There is something incredibly gratifying about growing your own food. Not only do you have the pride of making something grow, but you know that if you were ever in an apocalyptic situation, you would be able to survive. One great starter food to learn how to grow in your home is Morel mushrooms. These edible mushrooms are aesthetically attractive, but they are also nutritious and delicious. Here you will learn how to grow gourmet mushrooms and everything else you need to know about this incredible fungus.
Why Morel Mushrooms
Morel Mushrooms are highly sought after in the culinary world thanks to their unique flavor and texture. It turns out that they also have many health benefits that make them even more appealing. Here are a few of the more well-known health benefits of morel mushrooms:
- They are rich in nutrients, including vitamin D, non-meat protein, selenium, zinc, B vitamins, and potassium.
- Morel mushrooms are high in antioxidants that are great for organs and protect against free radicals.
- According to one study, morel mushrooms have an unusually high level of immunity-boosting polysaccharides.
- They naturally help reduce blood sugar, which benefits those living with diabetes.
- High levels of Vitamin D help to combat Seasonal Affective Disorder.
- They may manage the symptoms of chronic illnesses like arthritis, hyperthyroidism, and cardiovascular disease.
How to Grow Mushrooms Indoors
While it is not the most complicated work, growing morel mushrooms is not as easy as pushing some seeds into potting soil. It is also not guaranteed work, but it is gratifying when they do grow. There are many steps to growing morel mushrooms indoors for personal use or starting a mushroom business.
Getting Started
No matter which growing method you choose, you will need these components to get started:
Light Source
While mushrooms don’t need light to grow like a plant, the light helps warm the soil and make it a more hospitable place.
Soil
An excellent soil mix is essential to growing morel mushrooms. There are many theories on the best soil mix, but this one is easy to find and mix:
- 50% organic compost.
- 30% potting soil.
- 20% sand.
- Pickling lime to get the pH level to 7.2
Some people also swear by peat moss as the perfect spawn bed for fresh morels. What you decide to use for your mushroom bed does not matter as much as the conditions in which you grow them.
Water
Water is tough because morel mushrooms need a lot of moisture to survive, but too much water can also be detrimental to their growth. Therefore, if possible, natural captured rainwater is preferred to tap water which can have additives that are harmful to the mushrooms.
Heat and Humidity
Some purists believe in growing their mushrooms outside and letting nature run its course but growing them inside allows you to control the environment. The best temperature for growing morel mushrooms is in the mid-60s to low-70s during the day and 40s at night. A greenhouse is a perfect place to grow morel mushrooms because you can control the humidity, so more moisture is in the air.
Growing Methods
There are a couple of different growing methods for morel mushrooms for beginners and seasoned growers.
The Spawn Method
The easiest way to grow morel mushrooms is to buy a kit mushroom kits that already have everything you need, including the spores and a growing medium. Most Kits come with enough spores for a 4′ x 4′ bed, so make sure you have room for them outside or in your greenhouse.
- Choose a time when seasons are transitioning between summer and fall if you are planting outside or simulate the same conditions in your greenhouse.
- Add your planting medium to the area where you will grow your mushrooms. Burn wood and spread the wood ash over the top of the medium to simulate a recent forest fire. These ashes have nutrients that help morels thrive.
- Spread your morel spores in a thin layer on the top of your spawn bed.
- Add wood chips to the top of the medium and store your morels in a moist and dimly lit environment.
- Wait. It can take a few years for these mushrooms to grow, so be patient and don’t scrap the whole thing if you don’t have mushrooms by spring.
The Slurry Method
This method is easier and cheaper, but it does not have as high a success rate as the kit method. In addition, you will need to acquire morel mushrooms for this method.
- Fill a container with clean, non-chlorinated water.
- Add a tablespoon of molasses and a pinch of salt to the water and mix well.
- Add the mushrooms to the water and cover with a lid or plastic wrap.
- Store the mushrooms in a warm room for two full days.
- Remove the mushrooms from the water and strain them into the water before discarding them.
- You now have a mixture that holds potentially millions of morel mushroom spores. This water can be spread over a pre-made bed in a greenhouse or outside in common areas where morels grow like at the base of dead elm trees.
- Just like with the first method you will want to cover the top layer with hardwood chips
- There is no rushing this process, and this method takes just as long to grow as the spawn method with a kit.
How to Harvest the Mushrooms
If your mushrooms are ready to harvest, congratulations because most hard work is done. This is how to safely harvest your mushrooms as needed to ensure that the rest of them will continue to grow.
Once the mushrooms have grown to at least three inches, use a sharp knife to cut the cap off. Gently brush off any dirt, bugs, or other impurities on the cap; a dry paintbrush may help with this. You can keep them in the fridge for up to three days until you are ready to cook them. Do not wash the mushrooms until you are ready to prepare them, as this will cause them to degrade faster. It is not recommended that you freeze morels because they will lose their flavor, but you can freeze dry or dehydrate them if you want to keep them longer.
Common Growing Issues
Nothing beats the satisfaction of growing your own morel mushrooms, but unfortunately, the chances of success are relatively low with this strain. Unfortunately, there is no surefire way to guarantee that your morels will grow, but you can give yourself a chance by avoiding these common growing issues.
Poor Moisture Balance
Morels need moisture to grow, but too much moisture can allow bacteria and mold to grow, preventing the mushrooms from growing. A misting system is an option to ensure that your morels are getting the perfect amount f moisture each day.
The Wrong Temperature
Morels thrive best when the soil temperature is between 55 and 59 degrees Fahrenheit. The best way to ensure stable soil temperature is to grow morels in a temperature-controlled greenhouse.
Infected Spawn
Sometimes the problem is beyond your control, and there may be an unknown issue that prevents your mushrooms from growing.
Don’t Grab a False Morel
Morel Mushrooms have a look that you would think is unique to a single species, but morel mushrooms have an impersonator. If you plan to collect wild mushrooms in the wild to start cultivating morels, you must be cautious not to grab a false morel by mistake. These mushrooms bear a striking resemblance to morels but can cause severe illness and death due to a chemical called hydrazine toxin. The biggest difference between the two is that the mushroom caps on false morels are asymmetrical and don’t connect to the stem.
Get Growing
Given how long it takes for morels to grow, there is no better time to start growing these unique mushrooms. They have many health benefits and are a fantastic meat substitute for those looking to cut down their meat intake. They may take a long time to grow, but when you finally cultivate them, you will have such a sense of accomplishment that your patience pays off.
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