six weeks. Lay the tree trunk in a suitable place and insert the dowels. After that, you basically have nothing to worry about. It could hardly be easier.
What you need: a tree trunk with a diameter of 10 to 15 cm and a length of 50 cm. Also a drill, the plugs with mushroom spawn and a hammer.
- Lay the tree trunk flat on the ground
- Now drill several holes in the trunk with 15 cm space between them lengthwise. If you make several rows below each other, make sure there are at least 8 cm between them.
- Insert the plugs into the holes so that they no longer protrude
- If there is wax, you can cover the holes with the wax
- Put the tree trunk in a place that stays in the shade and stand it upright
- Keep the tree trunk slightly moist
- You need more patience for this method of cultivation: it can take up to 18 months for the first mushrooms to appear
Growing your own medicinal mushrooms can be an interesting way to be more conscious about diet and supplements. Although scientific research on certain health effects is still developing, species such as Lion's Mane and Cordyceps have been linked to cognitive support, energy management or the immune system in several studies. Please note that these findings are mainly based on animal experiments or small-scale research and are not a substitute for medical advice. You can find mushroom growing materials from specialists and mushroom growers.
If you do find growing your own a bit too much trouble (and there is always a chance it will not go well), there are fortunately medicinal mushroom supplements from reputable brands.
Disclaimer: although many medicinal mushrooms are traditionally used within natural medicine, their effects are not always clinically proven. When in doubt, always consult a doctor, especially with existing health conditions or medication use.
