Growing mushrooms from 'roots'

Alison_Funnell

I have 'roots' and tiny buds of mushroom I have just cut from the mushies I am cooking for dinner. Is it possible to grow these? And how would you do this? I've never grown mushies.


Thanks

Steve_xx

I dont think you can propagate mushrooms in the way you suggest. They are usually grown from spores which form as the mushrooms starts to wither while still in the soil.

Alison_Funnell

Thanks for that Steve. Looks like I will have to buy myself a kit then.

babyshoes

I also don't think you can grow them from the root bits, but it wouldn't hurt to try! Pop them in some compost and keep them damp, dark and fairly warm, but not wet for a while and see if anything happens...

Norfolk_Jim

Those are not roots by the way, its mycelium. Effectively thats the fungus, the mushroom is the fruiting body.
If you have a mushroom farm anywhere near you, you can get some "spent" compost. This will still have some fruiting potential but not enough to be economically viable for the farm (Make sure it hasn't been sterilised!). This will give you some mushrooms without all the fuss of obtaining spores, manure etc, you just need to keep it at the right temperature, dark and moist.
I used to use it as a mulch on my garden and quite a lot came up for a few weeks just by chucking it in the garden but I know with effort you can do better than that.
If you have a big garden and can have a log pile, you can grow Shittake mushrooms which take little looking after.