Mushroom Production

MUSHROOM PRODUCTION ONLINE COURSE

Ever wanted to grow mushrooms and didn’t know where to start?

• Learn Mushrooms; by Correspondence Study
• For the farmer, professional horticulturist, student, or anyone passionate about mushrooms

Here is a comprehensive 8 lesson course covering how to grow mushrooms on either a small or large scale. Emphasis is placed on the Agaricus species (the Champignon), though other commercially important edible fungi are also considered. Growing, harvesting, marketing, storage, pest and diseases and even ways of cooking and using mushrooms are covered.

Lesson Structure

There are 8 lessons in this course:

1. Introduction
   • How Fungi are Named: Review of the system of plant identification
   • Characteristics of all Fungi
   • Three Fungi Kingdoms: Zygomycota, Basidiomycota and Ascomycota
   • Agaricus campestris and Agaricus bisporus
   • Review of significant edible fungi including; Coprinus fimetaris, Flammulina velutipes, Letinus erodes, Pleurotus, Stropharia, Volvariella,Auricularia auricula
   • Synonymous Names
   • Distinguishing edible fungi, Mushroom structure, tell tale characteristics of the genus Agaricus, etc.
   • History of Mushroom Cultivation
   • Commonly Cultivated Edible Fungi
   • Agaricus bisporus, Agaricus bitorquis
   • Coprinus fimetarius
   • Flammulina velutipes
   • Kuehneromyces mutabilis
   • Lentinus edodes Shiitake.
   • Pholiota nameko
   • Pleurotus spp "Oyster Mushroom"
   • Stropharia rugosa annulata
   • Volvariella volvaceae Edible Straw Mushroom.
   • Auricularia spp
   • Tremella fuciformis
   • Tuber spp.
   • Tricholoma matsutake
   • Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi)
   • Grifola frondosa (Hen of the woods, Maitake)
   • Resources, information/contacts
2. Mushroom Culture
   • Options for obtaining Spawn
   • Steps in Growing Agaricus species: Preparation, spawning, casing, harvest
   • What to Grow Mushrooms in; growing medium
   • Growing media for different edible fungi: Agaricus, Auricularia, Copreinus, Flammulina, Letinus, Pleurotus, Volvariella, etc
   • Understanding Soil and Compost, components and characteristics
   • Acidity and Alkalinity
   • Making Compost
   • Making Mushroom Compost, and mushroom compost formulations
   • Moisture Level in Compost
   • Cultivation of Agaricus bitorquis
   • Cultivation ofCoprinus fimetarius
3. Spawn Production and Spawning
   • Finding Spawn Supplies
   • Overview of Spawn and Spawning
   • Obtaining Smaller Quantities of Spawn
   • The Process of Spawning
   • Spawn Production; typical rye grain method
   • Storing spawn
   • Problems with Spawn
   • Using Spawn
   • Comparing temperature conditions for spawning and fruiting in most commonly cultivated edible mushroom species
   • Cultivation of Pleurotus
   • Cultivation of Stropharia
4. Making and Casing Beds
   • Growing Methods; Caves, bags, houses, outdoor ridge beds, troughs, etc
   • Casing; biological process, characteristics of casing material, procedure
   • Techniques; spawned casing, ruffling, scratching
   • Review Auricularia and Volvariella
5. Growing Conditions for Mushrooms
   • Fungi Nutrition: carbon, nitrogen, essential elements, vitamins and growth factors
   • Casing to Harvest of Agaricus
   • Growing Indoors
   • Components of a Built System and Determining Your Needs
   • Factors Influencing Fungal Growth
   • Environmental Control, equipment to measure and control the environment
   • Siting a Growing House
   • Managing the Growing House or Room, cleanliness, heating, cooling, humidity, etc
   • Review of Tuber (Truffle) and Tremella
6. Pests, Diseases and Growing Mushrooms Outside
   • Overview of Pests, Diseases and Environmental Disorders
   • Prevention of Problems
   • Review of Bacterial and Fungal Diseases and their Control
   • Review of Insect Pests, Mites, Nematodes and their Control
   • Weed Moulds
   • Safe, Natural Sprays
   • Summary of Problems found on Agaricus bisporus and other edible fungi covered in this course
   • Cultivation of Flammulina velutipes and Kuehneromyces mutabilis
7. Harvesting, Storing and Using Mushrooms
   • Harvesting Buttons, Cups and Flats on Agaricus bisporus
   • Fruiting patterns for Agaricus bisporus and other edible mushrooms
   • Cool Storage of Mushrooms
   • Freezing Mushrooms
   • Dry Freezing Mushrooms
   • Drying Mushrooms
   • Canning Mushrooms
   • Harvesting Agaricus; method of picking
   • Handling Agaricus after harvest
   • Controlled Atmosphere Storage
   • Cultivation of Letinus (Shitake), Pholiota, Tricholoma
8. Marketing of Mushrooms and Special Assignment
   • Review of Marketing options for mushrooms
   • Fresh Mushroom Sales
   • Processed Mushroom Sales
   • Production and Marketing of Shitake, Oyster Mushroom and Straw Mushroom
   • Research and Determination of Marketing Opportunities and Strategies in Your Region

