Business plan for growing champignons. Growing champignons at home

Mushrooms are on the list of the most popular types of mushrooms. They are distinguished by a special taste and relatively low cost, due to which they are in great demand among buyers. Independent cultivation of champignons is quite simple to organize, and the costs of implementing this business quickly pay off.

Business Features and Benefits

Growing champignons for commercial purposes is a simple type of business. Its advantages are:

• an easy way to grow mushrooms that does not require effort;
• the minimum amount of cash investments at the initial stage;
• high yield.

By equipping a plot of only 3 square meters, you can get about 45 kilograms of champignons.

There are about 200 types of champignons. Of these, only two pose a threat to human health: yellow and motley. For home production, double-spored champignons, also known as "cultural", are best suited.

Organization of a mushroom growing business involves the use of an industrial method. It will allow you to get a crop of 2 to 4 tons. But this requires a separate section.

This business has practically no disadvantages, while having a whole range of advantages. In the presence of a closed area, it is possible to ensure stable throughout the year. The tax rate for is quite low. There are minimum requirements for the room in which mushrooms will be grown. Resources for the organization of production are available to almost anyone.

Where to begin?

Initially, it is necessary to develop for the cultivation and sale of champignons. It includes the following steps:

• approximate size calculations;
• business registration;
• arrangement of a room for growing mushrooms;
• purchase of the necessary equipment and materials;
• selection of the most productive types of champignons, and the study of the technology of their cultivation;
• search for ways to sell products.

It is first necessary to study the potential sales market, and calculate the approximate volume of champignons that can be sold. It is also necessary to foresee possible risks, and develop ways to solve them.

Do I need permission to open a business, documents

In accordance with current legislation, a permit to open a business for growing and selling mushrooms is issued if:

• phytosanitary certificate;
• certificate confirming compliance with GOST;
• instructions for placement and transportation of mushroom products;
• document on the conduct of radiological control.

Initially, it is necessary to obtain the status (individual entrepreneur). Then an application is submitted about the desire to open a production for growing mushrooms. A certificate confirming the payment of the state duty and a personal passport are required.

For growing mushrooms for commercial purposes, you should choose a taxation system (Unified Agricultural Tax).

room

To get a crop of 2 to 4 tons, a plot of 100 square meters is required. To grow mushrooms, you need a special room. It can be bought, rented, or equipped at home if there is enough space.

At the initial stage, renting is best, since it is the cheapest, and if the enterprise turns out to be unprofitable, it will minimize financial losses.

The room should be divided into four sectors with different purposes:

• compost production;
• pasteurization of compost;
• sowing mycelium;
• crop cultivation.

A complex of various systems should be installed in the room:

• climate control;
• communications;
• ventilation;
• humidifier.

To ensure the stable growth of mushrooms, a certain microclimate should be organized in the room. In the absence of the necessary equipment, the most suitable budget option for this purpose is a greenhouse. If the site already has a similar facility for vegetable seedlings, it can also be used for growing mushrooms from September to February.

The greatest demand for mushrooms is in winter, so it is at this time that it is recommended to grow them.

Film and glass greenhouses are suitable for champignons. In them, it is easiest to provide the temperature and humidity necessary for growing mushrooms. Also, for the arrangement of the greenhouse, the use of polycarbonate is allowed. In the greenhouse it is necessary to organize:

• gas or electric heating system;
• ventilation to eliminate carbon dioxide released by mushrooms;
• shelves to increase the amount of grown mushrooms.

Also, mushroom cultivation can be organized in the basement, shed, garage or attic. The requirements are the same as for the greenhouse. But the floor must be cement to reduce the chance of mold. Regardless of the room chosen for the mushrooms, a draft must be excluded. Mushrooms will have enough light used by the owners of the basement for their own convenience.

Equipment and materials

To provide conditions for growing mushrooms indoors, you will need:

• ventilation and air conditioning with thermal control;
• refrigerator for storing products;
• water heaters (for space heating and providing the required humidity indicator);
• lighting system.

If the cultivation of champignons is not carried out in a greenhouse, then a solution of bleach is additionally required. This substance disinfects the space of the room, reducing the risk of diseases.

To grow mushrooms, you need to make a substrate consisting of:

• straw;
• sunflower husks;
• non-coniferous sawdust.

Mushrooms are grown in boxes, bags, pallets, on shelves filled with a special substrate.

The most productive varieties of champignons

In the list of the most productive and cultivated varieties of champignons are:

1. Silvan 130- a selective hybrid species, bred by American research, which is characterized by unpretentiousness, high yield and rapid growth.

2. Somycel 512, 608 - a hybrid species bred by French scientists, which is distinguished by a stable and long-term harvest (the disadvantage lies in the requirements for conditions of detention).

3. Houser A15- a variety popular in the American and European markets, which is characterized by a high yield, minimal requirements for various composts, wide hats.

If you plan to grow champignons throughout the year, it is recommended to use an imported species called Horst V1 and V3.

Growing technology

Growing mushrooms involves a simple technology. But inexperienced people will have to take into account a number of subtleties so that the mushrooms do not die. First you need to prepare the room. In addition to installing equipment, cleaning should be carried out using antibacterial detergents.

Purchasing or making compost

Ready-made compost can be purchased at the store, or you can prepare the substrate yourself. To do this, sawdust, sunflower husks and straw are crushed, poured with hot water and cooled. This process is called pasteurization.

