One of the best ways to ensure a steady supply of nutrient-dense fresh mushrooms is to grow your own, and the process doesn’t require expensive equipment.
However, you’ll need some understanding, and while there are great books and online courses available about cultivating mushrooms, they typically contain complicated terms for beginners.
Common Mushroom Growing Terminology
A glossary of terms used frequently in mushroom growth is provided below to aid in understanding information you gather.
Aborts
The shortened term for mushrooms that have stopped growing.
Although they can vary in size, aborts are often tiny mushroom pins that stop to grow as a result of improper fruiting conditions or sudden change in significant temperature and humidity.
Agar
A natural jelly-like material that was taken out of red algae’s cell walls.
To cultivate and preserve contaminant-free mushroom cultures, mushroom producers utilize a combination of water, agar, and nutrient-rich materials, such as malt extract, to make sterile agar plates.
Alfalfa
A perennial legume plant that is grown for animal feed all over the world.
Known by several other names, including lucerne, it is renowned for having a high protein, vitamin, and mineral content. It is utilized for hay, silage, and as a cover crop or green manure.
Alfalfa hay is frequently added by oyster mushroom producers to straw substrates in order to provide the mycelium more nitrogen, proteins, and lipids.
Autoclave
A larger steam sterilization machine that functions similarly to a pressure cooker. When autoclaves are closed, they create sealed chambers that use steam under pressure to get and stay at high temperatures that are deadly to bacteria, fungus, viruses, and spores.
Growers of mushrooms sanitize bulk substrates in autoclaves.
Biological Efficiency (BE)
A measurement used by growers to determine how well certain mushroom strains perform on particular substrates.
The weight of fresh mushrooms taken from all flushes is divided by the dry substrate weight to determine biological efficiency.
Blocks (Substrate)
A term for bags or containers holding a bulk substrate for mushroom growth.
A fruiting block is created when the mushroom mycelium has spread throughout the bulk substrate, become fully colonized, and is prepared to fruit.
Cap
The uppermost part of a fruiting body or mushroom that gives it its unique shape and houses any pores, teeth, or gills that produce spores.
Carbon Dioxide
A colourless, nonflammable gas that both people and mushrooms exhale.
One carbon atom and two oxygen atoms make up a carbon dioxide molecule, which is denoted by the symbol (CO2).
Casing Layer
Moist, water-retentive material that mushroom producers add to a fully colonized substrate before fruiting, such as peat, coco coir, or vermiculite.
The mushroom pins are kept in a continuously humid environment by the casing layer, which aids in moisture retention and lowers the rate of aborts.
Clean Room
An enclosed area with regulated conditions and low levels of airborne contaminants, such as pollen, dust, fungus spores, and other microorganisms.
Anything from a hygienic restroom with closed windows and minimal levels of contamination to a properly constructed space equipped with fans and filters to eliminate airborne particles could suffice.
Colonization
The growth and spread of a mushroom mycelium across a substrate.
The mycelium develops and gets the nutrients it needs to fruit during colonization, but it won’t start producing mushrooms until the substrate is completely colonized and the necessary environmental factors are in place.
Contamination
Unwanted, dangerous organisms that grow and compete for nutrition in mushroom cultures and substrates, such as mold or bacteria.
Often, contaminants spread swiftly, hindering or even destroying the growth of mushrooms.
Crop
When discussing the cultivation of mushrooms, this word has two meanings:
Mushrooms are a high-value crop because they can be grown quickly in tiny places. Farmers cultivate these mushrooms on a huge scale and harvest them for profit or subsistence.
The amount of mushrooms your fruiting block yields; A fruiting block typically yields multiple crops or flushes of mushrooms, together referred to as a crop.
Cultures
Live mycelium of strains or species of carefully chosen mushrooms growing in a nourishing media. Growers utilize mushroom cultures, which are typically packaged in a petri dish, syringe, or test tube, to inoculate substrates and generate mushroom spawn.
Dehydrator
An electrical device that circulates heated air to eliminate moisture from fruit, vegetables, and mushrooms. It has a heating element, fans, and vents.
Dehydrators are used by mushroom producers to dry their mushrooms so they can be powdered or preserved for future use.
Flow Hood (Laminar Flow Hood)
A contaminated-free environment is created by mycologists using an enclosed workstation or box equipped with a HEPA filter.
