Mushroom farming is like a million dollar business. Technology and equipment for growing mushrooms: oyster mushrooms and champignons

♦ Capital investments – 950,000 rubles.
♦ Payback – 1 year.

Champignon is one of the favorite mushrooms in different countries, because it is tasty, easy to prepare, affordable and there is always an abundance of it on supermarket shelves.

According to historians, the French peasants became the pioneers of the cultivation of champignons, who in the late 1600s noticed that if adult champignons were washed with water and then poured into the compost heap, periodically watering this area, then on the compost heap you can collect good harvest.

Growing champignons as a business took root in England.

There, at the beginning of the 18th century, mushroom farms were organized.

Gradually, this practice began to take root all over the world.

Features of growing champignons as a business

Mushrooms as a business were first discussed in Russia in the 1990s, during a terrible economic crisis.

Then farms for growing these unpretentious mushrooms, organized in abandoned mines, saved more than one village that was on the verge of extinction.

Gradually, the technology of growing champignons began to improve, and other methods of harvesting began to be practiced.

Many entrepreneurs are under the delusion that the farming business is hard and not very profitable.

The industrial cultivation of champignons, although it belongs to the field of agriculture, completely breaks these stereotypes.

Growing champignons is definitely profitable, otherwise this market would not have grown by 25% in the previous year alone.

If we take the average data, we see that every Russian eats at least 1.5 kg of mushrooms per year, and this trend, according to experts, will only increase.

All this should lead businessmen looking for a profitable start-up to the idea that it is necessary to organize the industrial cultivation of champignons and make money on their sale.

Entering this business is quite easy, because you do not need to purchase expensive equipment or rent giant areas in order to grow the first batch of champignons.

Yes, and the technology of growing this mushroom is extremely simple and you do not need to be a certified botanist to master it.

In general, if you are looking for a profitable, promising business that does not require huge financial investments, then this business is just for you.

Advantages and disadvantages of growing champignons as a business

Every businessman who is interested in quick self-sufficiency and good profits for his business needs to calculate the pros and cons before starting to invest in some business.

Growing champignons as a business has several advantages:

You need relatively little money to start a startup.
The mushroom market in Russia has huge holes filled with low-quality imported goods, so you have a chance to gradually build a real mushroom growing empire.
The raw materials for growing these mushrooms are agricultural waste (compost, straw, chicken manure), which can be purchased for a penny.
Mushrooms can be grown in any conditions (in abandoned mines, in the basements of private houses, in bags right in apartments, etc.).
This mushroom bears fruit all year round if the right conditions are created for it.
The market is full of empty niches that you can fill.
This is a profitable business that will bring you the first profit within a few months after the launch of a startup.

But you need to remember about the main disadvantage of growing champignons as a business, which is the need to find a market for your products.

It may not be so easy, especially in a small town, but if you have your own transport, then nothing prevents you from going to a neighboring large city to sell your products there.

5 ways to grow champignons as a business

The main thing in this business is to get a high percentage of profitability, not productivity.

To achieve this, you need to choose the most suitable system for growing champignons.

There are 5 main methods of growing mushrooms:

Directly on the ground.

You can set up your mushroom growing business right in an empty mine, your own greenhouse, basement, etc.
This system is very cheap because you don't need to order special equipment.
One of its main disadvantages is the risk of infection of the mycelium, because the earth is full of different microbes.

Dutch system of growing on shelves.

Such production can be launched, for example, in your barn or garage.
The more shelves you equip, the more harvest you will harvest.
One of the disadvantages of this system is the high cost of arranging a room for growing mushrooms.

In bags.

This is the simplest and most profitable mushroom growing system.
Firstly, you can grow mushrooms in bags even in your own apartment.
Secondly, your mushrooms will be isolated from each other and if you notice signs of infection in any of them, you can simply throw away this bag and save the rest of the crop from infection.

In containers.

If you choose this method, you will need to purchase special, very expensive containers that are treated from the inside with an anti-infection solution.
The system of growing mushrooms in containers can be made fully automated, getting a good harvest and increasing your profit level.

In briquettes.

One of the favorite ways of growing mushrooms among many domestic businessmen.
The purchase price of briquettes is not too expensive, they are easy to transport if you decide to change the cultivation of champignons at home to an industrial scale, and it is easy to protect your crop from diseases.

