Mushroom Failure

Peggy Sue · Wed Apr 09, 2008 10:57 am

What am I doing wrong- or are mushroom really hard to grow?
I followed intructions on a button mushroom packet, mixed it with manure compost and kept it damp but not wet in the garage- no sign. Had a second go , even covered them with damp newspaper but still no joy!

has anyone got any advice?

Wombat · Post: # 94915Post **Wombat** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 11:39 am

Hey PS!

It may be you got a dud box! I have had a few over the years and some produced bountifully but I had a number of duds too. The other possibility is the temperature may be too low or (less likely over there) too high. The box you got may just have been too old. Take it back and give 'em a bollocking and they may replace it.

Nev

Peggy Sue · Wed Apr 09, 2008 12:49 pm

I like your thinking Nev!

I did try this with 2 different packets, diff varieties, diff shops so its' more likely to be the temperature....but I still like your thinking

Wombat · Post: # 95091Post **Wombat** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 2:54 am

No worries!

ina · Post: # 95093Post **ina** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 3:03 am

I've tried several times - and I think the first one was my fault (got too hot in the shed during an exceptionally warm period); the second one never made it to the box stage - because I forgot it in the fridge; the third one is about to go the same way as the second

- and now I've got a little kit, which I'm keeping in the office as my house is too cold, and it has so far produced three whole mushrooms, which are getting bigger and bigger every day!

Quite an expensive hobby, growing (or trying to) mushrooms...

Post: # 95103Post **MKG** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 7:37 am

I'm sure I once read somewhere that you have to frighten them - honest. It's not the fruiting bodies which are normal for a mushroom - it's the mycelium beneath the surface. You have to give that ideal conditions for a while to ensure that it grows well, and then you give the whole thing a shock (sudden temperature change or a dose of carbon dioxide). The mycelium reacts as though the end of the world is nigh - it produces fruiting bodies which will produce spores which might survive the coming catastrophe.

I'm almost certain that I did read that ...

Peggy Sue · Post: # 95114Post **Peggy Sue** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:05 am

Ooo I may have unwittingly dont that, I gave up on the first batch and planted something else in it & stuck it out in the sun having given up completely and not wanting to waste my beautifully home produce with much love compost.

So now I may have lettuce and mushrooms next week