Laminar flow hoods are used by mushroom growers when working with agar plates, cultures, and sterilized substrates for inoculation.
In order to prevent contamination, a laminar flow hood operates by drawing air into the HEPA filter, where 99.97% of particles are eliminated. From there, it consistently blows clean air toward the user in a laminar flow.
Flush
A word used to describe a crop or batch of mushrooms grown from a fruiting block or mushroom substrate.
Following the harvest of a mushroom crop, the mycelium rests before producing another flush of mushrooms.
Generally, a block of substrate will produce two to three flushes of mushrooms.
Fruiting
The final stage of mushroom growth, when fruiting bodies or mushrooms start to appear from the substrate that has been colonized.
Fruiting Body
The fleshy, above-ground portion of a fungus that is commonly identified as mushrooms by most people. A fruiting body’s job is to create and disperse spores so the fungus can reproduce.
Fruiting Chamber
A regulated environment inside an enclosed area that mushroom producers use to recreate the natural conditions needed for fungi to flourish and yield mushrooms.
Fruiting chambers come in a variety of sizes and can be constructed out of shipping containers, grow tents, plastic bags, mini-greenhouses, or whole rooms
Gills
Spore-producing and spore-dispersing thin, paper-like structures laid side by side, frequently on the bottom of a mushroom cap.
Mycologists use the unique colors and characteristics of gills to distinguish different species of mushrooms.
Glovebox
A sealed, easily cleaned box with two side openings where gloves are permanently attached so you can reach inside and work without contaminating the area.
Green Mold
A common quickly spreading contamination that often develops in substrates used for mushrooms.
Green mold, sometimes called Trichoderma, grows best in temperatures between 77 and 86°F (25 and 30°C), and its hue varies from light green to deep emerald green.
Gypsum
A naturally occurring mineral that is used by mushroom producers to augment their substrates and is present around the globe.
Known by another name, calcium sulfate hydrate, gypsum is a finely powdered substance that gives mycelium additional minerals and trace elements.
It is believed that adding gypsum to a substrate can promote quicker colonization and the growth of more mushrooms with bigger caps.
Harvest
The process of harvesting, trimming, or collecting a crop of mushrooms for food or storage.
The entire crop of mushrooms that are gathered might also be referred to as the harvest.
For more details on when and how to harvest mushrooms, see our beginner’s guide to mushroom harvesting.
HEPA Filter
A high-efficiency air filter capable of eliminating 99.97% of bacteria, mold, dust, pollen, spores, and other airborne contaminants.
Growers of mushrooms construct laminar flow hoods with HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters to minimize contamination when handling mushroom cultures and inoculating substrates.
Humidity
A measurement of the air’s moisture content. Although there are other methods for measuring humidity, mushroom farmers employ relative humidity, which is expressed as a percentage.
The real and maximum amounts of water vapor in the air at a given temperature are compared to determine the relative humidity.
In colder air than in hotter air, the same amount of water vapor will result in a higher relative humidity.
For their growth, many mushrooms require relative humidity values of 90% or more.
Hydrated Lime
Calcium hydroxide powder (Ca(OH)2) with a high calcium content and a low magnesium content.
Producers of mushrooms use hydrated lime in their casing mixtures and to raise the water’s pH while pasteurizing substrates through the use of a cold water lime bath.
Hygrometer
A device that counts the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere.
Hygrometers are frequently used by mushroom producers to keep an eye on the relative humidity levels in fruiting chambers.
Hyphae
Hyphea are long, thin thread-like structures that fungus utilize to grow through a substrate and take up nutrients. These structures come together to form mycelium, which is a massive, complex network.
Incubation
The period after inoculation during which mushroom mycelium grows and colonizes a substrate.
Incubation Chamber
Any insulated area where you can use the least amount of energy to maintain ideal incubation temperatures, like a closet, room, or basement.
Inoculation
Adding spawn or mushroom culture to a substrate that has been prepared.
Spawn plugs can be inserted into holes drilled in logs, spawn can be mixed with a bulk substrate, or mushroom cultures can be added to agar plates or grain in a sterile environment.
Isopropyl Alcohol
When operating in sterile surroundings, a colorless, flammable liquid (C3H8O) is utilized to kill bacteria and clean containers, surfaces, and hands.