You can learn more about how to make your own compost for growing mushrooms by watching this video:

What climatic conditions are needed

The optimal temperature that is suitable for growing mushrooms is 25 degrees Celsius above zero. The minimum humidity indicator is 85%. After the cover soil is filled into the container with mycelium, the temperature gradually drops to +15 degrees Celsius. For this, ventilation is used.

Methods and stages of cultivation

Initially, you need to purchase mycelium. It can be bought at special mushroom growing enterprises, or in stores selling flower and garden products. You can collect mycelium on your own only in the laboratory.

The substrate is loaded into plastic bags, in which the mycelium of champignons is laid. They need to make two-centimeter holes at a distance of 15-20 centimeters. Under suitable climatic conditions, mushrooms will grow at the site of the holes. Also, manure, lime and urea can be used as a substrate. Many people choose to purchase land dedicated to growing flowers.

If the substrate is poured into a tray or box, its thickness should be no more than 23 centimeters. Due to this condition, the likelihood that pathogenic microflora will harm the mycelium is minimized. A five-centimeter layer of grain powder is poured on top of the substrate, which is covered with another layer of substrate of the same thickness. After 2 weeks, the cover soil is poured out, which includes black soil, chalk and peat.

Watering is required periodically. For this, a spray gun is used. It creates an effect similar to rain. If you water the mycelium from a watering can, the mushrooms will not sprout. Mushrooms should not be exposed to direct sunlight - they can harm the crop.

Harvesting

If the planting technology has been used correctly, the first harvest should appear after 2.5 weeks. On average, the duration of the harvest period is 4 months, depending on which type of mushroom was used. High-quality watering can increase this period.

When picking mushrooms, do not cut off the legs. Mushrooms are separated by twisting. After that, the place where the mushroom grew is covered with earth and watered. Thanks to this method, new champignons will sprout in place of the plucked mushroom.

If you follow the technology of growing champignons, you can get up to 8 waves of fruiting. But a full-fledged harvest is observed only from the first to the third wave. In the future, its volume gradually decreases.

Mushrooms can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Staff

To grow mushrooms in large volumes, a staff of 3-4 people is required. This number of employees will be enough to harvest from 5 tons per year. Depending on the positions, the staff should consist of workers and a driver. The list of job responsibilities includes:

• planting and growing mushrooms;
• harvesting;
• processing the premises and maintaining the necessary conditions.

The driver is engaged in the delivery of products to points of sale.

Business expenses, approximate calculations

About 3.5 million rubles will be required to organize production for growing champignons. Of which will be spent:

• 15 thousand rubles - for business registration;
• 2 million rubles - for the purchase of premises;
• 200 thousand rubles - for the improvement of the premises for growing mushrooms;
• 1 million rubles - for the purchase and installation of the necessary equipment;
• 25 thousand rubles - for the purchase or production of compost;
• 10 thousand rubles - for the purchase of mycelium;
• 25 thousand rubles - for the development and implementation of a marketing program.

If, instead of buying, the premises are rented, or production is organized on its own territory, you can save 2 million rubles. To support the business, it is necessary to allocate about 70 thousand rubles a month. From this amount is used:

• 10 thousand rubles - to pay utility bills;
• 40 thousand rubles - for wages to employees (with a staff of 3 people);
• 12 thousand rubles - to pay taxes;
• 5 thousand rubles - for the purchase of raw materials;
• 3 thousand rubles - to pay for transportation costs.

If you work on your own, devoting most of your time to the business, you can save 40 thousand rubles. But, given the amount of work, in this case it is also recommended to hire at least one assistant.

Profitability, how much income you can get

The profitability of this business ranges from 25% to 40%. But initially the income will be minimal. The average cost of 1 kilogram of champignons is 200 rubles. In the first 2 months, production will be unprofitable, since this period will be required to grow the crop.

With a stable increase in the emergence of mushrooms over three years, the yield should increase by 2 tons. The average monthly is about 83 thousand rubles. Taking into account monthly expenses, net profit varies from 11 to 40 thousand rubles, depending on whether additional workers will be involved in production or not.

In the second year, it will increase to a size of 30 to 70 thousand rubles. For the third year - from 60 to 100 thousand rubles.

Risks

The main risks are pursued by inexperienced people who decide to immediately organize large mushroom plantations. In the absence of experience, there is a high probability that some of the mushrooms will die or not sprout, and the business owner will suffer losses.

But even with experience in this area, there is a risk of death of fungi due to pests and diseases. To minimize this option, the room must be regularly cleaned.

Another risk is related to the search for a market. It must be done in advance. Otherwise, you can grow too many champignons, for the sale of which there will not be enough buyers.

Growing at home

It is quite difficult to organize the production of champignons for commercial purposes at home. Mushrooms can be grown on the balcony, in the pantry or in a spare room. Such an area will not be enough to get the volume of mushrooms necessary to open your own business. Therefore, growing champignons at home is suitable for those who want to have mushrooms for their own needs.

Growing mushrooms is a good way to start your own business. But this requires a large room and knowledge of the technology of growing mushrooms. Therefore, to begin with, you should undergo training and try to collect a small crop.

