Mushrooms are a delicious and nutritious addition to any meal, and growing your own mushrooms can be a fun and rewarding experience. One way to grow mushrooms is in a bucket, which is a relatively simple and low-cost method that can yield impressive results. In this blog post, we will guide you through the process of growing mushrooms in a bucket.

First, you will need to gather some supplies. Here is a list of the items you will need:

• A 5-gallon bucket with a lid (although you can grow in any plastic bucket including coffee containers)
• A drill with a 3/4 inch drill bit
• Clear packing Tape
• Micropore tape
• 4-5 bags of Myterra Labs Woodlovers Blend 
• 1 bag  of Mushroom Spawn (Click here to see how to make this)

Once you have your supplies, you are ready to start the process. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Drill Holes in the Bucket

Drill several small holes in the sides of the bucket, making sure they are evenly spaced and at least 2 inches apart. These holes will serve as air vents and will be the spots where mushroom clusters will form. The more holes you drill, the smaller the mushrooms will be, because the mycelium (vegetative portion of the mushrooms) will only put a certain amount of energy into producing mushrooms at each harvest.  You should also drill a couple holes in the lid of the bucket to allow for air exchange and tape over these with micropore tape. If you are wanting to stack your buckets, do not drill in the lid, instead drill two holes on opposite sides of the bucket as close to the lid as possible and tape over this with micropore tape.

Tape over the outside of the remaining holes with clear packing tape, making sure to avoid any air bubbles - the tape needs to be properly sealed over the holes. The clear tape allows you to view the mycelium as it grows through your bin, but a solid tape will work too. This tape will be removed at a later stage.

Step 2: Layer the Woodlovers and Spawn in the Bucket

Fill the bucket about one-third full with the Myterra Labs Woodlovers substrate. Next, add a layer of spawn on top of the substrate. Make sure the spawn is evenly distributed and covers the entire surface of the substrate. Add another layer of substrate on top of the spawn, filling the bucket to about two-thirds full. Then, add another layer of spawn on top of the substrate, making sure it is evenly distributed.

Step 3: Cover the Bucket and Incubate

Put the lid on the bucket and seal it tightly. Store the bucket in a cool environment out of direct sunlight and away from sources of heat or cold. Ideally, you would place the bucket into a humid area where you will be fruiting the mushrooms, such as outdoors under the shade of plants or in a fruiting room/tent.

Step 4: Wait for the Mushrooms to Grow

After a few days, you should start to see white threads forming on your substrate. This is the mushroom mycelium and is the vegetative portion of the mushroom. Mycelium is used to gain nutrition and water, which will promote larger mushrooms.

The duration of this process can vary depending on the type of mushroom and strain that you are growing. This can range anywhere between 2-6 weeks.

Remove the clear tape from the holes in the bucket when all holes have white mycelium growing beneath or when you start to see the mycelium forming small blobs/pins. Once the tape is removed, you will need to place the bucket into a humid environment. Removing the tape will allow fresh air to reach the mycelium and will trigger mushroom formation.

Step 5: Harvest the Mushrooms

When the mushrooms have reached a desirable size, use a sharp knife or scissors to cut them off at the base. Mushrooms can also be twisted out of the holes, but this can remove some of the substrate in the process.

Step 6: Repeat the Process

After you have harvested your mushrooms, you can repeat the process by adding another layer of Woodlovers to the bucket. The mycelium from the previous batch will help to inoculate the new substrate, making the growth process faster and more efficient.

Growing mushrooms in a bucket is a simple and rewarding process that can yield delicious results. With a few basic supplies and some patience, you can grow your own mushrooms at home and enjoy the taste of fresh, home-grown mushrooms.