Mushroom farm

I bought one of those mushroom farm kits and followed the instructions - it is only just getting a bit of white stuff on the compost and its supposed to get 'frosty' whatever that means before we put the other stuff on top, which contains the spores. I'm wondering how long I should leave it before doing this as 'frosty' doesn't say to what extent. Has anyone ever used on of these kits?

Hi Blossom
I think I put the other 'stuff' on top straight away. The instructions aren't clear at all are they.

These are great little kits when they work! I had success last year with one and found the hardest things are remembering to keep them moist (not too wet and not too dry) and keeping the temperature at an even 'room temperature'. I had to move mine last year from the cold laundry into one of the top rooms. But it made a lot of difference.

However we couldn't put them in a frequently used room coz of the smell, not a bad one it's just I'm allergic to moulds and fungi and that is exactly what mushrooms are!!

Here's a link to the blog post about them and a photo collage of the project.

How much do you get out of a mushroom farm like that? How many kilos of mushies? I have been eyeing them for a long time, so may finally jump in and do it.

Don't expect miracles Mad Gnome

I wouldn't talk in many Kilos...but it was great fun to grow them. Got a bit distracted towards the end and sort of forgot about them

I think it would be better to make my own compost mix up and try to get hold of some spores (but where??).
My uncle used to grow them in his garden shed in Adelaide...bit too many extremes of temperature up here to grow them outside though. We have changed the house around again since last year so can't grow them in that front room anymore

Still something to think about!

Blossom wrote:I bought one of those mushroom farm kits and followed the instructions - it is only just getting a bit of white stuff on the compost and its supposed to get 'frosty' whatever that means before we put the other stuff on top, which contains the spores. I'm wondering how long I should leave it before doing this as 'frosty' doesn't say to what extent. Has anyone ever used on of these kits?

eventually the surface will be all white.

Right - seems like they need a bit of attention then. We are actually getting quite a lot from some spent mushroom compost we bought and just put outside in a shady spot - we only paid $2 a bag so I'm hoping the kits give us 10 times the mushrooms! I might give it a few more days before I put the other stuff on it because it isn't as white as the photo yet.