Growing champignons as a business and a way to increase your income has recently attracted many people. However, despite the apparent simplicity in this matter, there are a lot of subtleties and pitfalls that must be taken into account. It is best to start a mushroom growing business small so that you can learn all the features without any major losses. Be sure to understand the conditions that are necessary for the mycelium to be in excellent condition and give a good harvest. It is necessary to pay special attention to the acquisition of high-quality mycelium, which will allow you to receive maximum income, as well as take into account many other aspects of this business.

Room and equipment for growing champignons

In order to properly establish production and at the same time begin to receive a stable income, when it comes to mushrooms, you should not rush. If there are no serious funds that could be invested in this business, it is advisable to start breeding champignons in a small room, for example, in a garage, in a basement or on a balcony. On your own, you can easily take care of the mycelium on an area of ​​\u200b\u200bno more than 10 square meters. Larger plantings will require hired workers. In the future, when the receipt of production will improve and begin to generate income, you can begin to expand. To grow 2-3 tons of products, a room of about 100 m² is required. The profitability of such a business is quite high.

You need to pay attention to inventory. In the event that initially the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe garage or basement is not too large, it is best to purchase or make racks yourself. This will maximize the use of the available space. In addition to the premises, when planning a mushroom growing business, you need to take care of:

• additional lighting;
• irrigation system;
• components for compost;
• containers or bags for planting mycelium;
• purchase of high-quality planting material;
• means of disinfection;
• film and paper, etc.

If a small mushroom farm is organized, at the first stages it will not be necessary to spend a lot of money to purchase everything you need. When arranging the room, it must be taken into account that it is necessary to install equipment for additional ventilation in it. Despite the fact that photosynthesis does not occur in mushrooms, they still need lighting for normal growth and development. Temperature and humidity require special attention. When planting mycelium or sowing spores, it should be + 25 ... + 26 ° C. In the future, it must be reduced to + 13 ° C. A thermometer should be installed in the room and a means for additional heating when necessary.

High humidity is very important for mushrooms. It must be at least 85%. In case of non-compliance with these requirements, a normal harvest will not be achieved. The composting process requires special attention. In this regard, champignons are very whimsical. In order to achieve a quality crop, you need to purchase a ready-made substrate, but if you wish, you can make it yourself. This issue deserves special attention, since the favorable outcome of the entire enterprise depends on it by 80%.

Substrate preparation for champignons

In order for grown mushrooms to give maximum profit, they need to provide an ideal nutrient medium. Approximately 80% of the total mass of the substrate should be compost. The basis for its manufacture is horse manure, mullein or bird droppings, dry straw from winter wheat. It is very important to keep the proportions when preparing compost. For 80% of manure, you need to take about 20% of straw. Compost must be prepared outdoors, as this releases a lot of ammonia, nitrogen and other caustic substances. When working indoors, these compounds can cause watery eyes, coughs, and even poisoning.

To prepare compost, you need to start with the preparation of straw. You need to soak it for about 2 days. Next, you need to put it in the trays with a cross. Each layer needs to be spilled so that it absorbs as much water as possible. After moistening, urea and superphosphate must be added immediately. These substances must be divided into doses in advance in order to evenly fertilize each layer. It should be based on the calculation of 2 kg of urea and 2.3 kg of superphosphate per 100 kg of straw. After the tray is completely laid out, everything must be thoroughly mixed by gradually adding gypsum to the composition, which will later act as a baking powder, and then water and chalk.

These components must be added in limited quantities. For 100 kg of straw, 8 kg of gypsum and about 4 kg of chalk will be enough. Lastly, horse manure is added. The resulting mass must still be allowed to rot. At this time, its temperature can rise to + 80 ° C. It is best to put the compost in a large container or hole. It should rot for at least 20-25 days. Only after that it is possible to grow champignons on it. Compost makes up approximately 80% of the total mass of the substrate. The remaining 20% ​​should be chernozem, peat, sawdust, etc.

The best varieties of champignons for organizing a business

Planting material deserves special attention when planning mushroom cultivation. It should not be purchased on the market. It is necessary to buy planting material in special laboratories where all the necessary documentation is available. Currently, you can easily purchase compost and grain mycelium. These options differ significantly in shelf life. Grain mycelium is a powder that can be stored in the refrigerator at +1°C for up to 6 months. 400 g of spores is sufficient for inoculation of 100 kg of substrate. The compost option is sold in banks. It can be stored at around +20°C for 15-20 days. At +1°C, it can be kept in the refrigerator for about a year. The consumption of compost mycelium is about 450 g per 1 m².

Be sure to pay attention to the choice of mushroom varieties. Good hybrids can produce up to 25 kg of product from 1 m². It is worth considering in more detail the varieties with the best performance. Champignon Somicel 608 allows you to get up to 22 kg of product from 1 m². The main advantage of this variety is its long growth, which allows you to stretch the immediate harvest for several weeks, which helps to prevent its loss due to lack of demand. This is especially important at the initial stage of development of such a business, when sales are still small.

Another hybrid to look out for is Silvan 130. It is characterized by precocity, so it will be possible to establish the production of champignons faster. With the creation of favorable conditions, it grows rapidly. The first harvest can be obtained in about 6 weeks. Fruiting bodies have a beautiful hat. The mass of one mushroom reaches approximately 45 g. The yield of champignons of this variety is about 20 kg per 1 m².