Laboratory
A structure or space that offers equipment and regulated settings for scientific testing, experiments, and research.
A common use for laboratories is the production of chemicals and pharmaceuticals.
Lime Bath
A pasteurized organic material used by mushroom growers to grow mushrooms, made of hydrated lime and water at a pH of 11 to 13.
Straw and sugarcane bagasse are examples of less nutritious substrates that are often pasteurized in a cold water lime bath.
Liquid Culture
A nutrient-rich mixture of sugars and water that includes live mushroom mycelium.
Liquid culture is used by mushroom producers to cultivate, store, and exchange mycelium as well as to inoculate agar plates and other substrates.
Martha Fruiting Chamber
A small to medium-sized fruiting chamber for mushrooms, including shelves and an easily accessible clear plastic zip-up lid.
As the name suggests, the original design was based on a Martha Stewart hanging closet, but most growers now utilize tiny indoor greenhouses to make DIY Martha fruiting chambers.
Masters Mix
A mushroom substrate mixture consisting of soybean hulls and hardwood sawdust mixed 50:50.
Since T.R. Davis of Earth Angel Mushrooms was the first to conduct trials with this substrate combination, mushroom growers attribute the invention of Master’s combination to him.
According to his experiments, a 50:50 blend yielded the highest production while lowering the chance of contamination and deformation.
Medicinal Mushrooms
People utilize mushrooms in powdered or extract form to help prevent, treat, and heal ailments because they contain a variety of bioactive chemicals, minerals, and proteins.
Mycelium
The longest-living and main portion of a fungus, which is typically hidden below or behind substrate blocks, rotting logs, or stumps.
Thousands of tiny, thread-like hyphae make up the mycelium of mushrooms, which interconnect to form an intricate web of fibers that spreads through organic matter in search of nourishment.
Mycology
The study of all living things belonging to the kingdom of fungi, such as mushrooms, rusts, smuts, yeasts, molds, and mildews.
Mycology is a field of study within biology that delves into the genetic and metabolic characteristics of fungi, their interactions with other living things, and their significance for ecosystems and human existence.
Mycorrhizal
A term used to characterize mycorrhiza, or mutually beneficial interactions, that fungus have with plants and trees.
Plant roots engage in interactions with mycorrhizal fungus mycelium, which helps the plants grow deeper and absorb more nutrients. The fungi receive simple sugars in exchange.
Oxygen
A chemical element that can mix with most other elements and is present in air in huge quantities as a tasteless, odorless, and colorless gas.
All living things require oxygen to survive, and like people, fungus breathe in oxygen and releases carbon dioxide.
Pasteurization
A procedure that lowers the quantity of dangerous competing organisms in a mushroom substrate before adding mushroom spawn to it.
While there are many alternative pasteurization techniques, hot water pasteurization and cold water lime bath pasteurization are two of the more widely used ones.
Perlite
Growers of mushrooms frequently utilize this white, porous, granular material that is lightweight and made of expanded volcanic glass to assist regulate humidity levels in small fruiting chambers.
Shotgun fruiting chambers are the perfect application for perlite since it is neutral in pH, sterile, and has a large capacity to hold water.
pH Level
A measurement used to express the acidity or alkalinity of a material or solution. On a pH scale of 0 to 14, 7 represents neutrality.
A substance is considered acidic if its pH value is less than 7 and alkaline if it is greater than 7.
Phototrophic
A qterm used to characterize living things that create organic compounds for sustenance by using carbon dioxide and sunshine.
The term “phototrophic” can also refer to organisms that grow toward or away from light, such as fungus.
Pins/Pinning
Because they frequently resemble pinheads, tiny baby mushrooms in their early stages of growth are known as mushroom pins.
The process that occurs when mushroom mycelium turns its attention from growing to forming little fruiting bodies, or pins, is known as pinning.
Popcorning (Specific For Shiitake)
The last phase of shiitake mushroom colonization, in which the mycelium bulges or forms spherical, brown bumps on the substrate’s surface.
Pressure Cooker
A cooking pot that is sealed to retain steam and build pressure in order to reach high temperatures.
Pressure cookers are used by mushroom producers to sterilize small amounts of a substrate.
Psilocybin
A naturally occurring substance made by various mushroom species.
Psilocybin is converted by the body into psilocin when consumed, which has psychoactive effects on the senses, emotions, and the potential to induce hallucinations.
