GARDEN-FRIENDLY Mushrooms

Produce more of what you eat, make the most of your garden space and try something new by raising mushrooms.

- LEAH SMITH

Mushrooms' requirements are relatively simple. They need the proper temperatures to carry out various stages of growth, which is achieved simply by planting them at the right time. Mushroom inoculation (planting) can be done from March to October (whenever there aren't regularly freezing temperatures); however, as they can struggle to thrive during the heat and dry of summer, they are best done in the spring or early autumn. Late autumn will not allow for proper establishment before winter dormancy.

Mushrooms need consistent moisture; this is imperative. If you can't maintain adequate moisture levels, any other work will simply have been wasted. Conveniently, mushrooms are shade tolerant. Though they don't require it (in fact, most mushrooms do like some environmental light), this tolerance means they can occupy spaces where solar-powered plant life will not grow, and shade will help to maintain the moisture and high-humidity levels they want. However, their mycelium (the initial and underground growth of the mushroom) can't be constantly wet, so they require adequate drainage.

The substrate, or growing media, each mushroom species prefers is an important distinction amongst them and perhaps how their production differs most from garden plants and one another. They may require straw, compost or wood chips (properly aged and not from an aromatic softwood) to provide the nutrients they want.

Areas are prepared for inoculation by digging a bed and laying down the proper substrate, which is presoaked for a head start on maintaining adequate moisture levels. The inoculant or spawn is then spread. Or, alternatively, thinner layers of substrate-inoculant-substrate-inoculant are used.