For experienced mushroom pickers, a hybrid is suitable Hazer A15. This variety allows you to get up to 29 kg from 1 m². This mushroom is best suited for those who have already established sales. This hybrid is unpretentious in terms of compost composition, but can die very quickly from infections, direct sunlight and drying out of the soil. The profitability of such a business will be quite high if all the basic requirements are met, since the yield of the variety is significant.

Mushroom cultivation technology for sale

The process of harvesting from planting mycelium to harvesting fruiting bodies has a number of subtleties. First of all, you should first prepare the room in which the mushroom will be grown, treating it with special means to eliminate bacteria and fungi. Mycelium should not be planted in previously prepared compost. It must be disinfected in advance. Heat treatment is best suited for this purpose.

The substrate must be heated up to +80 °С by any available means. At this temperature, it must be kept for at least 20 minutes. After that, it must be cooled to a temperature of about +25 ° C and transferred to disinfected bags or trays. The layer should be no more than 35 cm. In this case, the risk of damage to the mycelium by pathogenic microflora can be reduced. Next, the grain powder is sprayed. In the future, it must be crushed with a substrate, covering it by 5-6 cm.

After that, it is necessary to maintain optimal conditions in the room. Be sure to protect the mushroom from drafts. The temperature should be around +25°C. Humidity must be maintained at least 85%. After about 14 days, you can fill in the cover soil, which should consist of black soil, chalk and peat in equal proportions. Further, the temperature in the room is gradually lowered to +15°C by ventilation of the room. In this case, there should be no drafts. Harvest appears in about 10 weeks.

Harvesting and product sales

The fruiting period can vary from 2 to 6 months, depending on the variety. With proper care and abundant watering, it is often possible to extend the period of production. Harvesting has certain subtleties. It is best not to cut the legs, but to carefully unscrew them. The remaining holes must be covered with earth and poured with plenty of water. In this place, in the future, the fruiting body is again formed. It is possible to get 7-8 waves of fruiting. Only the first 3 of them allow you to get 100% of the crop. Further fruiting is on the decline. You can store the crop in a cool, humid room for 10-14 days at a temperature of +1 ... +10 ° C. Since the keeping quality of grown champignons is not too high, they need to be sold as soon as possible.

The organization of the finished product needs to think in advance. It is most profitable to sell mushrooms to the end consumer, but it will be extremely difficult to sell large volumes with a single point. It is necessary to take care in advance about finding partners in the form of various restaurants and cafes, as well as small and large retail chains, this will allow you to quickly establish a sales market and will be a good impetus for business development.

The latter is the most popular and, in turn, is divided into groups (races):

• white;
• cream;
• brown.

White champignons are leading the market, but they are also the most whimsical. For their cultivation, special equipment is needed. Brown and cream races are less productive, but also less sensitive to microclimatic conditions.

The substrate (compost) is a mixture of:

• wheat straw - 60%;
• horse manure - 30%;
• urea - 1.5%;
• superphosphate - 1.5%;
• gypsum - 4%
• chalk - 3%.

Reference! For one square meter you need about 6 kg of compost and 0.5 kg of mycelium.

It is convenient to buy the substrate ready-made, but you can arrange a compost heap yourself. The main thing is that it is located on the street or in a ventilated room, since the formation of compost is accompanied by the release of ammonia vapor.

The straw is preliminarily soaked in water for a day, then laid in layers, interspersed with manure and urea. It is necessary to lay at a height of 1-2 meters. All layers are watered.

In the sun, compost matures faster. It must be protected from rain, covering it with a film from above, but leaving access for air to the side. A week later, the pile is shaken with a pitchfork. Then gypsum is added. A few days later shake it again, adding superphosphate and chalk. It is important to keep the compost moist at all times.

After three or four days, the third shaking is carried out, followed by the fourth. After three weeks, the compost will lose its pungent odor, will not stick to hands and get dirty, will become moderately moist and resilient - which means that it is ready for use.

But before that, the substrate is pasteurized for several hours in a special chamber at a temperature of +65°C. Instead of pasteurization, it is allowed to cover the compost heap with a film and leave for 4-5 days.

Premises and equipment

Here is what kind of room you need for successful mushroom cultivation:

1. Decontaminated (fumigated with smoke bombs, treated with a solution of lime and copper sulfate).
2. Divided into zones for the manufacture and pasteurization of compost; sowing and cultivation of mycelium; growing mushrooms. The temperature in the mycelium incubation zone should be ≈ 24°C, in the mushroom growing zone - 12-18°C. To comply with these conditions, it is better to organize two separate rooms.

1. With constant humidity ≈ 60-80%. On small farms, this indicator can be achieved by conventional spraying. In industrial production - with the help of electronic air conditioners and humidifiers.
2. Minimum size ≈ 15 m2.
3. With connected communications: water supply, electricity, sewerage (to drain excess water), heating and ventilation.
4. With concrete floor (prevents entry of rats and moles).

For the farm equipment is purchased:

• air conditioner;
• refrigerators for cooling products;
• water heating boiler and steam generator;
• lighting;
• quartz lamp;
• thermogyrometer;
• scales;
• supply and exhaust ventilation with a filtration system with a capacity of 5 full volumes of the chamber per hour;
• transport.

