The growing process of our mushrooms involves several key stages, each crucial for successful cultivation.

1. Substrate Preparation begins with preparing the substrate, which serves as the nutrient-rich medium for the mushrooms to grow. Typical substrates include wood pellets, soy pellets, sugar cane mulch, coffee, or a combination of these materials. The substrate is sterilised or pasteurised to eliminate competing microorganisms that could hinder mushroom growth.
2. Inoculation: Once the substrate is prepared, it’s inoculated with mushroom spawn. Spawn is essentially mushroom mycelium, the vegetative part of the fungus. It’s added to the substrate by mixing or layering it within it. Depending on our substrate and variety, we use specialised plastic bags and recyclable plastic buckets.
3. Incubation: After inoculation, the substrate is placed in a controlled environment with optimal temperature and humidity for mycelial growth. During this incubation period, the mycelium colonises the substrate, spreading and establishing itself.
4. Fruiting: The mushrooms are ready to fruit once the substrate is fully colonised and placed into our environmentally controlled grow tent. This typically involves inducing fruiting conditions by adjusting CO2, humidity, and light exposure. Mushrooms emerge as tiny pins, gradually growing into mature fruiting bodies over several days to weeks, depending on the variety.
5. Harvesting: The mushrooms are harvested when they reach their mature size and before the caps fully expand. This is typically done by gently twisting or cutting the mushrooms from the substrate. Harvesting is usually done in multiple flushes, allowing continuous harvest over time.
6. Post-Harvest: After harvesting, any remaining substrate can be reused or composted for subsequent batches of mushrooms. Proper post-harvest handling, such as cleaning and storing the mushrooms correctly, ensures their freshness and quality for consumption.

Throughout the growing process, attention to detail, proper environmental conditions, and hygiene practices are essential for successful mushroom cultivation.