Growing champignons as a business: advertising campaign and customer search

If you are going to grow champignons on a modest scale only for your own use, then you will not have to worry about advertising and finding customers for your business.

It's quite another thing if you want to earn good money from growing mushrooms, then you just need to think about an effective advertising campaign for your business.

media in your city.
outdoor advertising.
Promotional printed matter that can be handed out, such as business cards or flyers.
Social networks.
Ads on sites that are frequently visited by people in your area.

Finding markets depends on the size of your business.

If you grow some champignons, then they can be sold among neighbors, friends and acquaintances.

If you are harvesting 100 kg or more, then look for other channels:

Independent sale of mushrooms in the nearest market.
Gradually, you will have regular customers.
Sale of mushrooms to dealers in the markets.
Yes, you will receive less income than if you sold mushrooms yourself, but you will save a lot of time.
Implementation of champignons through grocery stores.
To do this, you need to have all the documents and be a registered entrepreneur.
Bypassing offices and state enterprises in your city with an offer to buy mushrooms from you.
If the quality of the products you have grown satisfies your customers, then in the future you will receive regular orders and bring in a specific batch of products.
Sale of goods via the Internet.
To do this, you can make your own website, but it is more profitable to sell through social networks.

Growing champignons as a business: a calendar plan

Starting a mushroom growing business takes time and money, especially if you want to harvest a few tons, and not a couple of tens of kilograms.

For the preparatory period (registration, equipment of the premises, purchase of compost with mycelium, search for markets, etc.), you will need at least 5 months.

Stage	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May
Registration
Search for premises, its equipment
Personnel search
Purchase of compost with mycelium
Advertising
First sales

Registration

If your main customers are friends, acquaintances and neighbors, then you should not fool around with the registration procedure.

But those who want to grow champignons on an industrial scale and sell their products through grocery stores should definitely register as an individual entrepreneur or LLC, choose the appropriate form of taxation, and officially employ their employees.

In order to sell your product through supermarkets and grocery stores, you should draw up a number of documents confirming the quality and safety for buyers of your products:

phytosanitary certificate for mushrooms;
a certificate confirming that the champignons you have grown comply with GOST;
radiology protocol.

Also, carefully study the instructions for storing and transporting the products you have grown, so as not to destroy your business due to the fact that low temperature or high humidity led to damage to your product.

room

Again, the size of the premises directly depends on how large-scale the business you want to open.

If we are talking about a small business (you do not want to grow a lot of champignons), then you can organize a business even at home.

If you want to receive at least 2-4 tons of products per year, then you need to find a room of at least 100 square meters.

It can be a greenhouse, a hangar, an abandoned mine, an industrial building, a warehouse, etc.

You have three options:

Buy a plot of land and build a building on it that is ideal for growing mushrooms.
Rent a room that is suitable in size and equip it the way you need to open a mushroom growing business.
Buy a property that has already been used for mushroom cultivation.
Such a building can be loaded with the necessary equipment, so you will be relieved of the need to look for everything you need to organize a business.

It is imperative to equip the room chosen for growing champignons with a heating and ventilation system so that the temperature is stable all year round + 14–16 degrees, and ammonia and other fumes are pulled out of the room by the ventilation system.

In order to convert a small building for growing mushrooms, get ready to allocate about 80,000 rubles.

Equipment

It all depends on which method of growing mushrooms you have chosen for yourself: in bags, containers, blocks, on racks, etc.

If we are talking about growing champignons on an industrial scale, then you will have to divide your premises into several zones and purchase equipment with which you will produce, pasteurize compost, grow mycelium on your own, etc.

If you are aiming for a more modest business, then you can purchase already prepared compost planted with mycelium.

For 10 tons of such compost, you will have to pay about 100,000 rubles.

To equip a room and a champignon plant on 100 squares to a minimum, you will have to spend another 200,000 rubles.

For 300 000 r. you can buy a used "gazelle" for the delivery of products.

If you decide to grow mushrooms on a smaller scale, then the cost of equipment and compost with mycelium will be significantly lower.

Staff

Business is an exciting game in which maximum excitement is combined with a minimum of rules.
Bill Gates

Growing champignons, as a business, is difficult to do alone, especially when it comes to industrial scale.

If you have purchased 10 tons of compost and are going to grow mushrooms on an area of 100 squares, then you will need at least two mushroom growers and one driver to deliver the finished product.

If you are going to sell goods on the market yourself, then hire a seller for this business.

