The mushroom grow blocks weigh around three kilograms. More than half that weight is water because mushrooms require heaps of hydration. Mushrooms are often between 85 and 95 per cent moisture content, according to researchers at the Punjab Agricultural University in India.
Our grow room requires between 80 and 90 per cent humidity to maintain the moisture content in the mushroom blocks. Otherwise, the mycelium and fruitbodies will dry up and stop growing. It is like humans feeling less productive when we are dehydrated.
JCB Gourmet Mushrooms grow kits include a spray bottle and a humidity tent so you can easily keep the mushroom block hydrated. All you must do is set up your grow block in a cool area out of direct sunlight and maintain the humidity.
Misting
You should mist the humidity tent at least two to five times per day as you walk by your mushrooms. A good guide is to see droplets cover around 15 per cent of the humidity tent. The fungi will thrive in that environment.
Too much misting at once could cause water to collect at the bottom of the grow block and become soggy, so it is better to mist more frequently in smaller amounts when you can. Misting three times a day – once in the morning, once at lunch, and once before going to bed – usually does the job, but you can also mist in the afternoon and after supper if you spray in smaller amounts.
Teachers who bring grow kits to school can mist when they arrive and before they leave while having the students mist during the day. They can see how fast the mushrooms grow and learn about decomposition in nature’s circle of life.
Harvesting
Let’s not forget the tastiest part of grow kits: harvesting the gourmet mushrooms. We usually harvest the grow blocks once on each side at our growing facility so we can make space for newer blocks. However, there are still enough nutrients in the substrate for multiple more harvests.
You can harvest on the big sides of the block, the smaller sides, the top and the bottom. All you need to do is keep misting and maintaining a cool temperature.
The blocks will get lighter when the water and nutrients are taken to grow mushrooms. Do not worry if you find the mushrooms are taking longer to grow and the block is noticeably lighter. There is still one more trick you can try.
Cold shocking: the extra trick for more mushrooms
Remove the block from the plastic bag by cutting open the top with scissors or a knife. Submerge it in water for six to ten hours. The substrate will absorb the water and the mycelium will not drown during that time.
You can then place the block on a plate and refrigerate it for another 12 hours. This is called cold shocking the mycelium.
Have you ever taken a cold shower to wake yourself up and feel more productive? The mushrooms sometimes need that wake-up call as well, which is what a cold shock does. It will energize the mycelium to keep growing fruitbodies and produce one to two more harvests.
You can slide the block back in its original bag and tape shut the top once the cold shock ends.
In the end, you can have as many as five or six harvests and multiple pounds of mushrooms over two months. Try it out for yourself by visiting our grow kit page!
Humidity is a key factor for successful mushroom growth. Spray the area around your kit with a few pumps of water whenever you have a chance, at least 2-3 times a day. If you can see condensation underneath the plastic flaps of your X cut area this is enough water.
The first flush will always be the biggest. We've had some customers grow up to 4 flushes of mushrooms from our kits but on average you'll get 2 harvests. Once the kit has run out of nutrients and water it will be "spent" and won't produce any more mushrooms.
The growth environment (i.e., temperature, relative humidity, access to oxygen, clean/ventilated air exchange, and lighting conditions) also impacts mycelium growth. The temperature should be kept at around 25–30 °C [7,13,34] and the relative humidity around 70–80% [7].
Sometimes, humidity or dampness (water vapor) in the air can supply enough moisture for mold growth. Indoor relative humidity (RH) should be kept below 60 percent -- ideally between 30 percent and 50 percent, if possible. Low humidity may also discourage pests (such as co*ckroaches) and dust mites.
Submerge it in water for six to ten hours. The substrate will absorb the water and the mycelium will not drown during that time. You can then place the block on a plate and refrigerate it for another 12 hours. This is called cold shocking the mycelium.
Now that you have finished setting up your kit, you will need to place your kit somewhere for it to grow. The best location will be a room where the temperature stays between 15 to 24 degrees C. The ideal fruiting temperature range for Portabella and White Button mushrooms is between 17 to 20 degrees F.
Most mushroom kits will store for 3-6 months in the fridge if necessary. To store your kit, keep it in the fridge. This puts the mycelium into hibernation and will prevent it escaping the box early. Don't keep it somewhere it could exceed 30 degrees Celsius.
While this can be good, airflow is also important and small enclosed spaces can cause your mushrooms to suffer from lack of oxygen. We recommend placing your grow kit on your kitchen bench, out of direct sunlight.
Should You Try a Kit? If you have any interest in growing mushrooms at all, and you aren't ready to do it from scratch, then most definitely yes- you should try a kit! It will give you an idea of how mushrooms grow, and what requirements they need in order to fruit properly.
Twice each day, lift the plastic flaps on your bag and use the mini spray bottle to spray the substrate with water 5-6 times. Continue this until baby mushrooms have begun to peek out. General rule of thumb is to check to ensure that the surface exposed is moist.
Different species of mushrooms have different humidity requirements, but in general, the ideal humidity level for mushroom cultivation is between 85% and 95%. To maintain this level of humidity, growers may use various methods such as misting, watering, or placing a humidifier in the growing area.
Your substrate should be slightly acidic, with a PH between 5 and 6.5. (Some mushrooms, such as oyster mushrooms, can withstand a PH of up to 8.) A minimum moisture content of 50-70% is essential for your substrate.
Humidity is measured using the term “relative humidity” or RH%. The ideal RH for the curing and storage phase is 58%-62%, and Boveda offers humidity packs available in both at various sizes. Maintaining the optimal RH does not have to be a balancing act.
Introduction: My name is Wyatt Volkman LLD, I am a handsome, rich, comfortable, lively, zealous, graceful, gifted person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