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

Aims

• Classify different varieties of fungi which are commonly eaten
  • Determine the techniques used in the culture of edible mushrooms
  • Explain the harvesting of a mushroom crop
  • Explain the post-harvest treatment of a mushroom crop
  • Explain marketing strategies for mushrooms

What You Will Do

• Compare the scientific with common definitions for a Mushroom
• Explain the classification, to genus level, of ten different commercially grown edible fungi
• Produce a labelled illustration of the morphological characteristics which are common to different edible fungi of the genus Agaricus
• Compare the physical characteristics of different commercially cultivated edible fungi
• Distinguish edible Agaricus mushrooms from similar, inedible fungal fruiting bodies
• Compile a resource file of sources of information regarding edible fungi, including: *Publication *Suppliers *Industry associations/services
• Determine the preferred conditions for growing two different specified mushroom genre
• Describe the stages in the growing of Agaricus mushrooms
• Develop criteria for selecting growing media, for different genre of edible fungi; including Agaricus
• Describe an appropriate compost for growing of Agaricus bisporus
• Explain how spawn is produced for different genra of edible fungi
• Explain the use of casing in mushroom production
• Compare different methods of growing edible fungi, in your country, including where appropriate: *Outdoor beds *In Caves *In buildings *In trays *In bags *In troughs
• Describe different pests and diseases of mushrooms
• Describe appropriate control methods for different pests and diseases of mushrooms
• Analyse hygiene and exclusion regimes used in mushroom production
• Prepare a production plan, based on supplied specifications, for Agaricus bisporus, including: *Materials required *Equipment required *Work schedule *Cost estimates
• Grow a crop of Agaricus bisporus
• Identify the stages at which Agaricus mushrooms can be harvested
• Explain how mushrooms are harvested
• Develop guidelines to minimise damage to two different types (i.e. genra) of mushrooms during and immediately after harvest
• Describe ways to extend the shelf life of two different mushrooms crops
• Explain different techniques for processing mushrooms
• Produce dried mushrooms from fresh ones
• Analyse industry guidelines for the post-harvest handling of a specified mushroom variety
• Determine the different ways mushrooms are packed for retailing
• Outline industry generic marketing strategies for mushrooms
• Suggest strategies for marketing a separately identified mushroom product (e.g. branded, regional)

EXTRACT FROM COURSE NOTES

GROWING MUSHROOMS IN AUSTRALIA

Commercial mushroom of Agaricus bisporus growing began in Australia during the 1930's. In the 1950's mushrooms were mainly grown out of doors on compost heaped into beds in disused railway tunnels.

Over recent decades, there has been considerable change in both the scale of production and the methods used producing mushrooms for the Australian table.

Mushroom growing today generally requires a high level of investment in insulated buildings and temperature control equipment, humidity and ventilation equipment, amongst other technologies. With sophisticated, highly controlled growing environments, pests, diseases and other disorders are controlled in the large scale mushroom growing operations, giving a much higher quality product, and less risk than was seen earlier.

By 1984/85 there were approximately 80 commercial mushroom farms in Australia, producing around 14 million kg of mushrooms.

(NB: The 20 largest growers produced 80% of the total production). In addition to the 14 million kg produced in Australia, a further 8 million kg was imported from other countries. The position will have changed somewhat since 1980, however, as the demand for mushrooms continued to expand.

Over the 1990’s and into the 21^st century, demand for other species of edible fungi developed in Australia (eg. Oyster Mushroom), at first as a gourmet or ethnic food, but with a trend toward wider acceptance.

