With the white button mushrooms now 18 days old, it is time to show you what is happening. I prepared them on the 13th April 2014.
Today, I had to move the mushroom box into the greenhouse as it was just too cold where I had it located at the corner of the deck. It has been getting down to 10°C (50°F) during the night, which is outside the recommended range of 15-20°C. Mind you, now that autumn has really kicked in, it is not much warmer during the day.
I figured that the bottom of the greenhouse was a better place to be, and I would be able to check on it when I close the greenhouse up at night. As you can see, I have it wrapped in a blanket to keep the light out, and to keep it warm at night. The daytime temperature is about 22°C and down to about 15°C at night. The blanket will help as well.
So this is where it is located, but what does it look like?
The entire surface is covered in whiskers! Well, mycelium really. These are the fibres from which the mushrooms will grow. It will get denser every day from now on until the buttons appear on the surface.
The funny thing is that when I first opened the box today, I had to do a double take because my first reaction was that Holly the dog had shedded hair all over the box. I bit silly, but it is amazing what first comes into your head.
So far so good. The instructions mention that there may be buttons forming as early as the 20 day mark, but I don’t like my chances. It has been too cold at night. However, I don’t think it will be too long to wait, maybe a couple of weeks, before we are picking like crazy. Fingers crossed.
I better get going and grow the Shiitake mushrooms next! From what I read, they take a bit longer to grow.
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Well Done Gav. I thought the same thing though not dog hairs more spider webs. This of course was last season and i got side tracked (as one is apt to do when you dont eat mushrooms) but i was growing them for Hubby. Im feeling inspired by you to try again. I like the art of growing just not always the harvesting part. Im still learning…… Im thinking that our garden shed might be the right temp.
Hi Lynda. The shed would probably be fine. Give them another try, but wait until I am successful first so you can see what happens.
Gav
My packet arrived in the post this week, our local Bunnings doesn’t stock them, found some on Ebay instead. Today I’ll get boxes, soil and the manure sorted. In doubt to duck into our neighbours paddock with a shovel, not knowing if I will be chased out by the bull, or buy a bag… I’m 32 weeks pregnant with our 4th after all…
We have a setup with a sprinkler under the deck to grow seedlings over Summer. Doesn’t get any sun in Winter so fails as a nursery, but would be perfect for mushrooms!
Hi Marijke, maybe buying a bag would be the best solution 😉
Best of luck with your mushroom growing. x
Mushrooms are on my list to try now we have the space. Think I will wait till Spring as temperatures are already 4 degrees C at night here.
Hi Sarhn, the instructions on the packet mention that you can keep the mushroom box inside. I just didn’t have the room as we have guests.