You can save on the seller's rate if you supply products to stores and market sellers.

As for administrative and accounting functions, see for yourself: you can manage the financial and managerial side of the business on your own, do not hire anyone, but if you do not believe in yourself, hire both a manager and an accountant.

The minimum cost for staff salaries will be as follows:

How much money do you need to open a mushroom growing business?

It all depends solely on the scale on which you are going to grow champignons.

If you want to buy just a few bags of compost to grow goodies for yourself, your friends and acquaintances, then 30–40,000 rubles are enough to open a business.

If we are talking about industrial scale, then get ready to collect at least half a million, or better, a million rubles of capital investments:

In addition to the initial investment, you need to have money to service the business (electricity, taxes, staff salaries, etc.), which should be included in the amount prepared for the start, because you will receive income only by collecting and selling the first batch of grown champignons: at least than in 1.5–2 months.

Item of expenses	Number of months	Amount of expenses per month (in rubles)	Total (in rubles)
Total:			250 000 rub.
Premises for rent	2	30 000	60 000
Communal payments	2	20 000	40 000
Staff salary	2	45 000	90 000
Taxes and administrative expenses	2	15 000	30 000
Advertising	2	5 000	10 000
Additional expenses	2	10 000	20 000

That is, in order to grow champignons as a business, on an area of 100 square meters in a relatively small village, you should have about 1,000,000 rubles.

How to grow champignons properly

see in the video:

How much can you earn in a year growing champignons as a business?

If we take the previous indicators (10 tons of compost, 100 squares of area), then we will collect the first crop of 2,000 kg of champignons.

The selling price of one kilogram is about 100 rubles.

That is, our first earnings will be 200,000 rubles.

For a year, an average of 6 crops can be harvested from one mycelium, which will amount to 1,200,000 rubles.

Throw away the amount of start-up capital and mandatory monthly expenses and you will receive 250,000 rubles. net profit.

Download a ready-made mushroom farming business plan with quality assurance.
The content of the business plan:
1. Privacy
2. Resume
3. Stages of project implementation
4. Characteristics of the object
5. Marketing plan
6. Technical and economic data of the equipment
7. Financial plan
8. Risk assessment
9. Financial and economic justification of investments
10. Conclusions

As you can see growing champignons as a business, is a very lucrative business.

In a year, you will not only return the amount of capital investment of 950,000 rubles, but also earn about a quarter of a million rubles.

Agree, for starters, these are good indicators.

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Today, more and more people are trying to start their own business, but the modern market offers such an abundance of services that it is very difficult to choose a simple but profitable business. One of the new, but very promising areas is the cultivation of mushrooms. Champignon is rightfully considered the most common mushroom in the world. It is used in the cuisine of different nationalities and in the masterpieces of dishes of the best chefs.

History of growing mushrooms as a business

There is a lot of controversy about who first started cultivating champignons, but there is no unanimous opinion. However, it is mentioned that 1000 years ago the first cultivated types of champignons originated in the Italian province. Later, the French began to cultivate them in the 17th century, which is why champignons received the pseudonym "mushrooms of Paris." Since the end of the 17th century, it has been noticed that mushrooms adapt well to greenhouses, basements and semi-basements on compost. In 1731, the French growing technique became widespread in Great Britain. A few years later, the British unanimously shared this information with the States. From about the middle of the 18th century, French mushroom fishing spread throughout the world, including the technology came to Russia.

The history of growing and cultivating mushrooms in our country has existed for more than two hundred years. The publication "Economic store" of 1780 mentions an article by our compatriot, agronomist Bolotov A.T. "Something about champignons". At that time, these mushrooms were cultivated in open ground and in special champignons. Since the middle of the nineteenth century, the Russian gardener Grachev E.A. has been engaged in the industrial cultivation of mushrooms. During this time, breeding and cultivation technology has been constantly improved. In those days, fertilizer overgrown with mycelium or compost from worked-out ridges was used as a planting element. This method of growing mushrooms contributed to many diseases, and the yield was low. Over time, a pure culture of mycelium was obtained.

Currently, champignon is cultivated on all continents of the planet, except for Antarctica. Russia lags behind the developed powers and begins to take the first steps in the mushroom industry.

