🍄 Mushroom Farming Full Process: How to Grow at Home

Mushroom farming is becoming very useful for people in both villages and cities today. If compost is prepared in the correct way and the full process is done carefully, then mushrooms can also be grown at home. In this article, we will understand in simple Indian English how mushroom compost is prepared, how straw is prepared, and how sowing is done.

1. 🪵 Preparation of Compost for Mushroom Farming

In mushroom farming, first compost is prepared. For making compost, a drum, water, and straw are used. If the compost is prepared properly, then mushrooms will also grow well.

2. 🌾 Which Straw is Best for Mushroom Farming

Different types of straw can be used for growing mushrooms.

✅ Straw Used for Mushroom Farming

• Wheat straw
• Paddy straw
• Maize straw

But wheat straw is considered the best. The straw should be clean and should not be rotten. Wet straw soaked in rainwater should not be used.

3. 🛢️ Method of Mixing Straw and Water in Drum

For preparing compost, a 200-liter drum was used. Around 90 liters of water was added into it, and 12 to 14 kg straw was mixed. In many places, 10 to 15 kg straw is also suggested. The straw is mixed properly in the water.

📍 Important Things

• The drum should be clean
• The straw should fully dip in water
• Water and straw should be mixed properly

4. 🧪 Process of Mixing Chemicals

To remove germs and harmful things from the straw, chemicals are mixed.

⚗️ Chemicals Used

• Formalin
• Carbendazim

A solution of both chemicals is prepared in around 10 liters of water, and then it is mixed over the straw kept in the drum.

✅ Benefits of Mixing Chemicals

• Germs get removed
• Rotting becomes less
• Compost becomes better

5. ⏳ How Long Should the Straw Be Soaked

After mixing the chemicals, the drum is covered with a plastic sheet. After this, the straw is soaked for around 18 to 24 hours. In some places, 16 to 18 hours is also suggested.

🛡️ Why Plastic Sheet is Covered

• Rainwater should not go inside
• Soil and dirt should not fall inside
• The process can happen properly

6. ☀️ Method of Drying the Compost

After 18 hours, the straw is taken out from the drum and squeezed properly by hand so that extra water comes out. After this, the straw is spread on a clean floor.

📌 Things to Keep in Mind

• The straw should not touch the soil
• If there is no cemented floor, then spread plastic sheet or mat
• First spray formalin on the floor

⌚ Drying Time

It is dried for around 2 to 4 hours.

7. ✋ Identification of Ready Compost

To check whether the compost is ready or not, it is tested by hand.

🔍 How to Identify

If after taking the straw in hand and squeezing it:

• Water falls out → Compost is not ready
• Water does not fall out but the palm and fingers become wet → Compost is ready

8. 🌱 How to Do Mushroom Sowing

Mushroom seed is called spawn. It is prepared on wheat, maize, sorghum, and pearl millet, but wheat-based seed is considered the best.

🌾 Important Things About Mushroom Seed

• Mushroom seed is called spawn
• Seed prepared on wheat is considered the best
• White fungal net is visible in the seed
• The seed should be used in a clean way

9. 🛍️ Layer Method in Polythene Bag

Mushroom sowing is done in polythene bags. In this, the layer method is used so that the seed can spread properly.

📌 Complete Sowing Process

1️⃣ First Add Compost

• Put 3 to 4 inches compost at the bottom of the bag
• Spread the compost gently by hand

2️⃣ Now Add the Seed

• Put the seed near the edges
• Seed should not be added in the center
• Too much seed should not be visible outside

3️⃣ Make the Second Layer

• After adding seed, again put 3 to 4 inches compost from the top
• Fill the bag slowly and gently

🌾 How Much Seed to Add in One Bag

• Around 100 to 150 grams seed is added in one polythene bag
• The seed should not be pressed too much
• The bag should be prepared carefully and slowly

10. ✋ Important Precautions While Adding Seed

⚠️ Keep These Things in Mind

• Do not add seed in the center
• Do not keep seed too much near the edges
• Seed should not be visible outside
• The bag should not be filled very fast
• The seed should not be pressed

11. 🕳️ Why Holes Are Made in the Bag

After preparing the bag, around 10 to 12 holes are made in it. These holes are said to be necessary for mushroom growth.

🌬️ Benefits of Making Holes

• Carbon dioxide gas keeps going out
• Air balance remains maintained inside the bag
• It helps in getting oxygen later

12. 🍄 Process of Mushroom Growing

After sowing, slowly a white fungal net starts forming inside the bag. This is the process that later turns into mushroom growth.

📅 What Happens in How Many Days

🗓️ After 8 Days

• A light fungal net starts forming

🗓️ After 15 to 25 Days

• The whole bag gets filled with white fungal net

✂️ What to Do After This

• The polythene bag should be torn open

🌱 Then What Happens

• Around one week later, small buds start coming out
• After 5 to 7 days, mushrooms become ready

13. 👨‍🌾 Important Suggestions for Farmer Brothers

✅ Keep These Things in Mind for Good Results

• Use clean and dry straw
• Keep compost away from soil
• Compost should not be too wet
• Soak the straw for the correct time
• Make the correct number of holes in the bag
• Put the seed in the correct place

14. ❌ Common Mistakes

🚫 Avoid These Mistakes

• Using rotten straw
• Spreading compost directly on soil
• Keeping compost with too much water
• Putting seed in the center
• Not making holes in the bag
• Allowing the seed to remain visible outside

15. 🏁 Conclusion

To understand the Mushroom Farming Full Process: How to Grow at Home, it is very important to prepare compost properly, do correct sowing, and complete the full process with cleanliness. If every step is done correctly, then mushrooms can be easily grown at home.

16. ❓ FAQs

1️⃣ Which straw is best for mushroom farming?

Wheat straw is considered the best. However, paddy straw and maize straw can also be used.

2️⃣ For how many hours should the straw be soaked?

The straw is soaked for around 18 to 24 hours.

3️⃣ How to identify that the compost is ready?

If water does not fall out after squeezing but the palm becomes wet, then the compost is considered ready.

4️⃣ How much seed should be added in one bag?

Around 100 to 150 grams seed is added in one polythene bag.

5️⃣ After how many days do mushrooms start growing?

Around 8 days later, the fungal net starts forming, and later mushrooms start becoming ready.

👉 For more information on technical farming: click here

👉  Reference