Growing mushrooms from grocery store purchases is a great way to start your home mushroom growing business, especially here in Ternopil! While it\u2019s not as easy as planting seeds (since mushrooms are fungi and don\u2019t have seeds), it is entirely possible to \u201cclone\u201d a supermarket mushroom and make it produce more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The trick is to use the mycelium (the \u201cvegetative\u201d part of the mushroom, which looks like thin white roots) found at the base of the purchased mushrooms. The easiest species to grow this way are usually oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus) and shiitake. White champignons (champignon de Paris) are a bit more challenging for beginners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to Grow Supermarket Mushrooms: The Simple Cloning Method
This method is ideal for those who want to experiment without investing in complicated growing kits, but instead use what they already have at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What you\u2019ll need:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fresh mushrooms from the store: Choose mushrooms that can\u2019t be left with their stems intact, and if possible, leave some of the original material on the tray. Oyster and shiitake mushrooms work best for this.
Raw materials:
Easiest option: Used, cooled coffee grounds (left over from your morning coffee!). Make sure they\u2019re free of green or black mold.
Other options: Clean straw, untreated wood chips (avoid resinous woods like pine), or wood shavings. These may need to be pasteurized or sterilized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Clear container: A glass jar with a lid (like a mayonnaise or jam jar), a plastic container with a lid, or a large ziplock bag. It should be something you can seal but still allow air to circulate (you can poke holes in it later).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
70% alcohol or disinfectant: For disinfecting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Spray bottle: For moistening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Disposable gloves (optional, but recommended for hygiene reasons).
Instructions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 1: Disinfection is key
Clean everything: Disinfection is the most important part of mushroom growing, as you only want to grow the mushrooms you want and not other fungi or bacteria.
Wash your hands thoroughly and wear gloves. Clean your work area and all tools (jars, scissors, etc.) with 70% alcohol.
Step 1: Prepare the mushroom for cloning
Take one of the fresh mushrooms you bought.
Carefully cut off the base of the mushroom stem, about 1-2 cm. This is where the mycelium is most active. Avoid touching the cut part with your hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can also use the cap to extract the spores, but cloning the stem is easier for beginners.
Step 2: Prepare the substrate (focus on the coffee grounds)
Coffee grounds: Remove the used coffee grounds from the percolator\/machine.
IMPORTANT: Use the coffee grounds as soon as possible after use (within the same day) and make sure they are completely cool. Coffee grounds are rich in nutrients and have already been sterilized during the coffee brewing process, but can quickly become contaminated if left out.
Do not use coffee grounds that already show visible mold (green, black, pink).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Adjust the humidity: The coffee grounds should be moist but not soggy. Squeeze gently to remove excess water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 1: Inoculate the culture medium
Place a layer of coffee grounds (about 2-3 cm) in the bottom of a clean jar.
Place the cut mushroom stem piece on top of the coffee grounds. You can make small cuts or scrape the base slightly to expose more of the mycelium.
Cover the mushroom piece with more coffee grounds, leaving 2-3 cm of space from the edge of the jar.
Seal the jar with the lid, but poke a few small holes (with a hot nail or sterilized needle) to allow air exchange, as the mycelium needs oxygen. If you are using a ziplock bag, leave it slightly open.
Step 1: Incubate the Mycelium<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Place the container in a dark, cool, temperature-stable location (ideally between 20-24\u00b0C, such as a cupboard or pantry).
Watch for growth: Over the next few days and weeks (this can take 1-4 weeks, depending on the type of fungus and conditions), you will see a white, cottony growth spreading across the coffee grounds. This is mycelium colonization.
Warning sign: If you see any other color mold (green, blue, black, pink), it is contaminated. Unfortunately, you will have to throw this batch away and try again with greater hygiene. Step 6: Induce fruiting (temperature shock)
Once the mycelium has completely colonized the coffee grounds (the substrate will turn completely white), it is time to \u201cshock\u201d the mycelium to start producing mushrooms.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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