Mushroom care and harvest

The thickness of the substrate layer should be 25-30 cm. The mushroom picker is divided into small pieces and placed in pits in a checkerboard pattern, lightly sprinkled with compost.

After that, the mycelium is left to germinate for a week and a half in warmth and without light, making sure that the substrate does not dry out.

After the mycelium has grown and filled the substrate, it is transferred to a cooler room (or lower the temperature), where the formation of fruiting bodies begins. To do this, the substrate is sprinkled with a 3-4 cm layer of poor soil - peat, loam (the soil is pre-moistened).

Then it remains to maintain temperature and humidity, provide drip irrigation or spraying and regularly ventilate the room. It is possible to say with accuracy how much champignons grow and when they need to be harvested - 30-40 days should pass after planting.

In a mature mushroom, a film connects the stem to the cap. If it is damaged, and the mushroom has dark plates, it is overripe and is not suitable for food.

Mushrooms will bear fruit in several stages for two months. Each crop ripens in 3-4 days. Between the phases of fruiting takes about a week. The most abundant is the first harvest. After three or four collections, the substrate is disposed of.

Mushrooms are not cut, but twisted out of the ground. The remaining wells are sprinkled with substrate and moistened.

Mushrooms are placed in containers of 3-4 kg. Storage temperature - from 0 to 4°C. Term - no more than 12 days.

An example production plan looks like this:

1. Room preparation.
2. Buying or making compost.
3. Planting mycelium.
4. Viability check.
5. Soil backfill.
6. Lowering the air temperature or changing the room.
7. Harvesting.

The whole process takes about 4 months. When expanding a business, it makes sense to officially register (according to OKVED 01.13.6). The following documents will be required:

• IP registration certificate;
• opening application;
• certificate of payment of state duty;
• certificate of conformity to GOST;
• instructions for storage and transportation of products;
• certificate of radiological control.

Business plan for growing champignons

How much you can earn on the sale of mushrooms depends on the size of production and initial investment. The growing cycle is 2.5 months.

One-time costs will be:

1. Substrate and mycelium (for a year) - 200 thousand rubles.
2. Repair of the premises - 50 thousand rubles.
3. Racks, boxes - 200 thousand rubles.
4. Ventilation and air conditioning - 250 thousand rubles.
5. Refrigerators - 100 thousand rubles.

6. Lighting - 30 thousand rubles.

7. Installation of equipment - 10 thousand rubles.

8. Registration of documents (registration, protocol of radiological examination of the workshop) - 10 thousand rubles.

9. Other - 50 thousand rubles.

Total: 900 thousand rubles.

Monthly:

1. Utility expenses - 12 thousand rubles.
2. Insurance premiums, certificates of conformity - 40 thousand rubles.
3. Salary for workers (3 people) - 60 thousand rubles.
4. Other - 25 thousand rubles.

Total: 137 thousand rubles / month

Total for the year (including initial expenses): 2,544,000 rubles.

On average, 10-15 kg of champignons are harvested per square meter. Let's say the property has a room where 200 m2 of substrate will fit. Approximately 3 tons of products will grow there in one cycle. This is 14 tons of champignons per year.

Wholesale price per kilogram - 145 rubles. This means that the income from the sale will be 2,030,000 rubles.

It is obvious that the business has a good payback - a little over a year. Monthly income (excluding expenses and taxes) - 435 thousand rubles. But this is under ideal conditions and established distribution channels.

Thus, the business idea of ​​\u200b\u200bgrowing mushrooms for sale is promising. It allows you to get big profits in a short time and with minimal effort. However, this is a risky business that can lead to losses. It is best to try on a small scale by purchasing a few ready-made blocks to begin with. It is also necessary to agree in advance with consumers (retail chains, restaurants, individuals) on deliveries so that consignments of perishable goods do not stay in the warehouse.

Reading: 8 min Viewed:.

Choosing the cultivation of champignons as a business, you are on the path to organizing your own profitable business. It will take a little effort from the owner to understand the basics of the technology of this production. What you need to know to open a mushroom business, we will tell in this article.

general information

Growing mushrooms as a business is a good opportunity to earn extra money. This business idea has a number of advantages:

• Growing this product does not require constant attention and presence. Your employment will be part-time.
• In most cases, growing oyster mushrooms and mushrooms does not require special knowledge and skills.
• The materials needed for the organization of production, for the most part, are quite simple. What can cause difficulty in manufacturing is recommended to be purchased ready-made.

Growing champignons as a business is a chance to start earning extra money. Here the main word is "additional". Since it is quite difficult to turn mushroom production into an independent source of income. Those who are just thinking about how to start this type of business should be aware of a few basic difficulties that they will face.

Where to begin?

The first step is to identify markets. To produce large volumes, you need to find a buyer for them, and preferably more than one. This will require the conclusion of contracts with large firms, factories, store chains. This in itself is quite problematic.

Let's talk in detail about how to grow champignons and oyster mushrooms. Perhaps some tips will help you understand this topic a little better.

Technology for growing oyster mushrooms

Oyster mushrooms are considered one of the popular types of mushrooms for production. This is due to the fact that the technology of growing oyster mushrooms is one of the simplest. The fungus grows both outdoors and indoors. If you plan to use the second option, then the harvest can be obtained all year round. For businesses, this method is the best.

