A mushroom farming business can mean big profits in just a few weeks. Plus, starting a business growing oyster mushrooms for profit is pretty straightforward. In fact, here are six easy steps to get started.
1. Get your spawn and substrate
You’ll need a spawn to start the culture. You can produce your spawn using a sterile culture or buy ready-to-inoculate spawn, which suppliers carry. Producing your own can be cheaper in the long run, but the start-up costs can be high, so chances are buying the ready-to-inoculate spawn is the way to go for you.
You’ll also need to buy the substrate. Many growers use straw or wood chips. Straw is generally the preferred method. You want straw that can be chopped up into little pieces.
2. Prepare the substrate
First, chop the straw into short pieces. Next, wet the straw. Now, it’s time to heat the straw in boiling water. Continue boiling for half an hour, then remove and drain the straw. Next, spread the straw on a clean surface and let it cool down.
3. Pack the plastic bags
It’s time to pack plastic bags with the straw and spawn. Pack two or three inches of straw into the plastic bag and lightly sprinkle the spawn. Repeat this until you’ve almost filled the bag, close the top, and poke holes in the bag.
4. Incubation
Now, it’s time for incubation. Keep the growing area at around 78 degrees F. Place the bags on a shelving unit. Remember to prevent any threats of natural light from getting into the room. Cover windows and cracks. Use a red “darkroom” light when checking on your bags. When you start to notice tiny pinhead mushrooms near the air holes in your bag, you’re ready to move on to the next step.
5. Fruiting
For your fruiting room, you need a high level of humidity. The temperature will need to be 65 to 70 degrees F. Unlike the incubation room, you’ll need a lot of natural light—at least 12 hours a day. To shock your mycelium, which will force it into fruiting, move the bags to a cool place for a day, such as a basement or other cool place, and then move them back to the fruiting room. Next, cut away the bag, allowing mushroom growth to occur.
6. Harvest
Just before your mushroom caps are fully uncurled, it’s time to harvest. To do so, twist the stem off as near to the growing block as you can. You’ve now harvested your mushrooms.
You can start a business growing oyster mushrooms for profit in six easy steps. To learn all the basics of growing oyster mushrooms, get our revised second edition of our mushroom growing guide. Order your copy at Amazon today. It’s available in Ebook, paperback and audiobook format.