SAGC growing mushrooms 3 - starkeayresgc.co.za

Starke Ayres Garden Centre Rosebank - Tel: 021 685 4120/1& West Coast Village Shopping Centre - Tel: 021 554 8450/1

The best advice for success is to start by growing Oyster mushrooms, the easiest and most forgiving variety for any home cultivator to grow. Growing mushrooms from scratch requires care, so start with a kit and go from there.

GROWING MUSHROOMS

For DIY bragging rights, Connoisseur, Chef, Gardener or a great

gift idea for someone who has everything. Easy-to-grow and fun for the entire family!

To ensure a continued supply, start a new log monthly.

What you require for successful mushroom growing at home:

- Single (or multiple) mushroom log/s- A drip tray to put the log on- A spray bottle- Good natural, indirect light and temperature- A sense of fun for trying something new

GROW YOUR OWN MUSHROOMSwith a Starke Ayres (seasonal) Mushroom Log

Step 1:Take out the cotton plug in the middle of the log and let the log stand upright.

Step 2:Fill the middle hole with water and let it stand for about 20 seconds before pouring the water out.

Step 3:Make a cut through the plastic just below the hole at the top of the log and then open a space to form a pocket to catch the water.

Step 4:Place the log on its side in a container and �ll with 1-2mm of water. This helps to raise the humidity level but ensure that the open cut area is not submerged under water.

Step 5:Spray the open cut area with bottle water 3 to 4 times a day and more on hot days. Repeat this step until the mushroom starts to grow and gets bigger, where after you can spray twice a day or spray more if its looks dry but make sure that the babies do not dry out. Put your log in a place with a lot of natural light between 24°C - 30°C but away from direct sunlight.

Step 6:Your mushroom will be ready to harvest when the sides of the caps start to lift as seen in Figure 1 after about 10 days. Do not leave them too long or they will dry out as seen in Figure 2. Gently pluck the mushroom out of the log when harvesting.

Make sure that the babies do not dry out.

Figure 1:Ready to harvest

Figure 2:Left too long

More information to assist you in your mushroom growing journey:Up to 4 harvests can be expected from each log. Growing process should be started within one month of purchase to obtain best results. Your 1st harvest will weigh between 140g-150g, but will get less for 2nd to 4th harvest. Depending on outside temperature, it would take between 6 to 10 days for your 1st harvest. After your �rst harvest, you can seal the opening with tape and make a new cut following the steps above for more harvest but take note that 2nd to 4th harvest could take between 2 to 3 weeks to grow.You can’t have more than 1 opening to grow more at once as they’ll use each other’s nutrients and neither will grow to big mushrooms.The oyster mushroom is currently the only variety that will grow in our climate using this technique. In cooler areas you can get other varieties that do not need temperature control but not in RSA.These mushrooms grow in a sawdust log and can be worked into your garden when the log gets to its end of use.

Follow these easy steps to ensure optimum growth of your mushroom log:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)