Rhizomorphic
A term used to characterize fungi that create rhizomorphs, which are structures that resemble roots.
The fungi use their intricate, rope-like mycelial structures, known as rhizomorphs, to absorb and transfer nutrients. These structures are composed of a thick mass of parallel hyphae.
Saprophytic
A term used to characterize creatures that feed on dead and decomposing plant matter, such as saprotrophic fungus.
Sawdust
Dust and tiny wood particles produced by sawing, sanding, planing, and routing are examples of woodworking activity.
Growers of mushrooms utilize sawdust substrate blocks made from untreated hardwood sawdust, which is a byproduct of the furniture and lumber industries, to cultivate species of mushrooms that prefer wood.
Shotgun Fruiting Chamber
This mushroom fruiting chamber is created from a clear plastic tote with holes on all six sides and a layer of damp perlite at the bottom. It is simple to assemble and requires little upkeep.
Soybean Hulls
Soybean hulls are the outer layer, or skin, of a soybean that is removed during processing. They are an agricultural by-product of soybean oil production.
These nutrient-rich, fibrous hulls are a key component of the Master’s mix blend and are used by mushroom growers to augment their substrate mixtures.
Spawn
A colonized carrier material typically sawdust or grain that is used to transmit the mycelium of a particular strain of mushroom to a different substrate.
Spawn Run
An additional phrase for the phase following inoculation in which mycelium from mushrooms colonizes a substrate.
Spawning
The term used to describe the procedure of incorporating mushroom spawn into a growth substrate. Also, see inoculation.
Spores
Microscopic reproductive cells that serve the same purpose as seeds for plants by housing the genetic material required to create a new fungus.
Millions of spores are released by mushrooms from their spore-bearing surfaces, and these spores are then transported by the wind, water, insects, or animals.
Spore Print
A distinct pattern created by mushroom spores falling off a mature mushroom cap that has been left undisturbed for several hours on a foil, paper, or glass surface.
Spore prints are utilized in art and mushroom identification.
Stem
The portion of the mushroom that lifts and supports the cap above the substrate.
The stem, which is often referred to as the stipe or stalk, elevates the gills to a level where the mushroom can efficiently release its spores for animal or wind dispersal.
Sterilization
A process for prepping substrates that includes the use of steam, time, temperature, and pressure to eradicate all spores and living things from the substrate.
A substrate must be sterilized for at least two hours at temperatures of 250°F (121°C) or higher.
Strain
A particular type of mushroom within a species that has distinct traits despite sharing genetic similarities.
Commercial mushroom strains are chosen based on a variety of criteria, such as yield, consistency, pace of colonization, and size, color, or shape of the fruiting body.
Straw
The leftover dry grass stalks from threshing and drying cereal crops to get the seeds.
For oyster mushroom cultivation, growers frequently utilize substrates made of wheat, oats, rye, barley, and rice straw.
Substrate
Anything organic that supplies moisture and nutrients to the mycelium of mushrooms so they can develop and create mushrooms.
A variety of substrates, such as sawdust, straw, coffee grounds, cardboard, coco coir, and even books, can support the growth of mushrooms.
Supplementation
Enhancing mycelial growth and yields by supplementing mushroom substrates with nitrogen and carbohydrate-rich materials.
Temperature
A temperature measurement made with a thermometer that indicates how hot or cold something is in relation to a standard numerical scale. Different types of mushrooms have different ideal temperatures for growth; some can withstand a wider range of temperatures than others.
Trichoderma
a cellulolytic filamentous fungus that grows quickly and frequently contaminates surfaces made of mushrooms.
During the spawn run, also known as the incubation period, when it outgrows the mycelium and consumes copious amounts of nutrients, trichoderma, also known as green mold, is frequently observed in substrates.
However, if the humidity and airflow are off, it can also happen during fruiting, which would result in significant crop losses.
Truffle
The edible fruiting body of a mycorrhizal fungus with a strong scent. Truffles, which resemble lumpy, rough potatoes, are grown underground, unlike other mushrooms.
Due to their scarcity and difficulty in cultivation, these mushrooms are highly prized by chefs and among the most costly in the world.
Yield
The weight of all the mushroom flushes produced until the substrate runs out is used to calculate how many fresh mushrooms you will receive from a block or container of substrate.
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