1. Growing mushrooms in your home
a photo guide
from
reStore Gardens
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2. This guide is based on the live demonstration
conducted by Mr. Sekar at the 3rd National
Conference on Urban Gardening held in Chennai, on
25th January, 2013.

3. Growing conditions
Chennai weather is conducive to growing Oyster
mushrooms. Mushrooms need an ideal temperature of 25
– 28C. In Chennai, the weather is usually 35C outside and
30C in the shade.
When kept in a cool dark spot, the ideal temperature for
mushroom cultivation can be reached.

4. To start growing mushrooms you need to buy the spores.
The spores shown below have been grown on a corn
cob. One “bottle” of spore can be used for 2 sacks. The
spores on the right have been broken into 8 pieces.

5. Step 1: Preparing the strawYou will need sterilized straw.
Sterilized straw will ensure all other fungi spores are killed.
To sterilize straw, boil it in water for half an hour. Squeeze water
out of the straw. The straw has to be 60% moist i.e. when you
squeeze the straw, no water should be wrung out. The straw is
ready to use.

6. Step 2: Preparing the bagStart packing the straw into the
plastic bag of approximate dimensions 12*24 inches. Fill in two
inches of straw. Crumble one chunk of the the spore on top of
the straw along the edges. Spores grow out from the sides of
the bag, so it is important to distribute the spores along the
edges. Spores in the middle will not germinate.

7. Step 3: LayeringPack in four inches of straw. Repeat the process
three more times. After the last layer of spore, pack in two inches
of straw.

8. Step 4: ClosingTwist the open end and tie the bag tightly.

9. Step 5: Making air holesMake 12 – 20 holes using a sharp stick
all over the bag. This will promote air circulation. The mushrooms
will grow out through these holes.

10. Step 6: Germination
Your mushroom bag is now
ready. Set in a cool dark
place to promote mycelium
growth.
You can also get the cool
dark effect by hanging a wet
jute sack around the grow
bag. Make sure that the sack
is at least one foot away from
the plastic bag. Spray the
sack every 5 days to keep it
moist.
Mushrooms will start
sprouting in 18 days.

11. Your grow bag should look like in cross section
Straw
spore
2"
Straw
4"
spore
Jute sack
1 foot
1 foot
Straw
4"
spore
Straw
4"
spore
Straw
2"
Jute sack

12. This is what the mushrooms will
look like growing out of a bag.

13. Happy mushroom growing!

14. Questions, clarifications, more
information contact
Mr. Sekar
+919940338374

15. A reStore Gardens publicationreStore Adyar Centre
No. 27/ 10, 2nd Main Rd.,
Kasturba Nagar, Adyar,
Chennai - 600020
IndiaEmail: info@restoregardens.org