Some of our Horticulture Tutors

Diana Cole B.A. (Hons), Higher Dip. (Garden Design), RHS Advanced Cert. Horticulture, Cert Admin.Mgt., Dip. Inst. Personnel Management   In addition to her RHS horticulture, garden design, City & Guild construction, NPTC pesticide/legislation and business/management qualifications, Diana has a variety of skills drawn from setting up Arbella Gardens, a landscape gardening business. She also has administrative, management and training delivery experience drawn from her employment in other organisations such as the NHS and other educational institutions such as schools & universities. She has augmented her training expertise having gained the Preparing to Teach in the Life Long Learning Sector qualification. She also has experience gained through working as a volunteer in a number of different roles including amenity style gardening in parks and practical conservation work. Diana is also a member of the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners Limited (NSALG).

Maggi Brown Cert.Ed.(Environment)
Maggi is regarded as an expert in Organic Growing throughout the UK, having worked for two decades as Education Officer at the world renowned Henry Doubleday Research Association (now Garden Organic). She has been active in education, environmental management and horticulture across the UK for more them three decades.

Yvonne Sharpe RHS Cert.Hort, Dip.Hort, M.Hort, Cert.Ed., Dip.Mgt.
Over 30 years of experience in horticulture, education and management, Yvonne hastravelled widely within and beyond Europe, and has worked in many areas of horticulture from garden centres to horticultural therapy. She has served on industry committees and been actively involved with amateur garden clubs for decades. Yvonne is also a member of the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners (NSALG).

John L. Mason Dip.Hort.Sc., Sup'n Cert., FIOH, FPLA, FAIH, MACHPER, MASA
Mr Mason has had over 40 years experience in the fields of Horticulture, Business, Education and Journalism. He has extensive experience both as a public servant, and as a small business owner. He has held positions ranging from Nurseryman and Landscape Designer to Director of Parks and Recreation (City of Essendon) and magazine editor.
John is a well respected member of many professional associations, and author of over forty books and of over two thousand magazine articles. Even today, John has written a number of best selling reference texts used by horticultural courses at universities and colleges internationally. His publishers include Simon and Shuster, and Landlinks Press (CSIRO Publishing

Dr. Lynette Morgan B. Hort. Tech., Ph.D. in Horticultural Science   Dr Morgan has a broad expertise in horticulture and crop production, and a keen appreciation of the global scene. She travels widely as a partner in Suntec Horticultural Consultants, and has clients in central America, the USA, Caribbean, South East Asia, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand.

Gavin Cole B.Sc., Psych.Cert., Cert.Garden Design, MACA
Gavin has over 20 years of industry experience in Psychology, Landscaping, Publishing and Education. He was operations manager for a highly reputable British Landscape firm (The Chelsea Gardener) before starting up his own firm. He spent the best part of three years working in our Gold Coast office, partly as a writer for Your Backyard (gardening magazine), and partly as a tutor in both psychology and horticulture.

Martin Powdrill, Bsc (Hons) Applied Science (Resources Option), MSc Computer Studies, Permaculture Design Certificate. Martin’s goal as a catalyst for sustainable change brings together his strengths and experience in his environmental, project management, and business backgrounds. For 25 years, Martin has been involved in Telecommunications, IT, Organisational Development, and Energy Conservation & Efficiency, prior to setting up his own Permaculture consulting business. He wishes to make a real difference to people and the planet, by actively bringing new perspectives to current challenges and exciting opportunities. To realise this, he enables diverse groups of people to flourish and release their untapped potential, by re-igniting their passion and creativity. Additionally, Martin volunteers with many local environmental and community groups, and facilitates discussions on climate change, peak oil, and transition towns. Martin has an allotment, and is currently enrolled in the Scottish Mountain Bike Leader Award programme.

Rosemary Davies Dip Hort Sc.   Originally from Melbourne, Rosemary trained in Horticultural Applied Science at Burnley, a campus of Melbourne University. Initially she worked with Agriculture Victoria as an extension officer, taught horticulture students, worked on radio with ABC radio (clocking up over 24 years as a presenter of garden talkback programs, initially the only woman presenter on gardening in Victoria) and she simultaneously developed a career as a writer.

 More Information on ACS Distance Education and our courses

Our tutors are all highly experienced and professional, knowledgeable in their field of study.  We have staff from around the world, enabling us to gain a wide variety of perspectives.  We have a school in the UK and in Australia. If you would like to have a look at our tutors, then click on the “About Us” in the boxes above and choose “The Staff” option.

Sample Course Notes

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