I plan on expanding my gardens to include mushrooms. I’m going to try several different methods over the next few months to see which types of mushrooms and which method works best for my environment.
Mushroom mycelium are the fine rootlike structures that fungus use to decompose dead organic material for nutrition. They form a symbiotic relationship with plants, allowing plants to access those nutrients and water. Mycelium can help protect plants from diseases. Scientists have discovered that mycelium can act similar to nerve cells, producing electrical impulses that allow plants to communicate in a very basic way. It is a fascinating discovery and I recommend reading anything by Paul Stamets.
My favorite and most used mushroom is shiitake. I use them to add that umami flavor to many dishes. Shiitake grow on decomposing wood, and since I don’t have any hardwood logs available, I decided to see if they would grow on wood mulch.
First I spread some old wood mulch on the ground in an area that is partially shaded. Unfortunately the photo I took of the shiitake spawn I bought from Northspore didn’t get saved, but the next step was to spread the spawn over the mulch. I did several layers of mulch and spawn. I then covered the entire area with a light layer of pine straw.
On dry days I give the area a light mist of water. Now I wait to see if this is a success.
I highly recommend that you check out the Northspore website for more information. They have a very informative blog and videos on growing mushrooms at home. They have kindly given me a coupon code to receive a discount on their site: FRUGALMENNONITE.
Our brutally hot summer has slowed the garden to a halt, but I have started my seeds for the Fall garden and I look forward to more temperate weather. In Florida we garden all year round, but Fall, Winter and Spring are our main seasons.
God bless,
Pam