Positive and negative aspects of growing champignons as a business

Like any business, growing champignons has its own secrets and subtleties. The undeniable advantages of the case include:

Low startup;
Possibility of import substitution, due to the low-quality supplied goods from other countries;
The raw material base for cultivation is inexpensive, as they are agricultural waste;
Climatic unpretentiousness, the possibility of growing in apartments, basements, mines;
Under certain conditions - the crop can be harvested all year round;
High profitability of production. Profits will start in 2-3 months.
The need to find markets for manufactured products. Especially irrelevant in small towns.

Basic cultivation and breeding technologies

To date, there are several methods for growing champignons.

in briquettes

The most popular way. The compost is compacted and formed in block tanks that are convenient for transportation. The result is ease of use of the design and high growth rate of champignons.

On the ridges

The mushroom picker is brought into the ground, over polyethylene. This method is the oldest and most famous, but little demanded by gardeners. Special advantages: no need to purchase special tanks, low cost of the method. Cons: the use of manual labor, which reduces the profitability of production, makes harvesting more difficult and increases the possibility of fungal disease.

On shelf structures

A promising technique has become widespread in Holland, which is why it is often called Dutch. The process is similar to breeding in the ridges and differs only in the correct use of space.

In container installations

The soil is poured into containers, and mycelia are planted. This method reduces the risk of disease and simplifies the growth process, but is expensive for tanks. In Russia, the method is almost never used.

In plastic bags

The composition is poured into special bags and placed, hung in a convenient place. The change house is used correctly and well-equipped, and investment in the business is noticeably reduced. When ailments appear, the focus is localized only with a removed bag. The soil is based on specially prepared compost or substrate. Self-preparation of soil is not recommended, there are many risks.

Advertising campaign and market search

Sales of products can be carried out:

Cooperation with retail chains and supermarkets. The wholesale price of products will slightly reduce profitability, but will ensure constant sales of products;
Delivery to restaurants and cafes. The best marketing option, as mushrooms are often used in cooking;
Selling products on the market.

Do not forget that having concluded an agreement with the organization for the supply of products, you need to take care of delivery to the destination.

There are various, if properly implemented, they will quickly bring profit.

Many business ideas from America are still new in our country. you can find out about the most interesting of them.

To open your business from scratch, carefully read the article and the recommendations given in it.

Business planning for production

Conjuncture of law

In order for the economy as a business to be legitimate, it is necessary to register an individual entrepreneurship. Variation of personal subsidiary plots - will not "roll". Conditions are tough. Classification in the tax base - agricultural producer (A.01.12.31.). Taxation is carried out under a single agricultural tax (ESHN), at 6% of net profit.

Implementation of product sales

To sell finished products, the following list of documents is required:

Form corresponding to GOST (State All-Union Standard);
Certification documents of the Phytosanitary Service;
Records of documents proving radiological studies;
Guidance document for the storage and transport of fresh produce.

Where to cultivate mushrooms?

Sea of variations. Basements, country houses, outbuildings, abandoned buildings and even your own apartment are well suited for breeding. The required climate and conditions are not difficult to create. The heat component in the room should vary from +12°C to +25°C. The humidity characteristic of the air must be at least 85%. All climatic conditions are perfectly suited to rooms located in basements.

Necessary: electricity supply, water supply and discharge, ventilation system and heating. When a change house is found, repair work should be done and ventilation and heating systems should be installed. It is desirable to make the floor of concrete, and whitewash the walls. The size of the change house should be from 15 squares, where block structures with a substrate can be placed in tiers.

soil for mushrooms

Usually the soil is the substrate: hay, husks, agricultural waste materials. There is also a ready-made composition produced by domestic and import companies. Self-preparation of the substrate is undesirable.

Seedling

The element of sowing is mycelium. When buying this sowing element, you must familiarize yourself with the license of the manufacturing enterprise. Mycelium must be of excellent quality, without defects.

Technological process of cultivation

The composition with mycelium is mixed and laid out in reservoir containers, usually in ethylene bags - this is cheap. From below we forge slots - a drain of excess liquid. Mycelium grows through the substrate (compost).

The temperature is maintained at 21-23°C and the humidity is approximately 65%. The cabin needs darkness and excellent ventilation. After three days, we make undercuts in bags - it promotes the germination of mushrooms.

After a couple of weeks, a mycelium will appear and it will be necessary to transfer the bags to another change house with less heating, but the highest humidity. This stage is characterized by prolonged illumination and is at least half a day. If possible, use fluorescent lamps. The fruiting of mushrooms goes through a three-phase cycle. Each phase of mushroom growth lasts up to 7 days, then the bag is disposed of and replaced with a new one.

