Choosing a Mushroom Species

A mushroom cultivation kit is a handy way to begin to understand the fungal life cycle. Once you successfully use the kit, you can begin to learn the steps that precede that final fruiting stage of the mushroom life cycle. Purchase spawn that will grow on materials you have available. Then design and test a system that duplicates the conditions favorable to all stages of growth. You can use this experience to learn how to create sterile cultures and spawn for the species you are growing.

Choose the species to grow by thinking about:
What waste materials are readily available to use as a growth medium?
What kind of facility or environment is available?
How much will the necessary equipment cost?
What level of skill is required to manage the life cycle of the fungus?
What is market demand for this species?

According to these criteria, oyster (Pleurotus species) and shiitake (Lentinus edodes) mushrooms are probably best for most novices, although the maitake (Grifola frondosa) is also a possibility. The former two are relatively easy to grow, and there is already a market for them, largely because commercial producers of white button (Agaricus bisporus) mushrooms have been diversifying into specialty mushrooms. If you intend to grow mushrooms commercially, shiitake or oyster mushrooms are your best choices. These two species are more thoroughly covered in the following sections.

A chart in the Appendix lists other common species and the materials on which they can be cultivated. Test each species you are considering against each of the questions listed above.

(http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/mushroom.html)