Growing Guides How to grow mushrooms

Date Published:

15/10/2007

Caring

There is very little that you need to do to maintain your mushrooms, but you do need to keep them free from extreme variations in temperature.

They can stop growing if they get too hot or cold and, as a result, are naturally more abundant in spring and autumn.

Logs can be kept outside, of course, but if you've got enough room in a shed or conservatory then it's all the better.

It's equally important to maintain sufficient humidity, too - try to keep moisture levels in the wood topped-up by partially burying the log in a bucket of compost and water.

Harvesting

White cap mushrooms can crop all year round in sufficiently protected conditions; log-growers will be ready to harvest in spring and autumn, usually around 12 months after being 'plugged'.

Look for specimens with a fresh appearance, free from major blemishes and with a dry (but not shrivelled) surface.

On ground-growing mushrooms, a closed veil (the thin membrane under the cap) indicates a delicate flavour; an open veil means a richer taste.

Keep harvested mushrooms refrigerated in a paper bag and never rinse them until you're ready to use them - unnecessary moisture will impair their shelf-life.

For similar reasons, avoid air-tight containers as they can cause moisture condensation.