Business settlement organization

Organization of business is closely related to the concept of funds spent. Depends on many factors: the size of production areas, heating systems, pricing for components.

Consider the income and expenditure components of the mushroom business for one cycle (2 months).

Expenditure part:

Thirty tons of substrate - 20,000 rubles;
Mycelium purchase costs - 10,000 rubles;
Heating and pasteurization costs - 50,000 rubles;
Payment to working personnel - 60,000 rubles;
In total - 140,000 rubles of funds spent.

Income part:

A ton of substrate is equivalent to 200 kilograms of champignons;
For a kilogram of mushrooms they give 100 rubles;
We determine that from 30 tons of substrate we get 600,000 rubles of revenue, and the income from the sale is 460,000 rubles (excluding tax and utilities).

But the arithmetic does not take into account the initial capital. In an ideal scheme, in order to start a profitable production cycle, you must have:

Change house for pasteurization. Here it is necessary to have steam boilers and an automated steam supply system;
Climatically warm room for mycelium germination: with heating, ventilation and irrigation systems;
Cold change house for breeding champignons with good lighting, heating and ventilation system;
transport component.

These are approximate calculated characteristics of medium-level mushroom farming. The rest depends on the desire and capacity of capital. Before going into the mushroom growing business on a large scale, you first need to focus on small-scale production. It is necessary to avoid mistakes and take a good confident start, which will subsequently lead to pleasant financial prosperity.

In contact with

In any business, you must first calculate whether it will be profitable, estimate adequate prices for products, all costs, weigh free time. It is immediately worth noting that growing champignons in a country house or in a warehouse is not a simple type of business, only those who really like it are engaged in it. However, you can start it almost from scratch. The minimum starting capital is only $ 25 - with them you can already organize a couple of square meters of a normal mycelium, which will bring you up to 25 kg / 1 m 2. Consider the most suitable varieties for growing at home.

Silvan 130. An early maturing hybrid that grows quickly, has a beautiful hat, resistant to many pests. The yield reaches 21 kg / m 2 for a period of 1 year of cultivation. The fruit body has high elasticity, the weight of one before opening the hat is approximately 45 grams.
Somitsel 608. The average yield reaches 22 kg / 1 m 2, but only under ideal growing conditions, the addition of urea, nitrogen fertilizers, compost. Its main advantage is long growth, which allows you to stretch the harvest for several weeks. This is a great help at the beginning of a business, when the sale of goods is not yet as high as you want.
Hazer A15. The production of champignons of this level will bring considerable profit to an experienced mushroom picker. This hybrid gives up to 29 kg per 1 m 2, and this requires only abundant moisture, fertilizers. The fungus is very sensitive to infection, sunlight, dry soil, so it is not recommended to grow it for beginners who have not yet “filled their hands”.

The cost of growing in a conventional barn with an area of 120 square meters for 2013 amounted to $ 3,000. A simple proportion will help calculate the approximate financial costs for the area you need, but a lot also depends on the thickness of the mycelium layer that you will be laying. Therefore, we recalculate better by the mass of compost. 1 ton of compost = $130.

Profit for 1 harvest will be about 100% if you omit the cost of wages, disease control, and the purchase of straw. That is, by purchasing 10 tons of compost for $ 1,300, after 2 months you will receive the first crop, which will be 20% of the mass of compost (production calculation of yield). That is approximately 2000 kg of high quality products. Calculating how much you have earned is simple: 2000x1.4$=2800 dollars. If the production is not problematic, you need to discard only 300 USD. to pay the employee and 100 c.u. for the purchase of straw, peat for the production of high-quality compost. Thus, the profit for 2 months when sold at the average market price was about $ 1,100 per 120 square meters. With proper cultivation, such cycles can be up to 5-6 per year.

Clients. It is most profitable to sell to the end consumer, but it is very difficult to set up wholesale sales in this way, it comes with time when your product is already popular. Before that, it is necessary to work with intermediaries on a wholesale basis. Restaurants, cafes, supermarkets, chain stores, etc. They buy for 75% of the final price.

Legal registration. The mushroom is not a Category 1 product, meaning it requires heat treatment before being eaten, which greatly simplifies the paperwork for your business. But the help of an accountant will be needed if you work with retail chains or generally with budgetary structures (schools, kindergartens, boarding schools). You will need a passport for products, the conclusion of a sanitary station, an examination for GMOs. In general, everything comes as needed, there are no too serious papers, just formalities for permitting activities, which are prescribed in the classifier of activities.

