Growing portobello mushrooms is a nice and wise way to get in the kitchen and make some delicious, nutritious meals for your family. These little guys are versatile, easy to grow, and adaptable to various conditions. So, if you ever want to enjoy some homegrown portobello mushrooms but do not know where to start, we’ve got you covered!
This article will give you all the info you need on how to grow portobello mushrooms and some important facts about this crop.
Before you learn how to grow portobello mushrooms, what are these?
Portobello mushrooms, with the botanical name Agaricus bisporus, are an edible type of mushroom. They’re very popular because of their mild flavor and versatility in different dishes. But one fact about them is that most people prefer them to be a meat substitute.
The main reason is that they have a meaty texture and a mild taste that goes well with various flavors, including garlic, pepper, and onion. They’re also great when sautéed with herbs, so if you’re searching for a new way to add flavor to your meals, these are perfect!
And if you ever wonder whether portobello mushroom is good for you or not, here’s the breakdown of the nutrients it has.
- It’s low in calories and fat, perfect as a healthy addition to your meals.
- Rich in potassium. phosphorus, copper, and selenium.
- It’s one source of non-animal Vitamin D, the reason why it’s a perfect meat substitute.
- It has anti-cancer benefits due to its non-nutritive compounds, such as polyphenols, polysaccharides, and carotenoids. All these have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
- The mushroom’s polysaccharides serve as the food for beneficial bacteria in your intestine.
How to grow portobello mushrooms?
In this section, we’ll talk about how to grow portobello mushrooms indoors and outdoors so that you can choose what’s most convenient and fun for you.
How to grow portobello mushrooms indoors?
When learning how to grow portobello mushrooms, you need to prepare everything you need to save time. Look at this list!
- 4 x 4 feet tray with at least 8 inches depth
- Manure-based compost
- Portabello spores
- Damp peat moss
- Distilled water
- Newspaper
- Spray bottle
Here’s what you need to do with all of these.
- Put your manure-based compost on your tray. Fill it with at least 6 inches of compost.
- Sprinkle your portobello spores on top of your compost.
- Mix a little and lightly pat it down.
- Let your tray sit in a dark room with a temperature between 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Wait for two weeks.
- Cover your compost mix with one inch of damp pear moss when you see the mycelium.
- Then, top it with a newspaper.
- Maintain the moisture of the tray by misting it twice a day. Do this for two weeks.
- After two weeks, lift the newspaper and check if there are any mushrooms.
- If there are mushrooms, get rid of the newspaper. But if you don’t see any mushrooms yet, be patient and keep misting your tray daily.
- Typically, it takes a month for portobellos to grow.
Remember that portobello mushrooms are edible at any stage, and you can enjoy them in any size. If you can’t wait to harvest them, do it!
How to grow portobello mushrooms outdoors?
Here are the things you need when growing portobello mushrooms outdoors.
- Wooden planks with a size of 4 feet by 8 inches.
- Tools for crafting a raised bed
- Manure-based compost
- Portabello spores
- Damp peat moss
- Distilled water
- Newspaper
- Spray bottle
- Cardboard
- Black plastic
Note: Always plant portobello mushrooms outdoors when the temperature ranges between 50 degrees Fahrenheit at night and 70 degrees Fahrenheit at day time. If the temperature isn’t like this, you might need to postpone your planting because it will affect the growth.
- Build a raised bed for your mushroom using your wooden planks. We recommend building a 4 by 4 feet raised bed with at least 8 inches depth.
- Once you have your raised bed, fill it with 6 inches of compost.
- Sterilize your compost before adding your spores. Do this by covering your compost with cardboard and black plastic for two weeks.
- After two weeks, it’s time to add an inch of spores to your compost, mix them lightly, and wait for 2 weeks,
- Once you see the mycelium, cover your compost with an inch of damp peat moss and a layer of newspaper.
- For ten days, mist your peat moss twice a day to maintain the moisture.
- Once they start growing, you can already enjoy them if you can’t wait any longer!
What are the growing conditions of portobello mushrooms?
Like any other crop, portobello mushrooms also have growing conditions. Ensuring they meet all these will result to high success rate. Look at this list!
Soil
In terms of soil, make sure to use compost-rich soil. As you can see above, we listed and used manure-based compost.
Temperature
Temperature is crucial when growing portobello mushrooms. You need to ensure that they’re in an environment with a temperature between 60 to 74 degrees Fahrenheit.
Remember that these mushrooms grow slower at cold temperatures and grow quickly at a warmer temperatures.
Humid conditions
Portobello mushrooms thrive in high humidity. This is because they don’t have skins, which can reduce their water quickly when exposed to the atmosphere. The best way to ensure they get enough water for their fruit is by staying on high humidity places.
Just make sure that the humidity isn’t that too high. Too much humid can also drown them.
Important tip
Mushrooms grow well in cold, dark, and moist environments. So do not forget to cover them with damp peat moss and newspaper. I’ve encountered some that forget to do this very crucial step. They ended up wasting their spores and time.
Grow your portobello mushrooms today!
Like any other crop, learning how to grow portobello mushrooms can be done with the right tools and knowledge. You don’t have to be scared of taking your first step and failing because that’s how gardening works! Many people are intimidated when growing mushrooms, but it doesn’t have to be that way!
By following our steps above and saving this post, you’ll be harvesting your first portobello mushrooms in no time!