THIS common ingredient is surprisingly easy to grow but not without much effort and attention.
Mushrooms are a healthy addition to any diet and can be grown in a variety of places.
Mushrooms are different from other home grown vegetables because they are not actually a vegetable.
Part of the fungi family, mushrooms grow from spores and have root-like mycelium.
You can grow them using mushroom growing kits that include pre-grown spores for you to use.
Bear in mind that each species of mushroom needs different conditions so research the species before planting.
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Most mushrooms will grow well throughout the year but can survive winter due to the damp ground.
If you are growing from fresh spores in a tray indoors you here’s what you need to do.
If you’re growing your mushrooms outside then make sure it is around 15 degrees consistently to keep the spores at the right temperature.
You can also grow mushrooms from hardwood logs but they must be healthy wood and not conifers.
Dowel implants with mushroom spores can be hammered into holes drilled in wood and the log can be placed outside in a damp spot.
If you have a mushroom kit, check what the kit recommends for that particular mushroom species.
While other vegetables might be sensitive to overwatering, mushrooms like to be damp and they especially like water from rainfall.
About two inches of rainfall is thought to be enough for mushrooms to grow, make sure they are watered heavily and regularly.
When growing mushrooms at home it is important to not let them dry out.
Mist the mushrooms regularly or water them regularly, if you’re growing it outside make sure the spot is not sheltered totally from rainfall.
After a heavy rainfall it should take around two weeks for you to start seeing wild mushrooms sprouting.
If conditions are not warm enough however the spores will not germinate, preventing the rain from giving them the water they need.
It is not possible to grow mushrooms in just one day but if you have a mushroom kit it will be quicker than growing from fresh spores.
From first planting, you should have mushrooms ready to eat anywhere from ten days to four weeks.
Keep an eye on your crop and cut them when you’re ready to eat them as they don’t last long in the fridge.
Not all mushrooms are poisonous to dogs, just like they’re not all poisonous to humans.
It can be hard to identify which mushrooms are safe for consumption, especially in the wild.
Even if the mushrooms that grow in your garden could be dangerous so it is best to remove them or keep your dog away from them.
There are several mushrooms which are highly toxic that grow in the UK, these include:
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Signs that your dog has eaten a poisonous mushroom include excessive drooling, vomiting and can result in collapse or organ failure.
Sadly, mushroom toxins vary so greatly there is no antidote to this kind of poisoning but the vet will remove the toxin from your dog’s body.