Equipment, premises, materials. One of the main advantages of this business is that it is not worth grabbing a big piece right away, going wholesale. You can start with a basement or even with 1 box, when you realize that you like it and everything works out - expand. As an employee, you can first become yourself - it's easy if the area is up to 10 square meters. Nothing special is needed from the tool, expensive equipment is not required. Before growing champignons in the country, you just need to purchase raw materials for the substrate (we will describe below) and mycelium in the laboratory. Further, only watering, maintaining the temperature.

Do-it-yourself substrate

Many are mistaken, not having a clear idea where champignons grow, constructing for them the usual substrate from black soil, fertilize, fill with water and sit in anticipation of a huge harvest. In fact, this process is very complex, it requires certain knowledge to create optimal growth conditions.

Compost occupies more than 80% of the mass of the entire growing substrate. It is made from horse manure (83%), dry straw from winter wheat (20%). If there is no horse manure, you can use ordinary mullein or even chicken manure, but this will reduce the yield by 20-25%. We must prepare the substrate in the fresh air, since during the mixing process a lot of nitrogen, ammonia, and other caustic substances are released, which can cause irritation of the mucous membrane, cough, and in some cases even poisoning. You can work indoors only if there is high-quality ventilation, which can eliminate all volatile substances from the room, and will secure the work.

Pour 2 kg of urea into 100 kg of straw, baking powder is added, building gypsum is best, add 8 kilograms. It is advisable to add 4 kg of chalk, if there is none, you can simply add sand. We fertilize with superphosphate, about 2.3 kg is applied per 100 kg of straw. After adding horse manure, we get about 300 kg of the finished mixture, which we distribute over 3 square meters of mycelium. Please note that when using bird droppings, the proportions of the above components should be changed. For 100 kg of straw we take 100 kg of manure, 280 liters of water to wash out active nitrogen, superphosphate can no longer be thrown, we add gypsum by weight together with it.

We pay special attention to the preparation of straw. It is soaked for about 2 days, then it can only be laid with a “cross” in trays. In the process of laying, fill each layer with water so that it nourishes as much water as possible. Immediately after moistening, partially add superphosphate, urea, dividing the entire volume into the number of layers in advance. For example, 10 layers of 200 grams each. After you put everything in the tray, mix thoroughly, and during the mixing process you need to add water, gypsum, chalk.

The main mistake of beginners is planting mycelium already in this mixture. Remember that you have prepared only a blank for future compost. He needs to rot, or rather, burn. After you mix everything, this mass begins to “burn out”, the temperature rises to +80 degrees. In order to burn out qualitatively, it is necessary that the layer be thick, at least 1 meter in height. After that, we leave this mountain for 20-25 days, then straighten it, cool it and apply it for its intended purpose.

When and how to "sow" mycelium

Introducing mycelium will be much more difficult than you thought before. Everyone can just sow, but in order to do it right, to get a good harvest, you need to know a few nuances. Let us consider in more detail how to plant mycelium and what should not be done in any case.

>Step 1: Purchase of seed.

The main mistake of a beginner is the purchase at the market. It is grown only in special laboratories, which have absolute sterility. There are 2 types: compost and grain mycelium. The latter can be stored for 6 months in a refrigerator at a temperature of +1 degrees, its consumption is 400 g per 100 kg of substrate. Compost is sold in jars, it is stored for only 20 days at a temperature of +20 degrees, at +1 it can be kept for up to 1 year. Consumption: 450 grams per 1m2. Purchase only with documents in a specialized laboratory to avoid the occurrence of many diseases.

>Step 2: Heat treatment.

The substrate is placed in an oven or heated in any other way to +80 degrees, this temperature must be maintained for 20 minutes. Then it cools down to +25 degrees, fits into boxes, the layer should not be thicker than 35 centimeters. Without heat treatment, there is a risk of catching infectious diseases that will gradually destroy your crop, and even the mycelium itself.

>Step 3: Inoculation.

Despite such a scary name, the process is simple. It will be enough to scatter grain mycelium on the surface, cover it with a substrate from above, so that the depth is 6 cm. You can also use the “hole” method by placing it in holes every 25 centimeters.

