Planting the Portobello Mushroom Spores
Fill a container with a 6 in (15 cm) layer of manure-based compost. Find a growing pot or container that’s 8 in (20 cm) deep and at least 6 in (15 cm) long. Then, pour in a bag of manure-based compost until it’s about 6 in (15 cm) deep. This leaves enough space to mix in more soil and peat moss later. The manure compost is dried, so it shouldn’t stink up your house. However, you may try other organic compost products in place of manure-based compost. If you don’t have a container on hand, build your own planter box using scrap wood. Simply nail the wood pieces together to form the bed. As an alternative, purchase a portobello mushroom-growing kit. It has all the components you need for growing mushrooms, including a container.
Cover the bed with black plastic if you're growing portobellos outdoors. To sterilize the soil, lay a piece of cardboard over the compost. Then, cover the cardboard with a single layer of black plastic sheeting. Make sure it’s tight inside the bed and won’t get blown away by the wind. If you’re growing portobellos indoors, sterilizing the soil isn’t necessary. However, you can still do it to help ensure your mushrooms grow big and healthy.
Leave the bed in the sunlight for 2 weeks if you're growing outdoors. Leave the black plastic sheet in place and let the bed sit outside in the sun. The sunlight passes through the plastic and cardboard, clearing the compost of harmful bacteria that can damage the mushrooms.
Mix portobello mushroom spores into the compost. Put on a pair of rubber gloves and sprinkle the spores on top of the compost. Then, gently mix them about 1 in (2.5 cm) deep into the compost. Press down on the compost when you’re finished mixing. Some garden stores carry mushroom spores. If you covered the container with cardboard and plastic, remove the pieces and then mix in the spores.
Mist the spores with water to moisten the soil. Portobello mushrooms need a lot of moisture and humidity to grow. Simply fill a spray bottle with water and mist the compost so it is moist but not soaking wet.
Growing Portobello Mushrooms Indoors or Outdoors
Place the container in a cool, dark room if you're growing indoors. Set the mushroom container in a spot that stays cool and dark, like a shed, closet, or basement. Make sure the place you choose stays between 65 to 70 °F (18 to 21 °C). Monitor the soil temperature by placing a soil thermometer in the compost. Place a sheet of opaque plastic on top of the container if you don’t have a room that stays dark. If the room is too cold, place a heating mat under the container. Maintain the temperature around 65 to 70 °F (18 to 21 °C) to ensure it doesn’t exceed 80 °F (27 °C), as this can damage the growing mushrooms. The great part about growing mushrooms indoors is that you can grow them year-round.
Set the container in a shady cool spot if you're growing outdoors. For portobello mushrooms to grow outdoors, the temperature needs to be no higher than 70 °F (21 °C) in the daytime and no lower than 50 °F (10 °C) at night. Simply find a spot in your garden that receives partial sun, like in an area that gets shade from your house, a bush, or a tree. Place a soil thermometer in the container to monitor the soil’s temperature. If you don’t have a spot outdoors that stays shaded, set a sheet of opaque plastic on top of the container. Choose a spot that doesn’t get soaked with water. While mushrooms like to stay moist, they don’t like to be soaked. If the temperatures go beyond the 50 to 70 °F (10 to 21 °C) range, move your container indoors.
Mist the soil twice daily to keep it moist and to boost humidity. Simply give the compost a spray in the morning and night to ensure the soil is damp. Keep the humidity in the container between 60 to 70%. To monitor the humidity levels, use a hydrometer. If you’re growing the mushrooms indoors, place a humidifier in the room to keep the humidity level up.
Cover the soil with peat moss and newspaper when mycelium grows. After about 2 to 3 weeks, you should start to see mycelium covering the compost. This is a white, web-like substance that acts as the mushrooms’ roots. Just grab some peat moss and spread a 1 in (2.5 cm) layer over the compost. Then, add a single layer of newspaper on top of the peat moss. The peat moss and newspaper help keep the compost moist, encouraging the mushrooms to grow.
Mist the newspaper daily to keep it moist. Use a spray bottle at least once a day to keep the newspaper damp. This helps keep up the humidity level in the bed and ensures the mushrooms grow and thrive. If you’re growing outdoors, mist the newspaper twice a day.
Harvesting the Portobellos
Remove the newspaper when you see mushrooms growing. Lift the newspaper after 1 week passes and look for tiny, white heads coming out of the peat moss. If you see any mushroom growth, completely remove the newspaper. If you don’t see any white heads, keep the newspaper on. Check on the mushrooms every few days and remove the newspaper when you see growth. It can take between 1 to 2 weeks for the heads to poke out of the moss.
Continue misting the mushrooms daily as they grow. Spray the peat moss with water every day so the mushrooms stay moist and humid. Each day, the mushrooms should grow taller and their caps should expand in diameter. Be patient, as it can take 1 to 2 weeks for the mushrooms to grow.
Pick the mushrooms when the caps are 4-6 in (10-15 cm) wide. Portobello mushrooms reach their peak when the mushroom caps completely separate from the stem, open up, turn brown, and are about 4 to 6 in (10 to 15 cm) in diameter. To harvest them, cut the cap off from the stem with a sharp, clean knife or pair of scissors. Alternatively, grip the mushroom just underneath the cap and twist it to harvest it. Harvest the mushrooms sooner if you want button or cremini mushrooms: Button mushrooms are ready when the caps are white and 1.5 to 2 in (3.8 to 5.1 cm) in diameter. Cremini mushrooms are ready when the caps are brown and 1 to 3 in (2.5 to 7.6 cm) in diameter.
Keep moistening the compost until new mushrooms grow. Mushrooms will continue to grow in your container as long as the compost is rich in nutrients. So, keep spraying the container with water daily until a new layer of mycelium forms. Then, add another layer of newspaper and wait for more mushrooms to grow. You typically get 2 to 3 batches of mushrooms out of 1 tray before the mushrooms use up all the nutrients in the compost.
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