Equipment and materials

First you need to decide on the choice of premises. It can be a greenhouse, a special room, a barn, a basement. The place must be dry and clean. Walls and floors are recommended to be treated with a solution of bleach. This is necessary to disinfect the space. After that, ventilate the room well. One room will be needed for the germination of the mycelium, the other for the mushroom growth stage.

After preparing the room, you need to make a substrate. Straw, sunflower husks, sawdust from non-coniferous trees, or mixtures of any of the listed materials are perfect for this. They need to be crushed well (into dust) and pasteurized (that is, steamed with hot water and cooled).

Now the substrate must be laid in bags (polyethylene) in layers. Between them, the mycelium of the fungus is laid, which is purchased in specialized stores. Make holes in the bags, the diameter of which will be approximately 1.5-2 cm. Place them every 15-20 cm.

Climatic conditions

Place the bags in a closed dark room. The air temperature in it should be about 22-25 degrees, humidity - about 95%. After 25-30 days, transfer the plastic bags to the second room, the temperature in which should be an order of magnitude lower - about 12-18 degrees.

The technology of growing oyster mushrooms requires that the room in which the bags will be kept for the second half of the time is constantly ventilated and humidified. This is necessary so that carbon dioxide does not accumulate in the room. In order not to resort to complex technologies, you can use a simple method. It is enough to put several buckets of water in the room and make the air circulate with a conventional fan.

As indicated above, the air temperature should not exceed 18 degrees. Maintain humidity at 95%. The room must have lighting that would work for 12 hours a day. For this, fluorescent lamps are suitable.

Important! When working in a room with germinating fungi, wear a gauze bandage or respirator. This is necessary so that oyster mushroom spores do not enter the respiratory tract. They can cause severe coughing or allergic reactions. If you are engaged in the production of oyster mushrooms on a large scale, then the use of such protective equipment is a must!

Approximate calculations

These guidelines can be used to create a manufacturing business plan. Oyster mushrooms are harvested at the rate of 3 kg per 10 kg of substrate. From one bag you can get 1-2 crops, after which its contents must be replaced. In a year, the substrate is updated about 4-5 times, that is, 1 time in 2-3 months.

Experts say that one square meter of such a "plantation" can bring from 80 to 100 kg of mushrooms per year. As you can see, growing mushrooms at home is a simple and uncomplicated business. Starting small and acquiring a permanent market, you can increase the size of production.

The technology of growing champignons at home

Excellent taste properties and the possibility of growing champignon at home have made it the most famous and widely used in the world. It is enough to get acquainted with the technology of its production in order to harvest fresh, selected and environmentally friendly mushrooms several times a year.

Where to begin?

First you need to determine the room where you plan to grow mushrooms. For this, a barn, a greenhouse, a basement, a garage and even a balcony can be suitable. Like oyster mushrooms, champignons love high humidity, good ventilation and moderate temperatures. Light is an important condition, but not the main one. The best temperature for the growth of the fungus is from 12 to 20 degrees and humidity in the range of 50-55%. For production, you will need racks, plastic boxes for planting, fans and thermometers to monitor the temperature of the substrate and air.

Composting

Experts recommend starting the cultivation of mushrooms at home with the preparation of compost. Unlike oyster mushrooms, additional materials will be required here. Treat this issue responsibly, because nutritious soil for champignons is the key to a high yield. If it is cooked correctly, then you will get mushrooms in the amount of 20% of the compost volume.

Components

There are many formulas for preparing nutrient soil. But there are components, the presence of which in the compost is mandatory. All mixtures are made from manure. The horse is considered the best, but the manure of pigs, cows, birds and sheep will also be effective. The second mandatory component is straw or hay. They must be fresh and unripe.

In addition to these materials, various fertilizers are placed in the compost: beet or potato tops, sunflower husks, brewer's grains or other organic waste. In addition, a good mixture requires the presence of nitrogen-containing components. For example, urea or ammonium sulfate.

Additives such as bone meal, cotton processing waste, bran will also be useful. Mandatory is the presence of mineral elements - gypsum, chalk or superphosphate. Here is one of the most common formulas: 100 kg of horse manure will require 2.5 kg of gypsum, 50 kg of winter straw (chopped) and 15 kg of dried manure.

Manufacturing process

During the production of nutrient soil, it is necessary to pasteurize it. First, manure should be mixed with ground straw and left for fermentation. During it, the mixture will warm up to 50-60 degrees. As soon as the desired temperature is reached, and this will take 4-6 days, it is necessary to make a rebatch. This involves thoroughly mixing the mixture and adding nutrients to it.

Approximately 5-6 transfers are required with a break between them of 2-5 days. All stages take about 20-25 days, after which a ready-made substrate for champignons is obtained. After the last mixing, the compost should be allowed to warm up to 60 degrees, and after the ammonia smell ceases to emanate from it, spread out in specially prepared boxes for mushrooms. As soon as the temperature of the compost drops to 24-25 degrees, mycelium is placed in it. The depth of its sowing should not be more than 10 cm.

Climatic conditions

During the germination period, it is important to maintain sufficient air humidity and substrate temperature, which should not exceed 30 degrees. After planting the mycelium, the compost should be covered with newsprint or film. Regular moistening of the substrate is the basis for the full growth of fungi. But it should not be watered, but sprayed. In addition, do not forget to constantly moisten the walls and floor of the room to increase the humidity of the air.

