Growing button mushrooms (white and chestnut)
White button mushroom and chestnut mushroom are the same species, Agaricus bisporus. At home you grow them with a pack of colonised compost and a casing layer. For fruiting you need a cool spot of about 12 to 17 °C; the first harvest follows 15 to 21 days after casing.
Health and Safety Executive / Horticultural Development Company (VK) · BS-51Penn State Extension · BS-02Plukkers (NL/BE webshop) · BS-49Wageningen UR · BS-48Without a casing layer no mushrooms form. Making compost yourself is too difficult for a first project: Penn State calls the second compost phase possibly the most difficult step and watering the most delicate operation.
Wageningen UR · BS-48Penn State Extension · BS-02A cool spot
During fruiting, button mushrooms like it cool: Penn State gives 15–17 °C, a hobby web shop 12–15 °C. A cellar of about 20 °C is too warm for that; think of the cold season or a cooler room.
Penn State Extension · BS-02Plukkers (NL/BE webshop) · BS-49Colonisation
Let the compost colonise under cover. The hobby source first gives about 21 °C, commercial growing 24–25 °C for 14 to 21 days. With some packs the compost is already colonised; then follow your instructions.
Plukkers (NL/BE webshop) · BS-49Penn State Extension · BS-02Casing and moisture
Spread the casing in an even layer. Keep it moist but not wet: mist 1 to 2 times a day or cover it with damp cloths.
Penn State Extension · BS-02Plukkers (NL/BE webshop) · BS-49De Duurzame Tuin (NL) · BS-50Cooler and more air
When you see mycelium in the casing, move the pack somewhere cooler and ventilate, so that CO₂ drops to 1,000–2,500 ppm.
Penn State Extension · BS-02Wageningen UR · BS-48Harvesting
In the fast growth phase a mushroom doubles every 24 hours: so check daily and cut them off with a knife. Flushes follow each other in a cycle of 7 to 10 days; Penn State mentions 3 to 4 flushes, of which the first 2 yield the most.
Penn State Extension · BS-02Plukkers (NL/BE webshop) · BS-49What we do not know
We found no independent yield figure for a hobby pack. A Dutch seller mentions up to 5 harvests, but its own instructions say 'with a bit of luck' 3.
De Duurzame Tuin (NL) · BS-50Growing and eating safely
The British Health and Safety Executive points to risks for the airways when growing and harvesting button mushrooms. No risk measure is known for a single hobby pack: do not grow in a bedroom and ventilate. Always eat button mushrooms cooked.
Health and Safety Executive / Horticultural Development Company (VK) · BS-51Voedingscentrum · BO-02Source
- Kan je champignons/paddenstoelen rauw eten? — Voedingscentrum
- Basic Procedures for Agaricus Mushroom Growing — Penn State Extension
- Literatuurstudie vocht in compost, dekaarde en champignons (Straatsma & Amsing 2005) — Wageningen UR
- Zelf champignons kweken in 5 eenvoudige stappen — Plukkers (NL/BE webshop)
- Kweekset champignon — De Duurzame Tuin (NL)
- Mushroom factsheet (HSE/HDC) — Health and Safety Executive / Horticultural Development Company (VK)
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This is general growing information from the sources listed. Always follow the instructions of your kit or supplier. Only eat what demonstrably grows from your own culture of the bought, named species; if in doubt about colour, smell or shape, do not eat it.
Always cook mushrooms thoroughly. This is general public guidance, not personal nutrition or medical advice.
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