Humidity is good for mushrooms

After the cotton husks cool, keep then in a clean, dry and cold place for one to two days before you put on the mushroom seeds (spawn), after which it will take about 30 days to be ready to produce mushrooms.

For farmers buying already made gardens, it is advisable to buy them at 27 days old. This means that you will cater for them for just three days before they produce mushrooms.

Make sure that your growing room has not got direct sunlight.

Provide indirect light, but not direct sunlight. More light can cause certain mushroom caps to turn dark brown. You would need to ensure you have cool and dark surroundings for them to grow successfully.

You also need to spray the ‘gardens' with water daily to help them grow. Constant humidity is necessary for the mushrooms to develop and grow. If you live in a dry climate, you may need to spray more often. Mushrooms need a lot of air to prevent carbon-dioxide build-up. Too much carbon-dioxide will make your mushroom production stop, so do not try and grow mushrooms in a small closet or an enclosed space.

After 30 days, the gardens will start producing mushrooms.

When the veil that attaches the cap to the stem begins to tear, it is time to harvest.

Depending on your mushrooms, it may be when the mushrooms are the size of an orange. Turn the block daily to check for harvest-able mushrooms that may be hiding out.

Gently twist and pull mushrooms from the garden. Partial stems left on the block will rot, so do not cut them.

Protect your mushrooms from insects by spraying the flaps of the growing box with cooking oil spray. The oil will trap and kill the insects before they reach your mushrooms.

Market

Before you stock, make sure that you first identify your market. For the common markets, there are vendors who buy mushrooms in the major markets, like Nakasero, Wandegeya, Nakawa, Kalerwe, Bugolobi in Kampala and then the largest markets in any of the upcountry cities.

However, if you are sure of your quality, quantity and consistency, you can approach the nearest supermarkets. Make sure that the mushrooms are clean on harvest and are well packed. There are many packaging plates, each costing between sh200-sh300, depending on the size.

If the volumes are higher and are not consumed immediately, you can dry them up. A simple solar-powered drier costs around sh500,000.