Growing guide
How to grow oyster mushrooms
The easiest mushroom to start with — grown in bags of pasteurised straw with very little capital.
At a glance
- Planting window
- North India: September – November and February – April; cooler-season species in winter
- Duration
- 45–60 days per batch
- Climate
- 20–30 °C (by species) with 80–90% humidity
- Soil
- Chopped wheat or paddy straw, pasteurised; pH 6.5–7.5
- Water need
- Low
- Seed
- Spawn at about 10% of dry straw weight
- Yield
- About 60–80 kg of fresh mushrooms per 100 kg of dry straw.
What to do, and when
Dates assume planting around 1 Oct. Change the plan to shift them.
- 1 week before — Soak and pasteurise straw: Hot water; drain to squeeze-damp.
- Day 0 — Fill bags with spawn: Layer spawn; punch holes.
- Days 1–20 — Spawn run in the dark: White mycelium covers the straw.
- Days 20–25 — Open to light and air: Cut or remove the bag.
- Month 2 — Harvest 2–3 flushes: Twist off clusters before edges curl up.
Varieties to consider
Buy certified seed or planting material from an authorised source.
- Pleurotus florida — White; cooler months.
- P. sajor-caju — Grey; warmer months.
- P. djamor — Pink; warm season.
Water
- Mist the room, not the mushrooms; keep humidity at 80–90%.
- Never let it go short at: Pinning
Pests and diseases to watch
Prevent first; spray only when needed, with a product registered for the crop, at label dose.
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What would you like to do next?
Where these numbers come from
- Common grower practice in north India Widely followed by farmers; confirm with your KVK for your block.
- Standard plant science