Gobtivka

The production of champignons is divided into several stages: preparation of the substrate, planting of mycelium and hobbing. The latter consists in pouring a layer of soil on the compost, the thickness of which should not exceed 3-4 cm. It should be relatively loose, poor and have a neutral reaction. A mixture of peat and chalk or loamy soil is best suited. During this period, the temperature of the substrate should be within 20-22 degrees, and the air temperature - 13-16 degrees.

Harvesting

Somewhere in 20 days after the last stage (hobing) comes the time to harvest. It lasts from 1 to 2 months. Mushrooms appear in "waves", after each compost must be watered. Mushrooms are harvested without the help of a knife, by hand. To do this, the mushroom must be carefully unscrewed. Harvest completely, without residue. This will cause a new "wave" of growth faster and save new mushrooms from attack by pests.

After the harvest is over, the compost should be removed and the racks and boxes disinfected. In addition, throughout the entire stage of growing mushrooms, periodically treat the room with bleach or a solution of potassium permanganate. Pests and diseases love a humid environment and tend to multiply in it with a vengeance, and this will be detrimental to future champignons.

Business costs

According to various data, the level of profitability of the mushroom and oyster mushroom growing business ranges from 30 to 50%. This difference is explained by differences in production volumes, microclimatic parameters of the premises, transport costs, energy costs, as well as in labor and material resources.

Before you go into such a business on a large scale, evaluate the level of costs. The direct costs of organizing your own production for growing mushrooms include the costs of purchasing manure, chicken manure, straw, mineral additives (or the purchase of ready-made compost).

This also includes spending on the purchase of consumables: containers, plastic wrap, seed mycelium. In addition, you need to take into account the cost of fuel, rent, electricity, utilities and payroll for employees. This is not a complete list of expenses. Therefore, at the initial stages, you can limit yourself to small volumes, the production of which is easy to establish at home.

Finally

Having chosen the cultivation of champignons as a business, you need to understand that this is a process that will require time and knowledge from you. But it is enough to do the procedure once in a small volume in order to understand the technique and gain experience. In the future, you will not think about how to grow champignons.

The business will allow you not only to earn extra money, but also to enjoy the production process itself. With the right approach, you can get from 10 to 15 kg of mushrooms from 1 square meter of substrate. It is profitable to sell champignons and oyster mushrooms in winter and spring, when the demand for this product is especially high.

By growing various vegetable products in their backyard, summer residents not only save money, but also enjoy the process of the birth of a new green life. Growing champignons at home is no less exciting, and with the right approach, and a significant volume of mushroom production, such an activity can turn into a very profitable home business.

Greenhouse with champignons

Growing champignons: where to start

When growing any vegetable crop, fruit trees, mushrooms, berries or medicinal plants, non-compliance with agricultural standards always leads to a decrease in the total yield. Under extremely unfavorable conditions for the cultivation of many crops, the plant may not produce a crop at all, and in the event of a disease, it may die completely.

Champignon cultivation technology has its own specifics, therefore, in order to get a return on the labor that will be spent on growing this crop, the following rules should be followed:

1. Acquire mycelium only in organizations serving large mushroom growing enterprises.
2. Cultivation of champignons should be carried out only in rooms where it is possible to provide the necessary microclimate.
3. Use only high-quality, nutrient-rich,
   substrate.

When organizing mushroom growing at home, it should also be understood that failure to comply with any of these points can lead to a significant decrease in yield, and if mushrooms are grown for sale, then to a deterioration in presentation. In order to gain initial experience, and in case of failure, not to incur large financial losses, mushroom cultivation should be started in a small volume.

Room preparation

A mushroom growing business can be organized even in a room of 10 m2. Of course, the amount of harvest at such a size will not be too large, but it will be possible to get the first experience in growing champignons, and in the future it will not be difficult to expand production. Basements are the ideal place to grow this type of mushroom at home. In such rooms, it is easy to organize the conditions necessary for the growth of mycelium.

A humid environment will contribute not only to the growth of champignons, but also to pathogenic microorganisms, therefore, such a room must be thoroughly disinfected before planting mushrooms. To prevent the reproduction of unwanted microflora, the walls of the room should be whitewashed. To maximize the preventive effect of this event, it is recommended to add a small amount of copper sulfate to the lime mortar.

The working tool, as well as the shelves where the champignons will be grown, can be treated with an ordinary manganese solution. The technology for growing champignons on an industrial scale involves the use of large premises. To reduce costs, entrepreneurs often rent ownerless farms in which all the above disinfection measures are carried out, and special equipment must also be installed.

Growing conditions

For the normal growth of champignons, a constant air circulation should be created. Properly organized ventilation will avoid the negative effects of carbon dioxide on the formation of the body of the fungus. Humidity should be maintained at about 80%, and the temperature in the room should be at least +15 degrees. In different periods of the formation of the fungus, these indicators may change, so you should carefully consider the possibility of changing the indicators of temperature and humidity. If champignons are grown as a business, then for these purposes special automatic systems are used that are able to maintain the microclimate in the room for a long time, without human intervention. In small basements or rooms specially equipped for growing mushrooms, humidity can be controlled with a dense cloth that is partially lowered into a water tank.

