10 STEPS TO START A MUSHROOM FARM

10 Steps to Start a Mushroom Farm

mushroom, which is evident umbrella-shaped fruiting body (sporophore) of some fungi, usually using Agaricales in the phylum Basidiomycota but some others are different. Popularly, the word mushroom is used to identify edible fruit bodies; Mushrooms are often reserved for inedible or poisonous fruit bodies. There is no scientific difference between these two names, but it can be correctly applied to any fruit system.

 Is it worth growing mushrooms at home?

 
Farming is definitely one of the most profitable home based farming businesses. Below, we have listed some of the main reasons:
 

• Mushrooms need a small space to grow. It can be as small as your 10
  sq.room

•  You don’t need a lot of money to start a mushroom farm. 

• Mushrooms grow fast and make you money.

<< READ ALSO ON: HOW TO PLANT , GROW AND HARVEST CARROTS >>

Here are 10 steps to starting a mushroom farm 

1. Learn the art of mushroom cultivation

 
It is wise to learn the different aspects of mushroom cultivation before entering the market. Learn about different types of mushrooms, cultivation techniques and market trends. Also, collect information about the requirements of growing mushrooms. It includes proper growing conditions, seed preparation and harvesting methods.

 2. Educate yourself

 
If you want, you can get training in mushroom cultivation and get hands-on experience. If you don’t have time to attend a class, there are many books and tutorials online, with step-by-step tutorials on growing mushrooms. They are also very useful.

3. Choose your mushroom type

 
Some of the most common and popular mushrooms are oyster mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, button mushrooms, etc. But for beginners, the best choice is oyster mushrooms, as it grows quickly and does not require special care. In addition, the demand for oyster mushrooms is gradually increasing.

 

 4. Build a Mushroom Farm

 
To manage fungus at home, you need to choose a clean and dry room. Find the right place in your home to grow mushrooms. This could be a basement, a garage or an unused building. which can be converted into a space for growing mushrooms..
An area of 100 sq. ft. to 200 sq. ft area is sufficient. It must be clean, well ventilated, have access to potable water and have facilities for electricity use. In the mushroom house, you can grow mushrooms in plastic bags or wooden trays. In the case of plastic bags, you can hang them on clothespins that are attached to hooks. If you grow mushrooms in trays, you can put them on the shelves. This system will allow for multiple trays to be placed on top of each other. If you have two rooms, you can use different rooms for incubation and seeds. Otherwise, it is important to change the temperature and humidity during fruiting.

 

 5. What you need for growing mushrooms

A step-by-step example of a professional business plan
 
To grow your own mushrooms at home, you need the following:
 

• Substrate: Just like plants grow in soil, fungi grow in seeds. It is a growing medium for fungi. There are many types of seeds that are used to grow mushrooms. Rice or wheat sawdust, wood chips, coffee beans, wood, etc. Among them, weed is readily available and you can get it for free or at low cost. So you can choose grass.

 

• Spawn: To explain simply, spawn is basically the production of mushrooms. It can be compared to the fruit, which the tree grows. However, the composition of the spawn is different. You can also fertilize yourself. And when you’re going to grow mushrooms at home, opt for ready-made spawns. Buy them from reliable local sources.

 

• Containers: If you want to grow in plastic containers, then you need such containers, but they are not really toxic. Otherwise, you need wooden trays or buckets.

 

• Racks or holders: For plastic bags, you will need a rack to hang them properly. For trays, it will be better if you put them on shelves with three or four levels.

 

• Sprayers: You will need sprayers to spray mist or water, to soften the mushrooms.

• Temperature Control Tool: Temperature is an important factor in fungal growth. Therefore, to maintain a comfortable temperature, you must have a ceiling fan, heater, heater or dehumidifier according to your needs. You can also use a heated towel rail to humidify the room.

• Box for storing mushrooms: After harvesting the mushrooms, you will need a clean and disposable box to store the mushrooms and transport them.

• Picker or small knife: You must carefully cut the mushrooms as they grow in shape. So you might need hardware for that

6. Evaluate the Cost of Growing Mushrooms at Home

The cost of growing mushrooms depends on the variety and production capacity. Below, we give you the total cost of growing oyster mushrooms. And 500 square feet. Each year, you can produce 12,000 pounds of oyster mushrooms. The fruit will cost you a little. spores will cost about $20. Plastic bags, trays, cardboard boxes will add up to $400. If you need a heater, humidifier, or dehumidifier, it will cost you up to $200.

7. The climate in which mushrooms grow

 
Just as plants require certain conditions for their growth, fungi also require certain conditions for rapid and healthy growth.
During the mushroom growth or incubation period, it needs a temperature of about 25 degrees Celsius. No natural light is allowed. You should keep the bags or trays in a dark, closed room for the eggs to grow. During fruiting, you need to allow natural light for the container. The temperature should be between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius. High humidity is also required, keeping humidity at 80-90%.

8. Mushroom production process

 
Now, let’s see the process of growing mushrooms step by step:
 

•   You have to
  sterilize the substrate. In the case of straws, cut them into small pieces,
  boil them for 30 minutes and then strain them and then allow it to cool

   

•  Arrange the spawns
  on the substrate. First, put a layer of substrate and then spread spawn on
  them. Then again substrate and spawn on it. Repeat this method till the plastic
  bag or tray is full.

• In the case of a plastic bag, make some pores at the top, when it is full. This will help the fullness of the mushroom
  

•   After you see small mushrooms starting to grow, you need to make arrangements for harvesting.    
• Change the temperature, keep bags or trays of mushrooms in natural light for 12 hours a day, and keep the room cool.
•   After some time, you will see perfect mushrooms. Now is the harvest season. The whole process takes 6 weeks.
•  After harvesting, pack the mushrooms properly and arrange for quick delivery to the point of sale. Remember that mushrooms are highly perishable.

 

9. Where to sell your Mushrooms

 
A fresh voice is in demand in the local market. You can also sell them to people nearby. Nearby restaurants are also good customers for you because fresh mushrooms will be a good addition to their menu. Create pages on social media platforms and publish articles related to your business along with some tips. 

 10. How to make your mushroom farm more profitable? 

To make your mushroom cultivation useful at home, you can follow certain steps. First, make your farm popular through social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, etc. You can also have your own website.
 
If you have the opportunity, you can open a small restaurant in your mushroom cultivation center, serving a variety of mushroom dishes. You can also offer delivery of fresh mushrooms or catering services for mushroom dishes.
 
You can also choose to dry or process the mushrooms so that they last longer and have time 

How long does it take to harvest mushrooms?

 
Harvest time for mushrooms varies depending on the variety and growing conditions. However, on average, it takes about 2-4 weeks from the first injection to the first harvest.to sell.