Mushroom Growing

Mushroom growing is the craft of cultivating edible fungi yourself instead of picking them wild or buying them in a shop. You mix mushroom spawn into a material the fungus likes to eat, called substrate, then give it the right mix of warmth, moisture and fresh air. Before long, the fungus spreads through the bag and fresh gourmet mushrooms start to sprout.

The mushroom you eat is only the fruit of a much bigger organism. The main part is mycelium, a web of fine white threads that spreads through soil, wood or straw, breaking it down for food. When conditions are right, the mycelium pushes up mushrooms to release spores, the fungal version of seeds.

Growers start with spawn, which is usually grain that has already been colonised by mycelium. The spawn is mixed into a substrate such as straw, sawdust, hardwood or even used coffee grounds. The bag then sits somewhere dark and warm while the mycelium takes over, turning the whole thing white. Once it's fully colonised, a little light, fresh air and plenty of humidity tell it to start fruiting.

Oyster mushrooms are the classic starter. They grow fast, forgive the odd mistake and come in grey, pink, yellow and blue varieties. King oyster has a thick, meaty stem that's great fried in butter.

Lion's mane looks like a shaggy white pompom and has a texture a bit like crab or lobster when cooked. Shiitake takes more patience, growing on hardwood logs or sawdust blocks, but the rich, savoury flavour is worth the wait.

Your Activity Leader starts with a crash course in the weird and wonderful world of fungi. Then you get hands-on: mixing substrate and grain spawn, hydrating it and giving your bag a good shake so the spawn is spread evenly. Finally, you seal and label your bag, ready to take home. The heat sealer is the only fiddly bit, so take it slowly and follow your Activity Leader's lead.

Good news: mushrooms are one of the easiest things to grow indoors. You don't need a garden, a greenhouse or green fingers. At home, keep your bag somewhere out of direct sunlight and let the mycelium do its thing. Once it's white all over, cut a small slit, mist it with water and watch the first mushrooms appear. Your housemates may have questions.

You might also like Pickling, Terrariums and Botanical Walk.

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