If champignons are grown at home in the autumn-winter period, then at this time you can not do without additional heating. In severe winters, even in the basement, the temperature can drop below the minimum values, therefore, in the absence of the possibility of connecting centralized heating, electrical appliances can be used to increase the temperature in the room where mushrooms are grown.

Mushroom cultivation does not require lighting, but for work in the basement one cannot do without additional lighting using fluorescent lamps, which have high rates of efficiency during work.

When growing champignons in a greenhouse, sunlight should be avoided. To eliminate the negative impact of direct lighting, it is recommended to shade the greenhouse with a camouflage net or paint the entire upper part of the greenhouse with a solution of chalk. Properly executed shading will not only avoid the harmful effects of sunlight, but also reduce the temperature on warm sunny days.

Growing champignon mushrooms at home, in principle, does not differ from industrial. The production of champignons at home is convenient because it is easy to combine various tasks and work to care for the future mushroom crop, while you can save a significant amount of money by abandoning automatic systems for regulating the basic conditions for growing this type of mushroom.

For the correct formation of mycelium, ideal conditions alone are not enough, it is necessary also create a breeding ground.

Compost for growing mushrooms

Soil preparation

The technology for growing champignons at home must necessarily include proper soil preparation. The substrate is prepared from a mixture of straw and manure in a ratio of 1 to 1. Horse or cow manure can be used to grow mushrooms. If there is a large amount of bird droppings, then it can also be successfully used to grow this type of mushroom.

Soil for growing mushrooms must go through the fermentation process in the compost pit. In order for the substrate to acquire the necessary properties as much as possible during the fermentation process, the compost pit should be located under a canopy. You should also exclude the possibility of excessive moisture ingress, as a result of rising groundwater levels or after heavy rainfall.

Compost with the required chemical composition is formed within about 3 weeks.

Mixing compost with straw should be done in the following sequence:

1. Straw is abundantly watered for several days.
2. When a significant increase in temperature begins in the lower layer of straw, it is mixed with manure.
3. The finished mixture is laid in a compost pit and covered with a waterproof material.

A week later, after laying the compost pit, it must be killed. After perebivka, the mixture is moistened again and left for 3 - 4 days. After this time, the compost pit is again broken. Thus, this procedure is carried out at least 5 times during the entire time of the fermentation of the substrate. During the penultimate composting, it is necessary to lay gypsum in the compost. The amount of gypsum is about 5% of the total mass of the compost.

The end of the process of forming a nutrient substrate can be determined by the absence of a pronounced smell of ammonia, while the consistency of the soil will acquire a mushy structure, and the straw will completely lose color and will be easily torn.

Technology

The containers that are used to grow this type of fungus must be deep enough. The recommended thickness of the substrate is 20 cm, in addition, a covering material consisting mainly of peat must be laid on top of the compost. To grow champignons, the top layer must be at least 5 cm.

After 2 - 3 days after laying the soil in the rack boxes, the mycelium of the fungus is planted. Breeding champignons at home is done with the help of mycelium. The most commonly used compost form of mycelium, which, when purchased from a trusted and reliable supplier, allows you to grow a fungus resistant to various diseases. The yield, with a properly organized mushroom growing process, is at least 100 kg of champignons per 1 ton of compost. The high price per 1 kg, champignons always cost much more than oyster mushrooms, allows us to hope for a high profitability of this business, therefore, before laying mycelium in the ground, it is possible to approximately calculate the future yield and revenue from the sale of this mushroom.

Tray with champignons

Business plan

If you plan to organize a highly profitable business in agriculture, then it is difficult to find an example of a more profitable production than growing mushrooms. Mushrooms yield in waves. Varieties of mushrooms that are used in industrial production can have up to 4 such periods, and at least four full cycles during the year.

It is not difficult to draw up a business plan for growing champignons. To start a small mushroom business, you will need to make the following expenses:

1. The purchase of compost is about 15,000 rubles for 3 tons.
2. Buying mycelium - 2000 rubles for one growing cycle.
3. Purchase of equipment - 50,000 rubles.

As you can see, a mushroom growing business can be started with an initial capital of about 70,000 rubles. These financial investments will be fully returned in the first months of growing champignons for sale. It is not difficult to determine how much champignons cost in the retail system; it is enough to personally visit the nearest grocery market or supermarket.

Mushrooms are a perishable product, therefore, with a large volume of production, the cost of champignons per 1 kg sold in bulk will significantly differ downward from those prices that can be seen on store shelves. It is almost impossible to sell mushrooms on the local market on your own, with a large number of products produced, therefore, in order to make a profit, you should minimize costs and try to increase the yield of mushrooms from 1 m2.

Conclusion

Mushrooms as a business is a very profitable business, but only if all agrotechnical standards are fully observed. To get a more complete picture of this type of business, it is recommended to watch a video on how champignons are grown at home.

Videos of growing champignons can be easily found on YouTube or similar video hosting sites. In these mini-movies, experienced farmers not only explain the basic principles of cultivation, but also consider the most common mistakes.

How to breed champignons at home is described in this article, but theoretical information alone is not enough to successfully engage in this type of entrepreneurial activity. To master this difficult task, the theory must be confirmed in practice, and with successful experience - scaled. Only with such a sequence of actions can you develop your own highly profitable mushroom growing business at home.

Mushrooms as a business is a very profitable business, but only if all agrotechnical standards are fully observed.