Tourists visiting Kew Gardens in southwest London have shown interest in learning more about mushroom cultivation in the kitchen garden to increase crop yield per square foot and enhance soil fertility. 

Growing Interest

Hélèna Dove, Kew's lead kitchen gardener, told The Guardian, "Mushrooms have seen a great rise in popularity and we've seen a huge amount of interest from visitors since we installed our mushroom beds in Kew's kitchen garden this autumn."

Growing vegetables under the shade of a tree or even a backyard shed have sparked a lot of curiosity since such areas are often left unused. 

She emphasized that mushrooms may be successfully cultivated by even individuals who lack a green thumb since they can be grown inside using pre-inoculated kits.

"Awareness is also growing around the potential risks that foraging from the wild can pose to fragile ecosystems and growing your own can help reverse this trend," Dove stated. 

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Caley Brothers

According to the report, the Chelsea Flower Show will have a fungus exhibit for the first time next year thanks to the efforts of the Royal Horticultural Society. 

Since more and more individuals have indicated an interest in cultivating fungi, Lorraine Caley will be exhibiting her oyster mushrooms in the Great Pavilion in May. She launched her mushroom-growing firm Caley Brothers, in 2018.

Because they could not locate the more unusual species of mushrooms in Sussex stores, she and her sister Jodie Bryan began growing them themselves. 

"We'd seen this stuff online and started growing for ourselves. But we had so much demand, people's curiosity forced us to start making our own kits. Then in lockdown, everyone we supplied fresh mushrooms to wanted their own kits to grow them at home," Caley stated, sharing their experience.

The siblings cultivate fungus on coffee grinds and wood. Unlike dahlias or crocuses, fungi provide interest to a garden and improve the soil. 

At Kew Gardens, the sisters installed an outdoor mushroom bed with nine varieties that grow in seven mediums - mushroom beds, totems, logs, and straw bales. 

At-home Cultivation

There are a variety of methods to cultivate mushrooms at home, from experimenting in the vegetable garden to purchasing a basic indoor kit available online and at certain farmer's markets. 

Since outside conditions affect the success or failure of mushrooms cultivated in beds, indoor cultivation is often more effective.

This alternative fertilizer is frequently free from a nearby coffee shop for cultivars that like coffee grounds. Buy mushroom spawn online to grow in manure or compost. Otherwise, purchase a kit including spawn and growth medium.

Drill holes in logs and insert "plugs" to develop spores. Keep the environment wet after planting. Logs might take 18 months to produce mushrooms, whereas substrate just takes weeks.

According to The Guardian, beginners should start with any of these:

Oyster mushrooms - Simple to cultivate, come in blue, pink, and golden colors, and enjoy all types of substrates, including coffee grounds.

Shiitake mushrooms - With a good flavor and extended shelf life. May cultivate on logs outdoors or in sawdust indoors.

Lion's mane mushrooms - Have eye-catching shaggy heads. Fast-growing, easily fruiting, and with many health benefits.

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Written by Trisha Kae Andrada