2. Preparing the Chamber and Tools Needed for Mushroom Cultivation

 Preparing the mushroom cultivation chamber

In order to avoid future culture contamination with various molds or insects the cultivation chamber obligatory has to be cleaned up. This procedure is necessary for the success of the cultivation process. The principle is simple: if we leave a clean product in a place full of germs, the higher the rate of contamination of this product by germs located in the surrounding environment, therefore a clean environment is necessary if we want to obtain success in our mushroom cultivation process. For this procedure we will wash the floors with water and soap, we will paint the walls and use germ killing substances such as: chlorine, or alcohol mixed up with water [100ml (0.0246 US gal) of chlorine to 10l (2.642 US gal) of tap water]  that will be sprayed all over the place. This treatment has to be applied before and after each mushroom cultivation cycle just to be sure that possible contamination from previous mushroom culture won't affect future cultures.  
The cultivation chamber may be any space destined for this purpose able to keep a high humidity level; however most chambers fail to keep humidity and this may result in dry substrates and poor mushroom fruitbody production. Since this cultivation method is classical and made without equipment the mushroom cultivation chamber should have some other requirements such as: 

• a place able to keep a relatively constant temperature; 
• a place able to allow a natural ventilation (e.g., by opening a window or a door)
• a place able to allow sunlight entrance (e.g., through a window) or if this is not possible then this may be substituted by electrical lights.   
• the floors should be made out of concrete or any other material except wood

Basements are ideal for growing mushrooms especially because they do not fail in offering proper development conditions for mushroom fruitbody formation. Anyway, you may use any space that you have available for mushroom cultivation, just keep in mind the above mentioned. 
Note: If you opt for an open space to grow mushrooms then you may use a plastic foil cover (as seen in the picture below) to avoid substrate water loss and mushroom fruitbody dryness. However, in spite of all these measures it is possible to grow mushrooms outside in open air if the outside environmental conditions are proper for this.  

Fig. 9. Pleurotus ostreatus developing under a plastic cover 

(Photo credits: www.google.com)

Material and tools needed for mushroom cultivation

In order to cultivate mushrooms we will need to use the following:

• substrate ingredients (see substrate recipes) or the so called compost in-gredients: straw (wheat, rye, or barley), woody materials (chips, sawdust, etc), paper (cardboard, newspaper, books), corn (corncobs, cornstalks), cotton wastes, coffee grounds, nut shells, dry leaves, hay, or any other type of agricultural wastes;

• mycelium (spawn or mushroom seeds);

• a fire source;

• tap water source;

• a pot, a metal barrel or any other recipient. This will be covered up with a lid;

• (a recipient built up by using a wire mesh-as seen in Fig. 12);

• (a customized table -as seen in Fig.13: will be used for filling up the plas-tic bags with compost);

• a plastic foil;

• trash bags or customized column shape plastic bags;

• gypsum;

• water sprayer;

• disposable gloves.

Note: 1. Newspaper or books are not recommended as substrate ingredients since oyster mushrooms; particularly Pleurotus ostreatus has the ability to accumulate polluted substances and heavy metals into its fruitbodies

2. The beginner mushroom cultivator may leave out of this list the wire mesh recipient or the customized table since these is not obligatory for the cultivation process.

Fig. 10. Fire source and metal barrel needed in the substrate pasteurization process
(Photo credits: www.fungiforum.com)

Fig. 11.  Wire mesh recipient used for substrate pasteurization 
(Photo credits: www.fungiforum.com)

Fig. 12. Customized table used for filling up plastic bags with compost
(Photo credits: www.fungiforum.com)

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Find Out More!

1. Some of the Most Important Cultivated Oyster Mushroom Species
2. Preparing the Chamber and Tools Needed for Oyster Mushroom Cultivation

3. Compost Making for Oyster Mushrooms
4. Compost Heat Treatment and Inoculation
5. Incubation, Fruitbody Development and Harvest
6. Oyster Mushroom Culture Pests
7. How to Grow Oyster Mushrooms on Logs

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