Growing Mushrooms Indoors: A Guide to Indoor Urban Agriculture

Indoor mushroom cultivation is a great way to add a delicious and healthy source of protein to your diet. Mushrooms are not only delicious but also have medicinal properties and are easy to grow indoors. In this guide, we will focus on growing mushrooms such as shiitake, oyster mushrooms, and lion's mane indoors.

When it comes to growing different types of mushrooms, each variety has its own unique requirements. Shiitake mushrooms, for example, prefer a lower temperature range and more humidity compared to oyster mushrooms. Lion's mane mushrooms, on the other hand, prefer a slightly cooler environment with a higher humidity level. It's important to research and understand the specific needs of the mushrooms you plan to grow in order to ensure their success.

Shiitake mushrooms: Growing shiitake mushrooms requires a bit more attention than other types of mushrooms but can be a great addition to any homestead. According to [1], shiitake mushrooms produce 3 to 5 flushes of fresh mushrooms on average when grown on sawdust or grain. If grown on logs, they can provide fresh mushrooms every 5 weeks for 4 to 6 years! [3], suggests that growing shiitake mushrooms on logs is a great way to make sure you have fresh, tasty shiitakes to eat. The upfront time and monetary investment of growing your own shiitake mushrooms will more than pay for itself. When using logs, it's best to soak the logs in cold water for a period of 24 hours once it has been fully colonized according to [2]. This can be done in a lake, bathtub, or even water trough. Make sure the water is cool enough that it doesnt kill off the spawn - room temperature to chilly is best.

Oyster mushrooms: Oyster mushrooms are one of the easiest mushrooms to grow indoors. They have a high success rate, grow quickly and are delicious. According to [1], growing oyster mushrooms involves a three-step process which includes drilling holes, inserting spawn and maintaining the proper depth. The spawn used for oyster mushrooms is sawdust colonized by the spores of the mushroom.

Lion's mane mushrooms: Lion's mane mushrooms are a unique and delicious type of mushroom. According to [2], growing lion's mane mushrooms at home is easy and requires only a few supplies such as lions mane spawn, hardwood pellets and other materials. The first step is to gather all the equipment and supplies needed, then inoculate the pellets with spawn and create the right conditions for growth.

In conclusion, growing mushrooms indoors is a fun and rewarding hobby, and it is a great way to add a delicious and healthy source of protein to your diet. With a little bit of knowledge and care, you can easily grow mushrooms indoors, year-round. Each type of mushroom has its own specific requirements and growing process, and it's important to research and understand the needs of each before starting.