Growing Mushrooms (Mycelium)

When you think of gardening, do you ever think of growing mushrooms (Mycelium)? Most likely not.  Either you grow these creatures in the dark, harvest them in the woods, or even pick them in a local park. Importantly, some varieties are poisonous. So, know your shrooms before you begin to harvest them in the woods and pull out your favorite mushroom recipes. 

VERY IMPORTANT: To harvest mushrooms, you must have a good knowledge of which ones are edible, and those that can be fatal if ingested. Unless you really know what you are doing, leave the outdoor harvesting to the professionals.

There are over 10,000 varieties in North America. Only a couple hundred are edible varieties. Unless you know what you are doing, the odds of picking an edible variety in nature are definitely stacked against you.

Other Names: Mycelium, Shrooms (common slang)

Classified as fungi (or fungus), this member of the plant world is a delicacy all over the world.

Did you know? The study of fungi, including mushrooms, is Mycology.

Mycelium live in dark and shady areas, like forests, caves, or even your basement. They thrive in cool, dark conditions with high humidity. They are often found in partially shaded lawns during rainy or humid weather.

Gardeners can grow mushrooms in their basements or other cool, dark places. Mushroom kits can be obtained from online gardening sites. The kit is comprised of a box with soil and mushroom spores included. Then, all you need to do is add water and wait for them to grow.