Then just keep an eye on maintaining optimal conditions. Absence of drafts, +25 around the clock, as well as humidity of at least 85%. If everything is done correctly, then after 14 days it will be necessary to cover it with casing soil, when the mycelium has a large area. The cover soil may consist of ordinary chernozem, peat and chalk in a ratio of 1:1:1. The temperature drops to +15 degrees through ventilation of the room. It is important not to make drafts in it.

Or a quick payback is the dream of many people. For those who love to plant and harvest their gardens, there is a great opportunity to "grow" a profitable enterprise that provides a steady income. This is the cultivation of champignons as a business (at home).

Year round business

Mushrooms are a year-round product in demand. From them they prepare delicious dishes and housewives in their kitchens, and chefs in restaurants of any level. For most people, mushrooms are a tasty and healthy product for which they are willing to pay money. For others, growing mushrooms as a business is a source of income.

The process of running a mushroom business is not burdensome, and you can start making profit in two months. The main thing is to decide on the place and volume of the enterprise.

Conditions for doing mushroom business

Like any profitable business, growing champignon mushrooms as a business requires the preparation of certain conditions and calculations.

The choice of location can be determined by the following criteria:

For year-round business, you can equip a greenhouse.
If there is a cellar, barn or basement, they can be equipped for a mushroom enterprise.
Seasonal cultivation of champignons - as a business for the spring-summer period: under fruit trees in the open field.

The simplest of them is seasonal cultivation, as it does not require special equipment.

The benefits of mushroom business

The launch of any enterprise should begin with calculations for investment, payback periods and profits. The acquisition of mycelium today is not difficult, as is the search for a market for mushrooms, so the clear advantages of this business are obvious:

Getting the first profit in the third month after laying the mycelium.
Possibility of receiving a constant year-round income.
A simple activity, accessible even to a beginner.
Use of any utility rooms.

The business plan "Cultivation of champignons" should begin with finding and equipping a suitable place.

Greenhouse business

Many gardeners choose to use their greenhouses for a double benefit. They collect mushrooms in them from September to February, and then proceed to plant early vegetables. This approach gives maximum profit, since a higher demand for mushrooms is observed in the autumn-winter period, and for early vegetables - in the spring.

Growing champignons as a business, the reviews of entrepreneurs confirm this, it is better to do it from autumn to spring, since with the advent of vegetables, the demand for mushrooms drops somewhat.

Greenhouse arrangement

For champignons, you can adapt an ordinary film greenhouse or tinker and build it according to the Grachev principle. Glass covers are also suitable. The main thing is that in such rooms it will not be difficult to create the required temperature and humidity, the conditions so necessary for mushrooms.

A greenhouse made of film or polycarbonate is the easiest option for a room so that growing champignons as a business brings less hassle and brings more money.

Stages of arranging a greenhouse:

First of all, you should provide the room with heat. It can be heating with gas or electricity. It is also important to provide good ventilation, as the compost on which mushrooms grow releases carbon dioxide, which must be removed regularly. Enterprising farmers have adapted to plant cucumbers, zucchini and pumpkins in mushroom greenhouses. This makes it possible to spend less time on maintaining the microclimate, as the plants complement each other and coexist perfectly side by side.
Growing champignons as a business gives profitability quickly through the use of shelves. This Dutch method makes the most of the space, leaving room so that the crop can be harvested conveniently and quickly. If it is possible to invest in containers, this will make it easier to care for mushrooms. Containers can be plastic or wooden boxes that are treated with an anti-mould agent.
Soil preparation.

You should invest in the arrangement of a greenhouse if you organize a year-round business. If you correctly draw up and implement a business plan, growing champignon mushrooms in specialized premises provides a quick return on investment and a steady income.

Mushrooms in the cellar

To keep investments in the business minimal, if there is a basement or cellar, you can use their area. Suitable room criteria:

The best option would be a well-cemented floor to make it easier to keep clean and not expose the mycelium to mold infestation.
In order for the cultivation of champignons as a business (reviews, photos of those who are already making a profit confirm this) to give a high income and a bountiful harvest, it is better to equip the room with shelving. They save space and allow planting myceliums with different maturation periods on each tier, which puts the process on stream.
Mushrooms do not need lighting, so it is possible to equip light sufficient for the convenience of those who care for them and harvest them.

Basement equipment for a mushroom farm

Ventilation should be of high quality, not letting insects through, for which a fine mesh is used. At the same time, it is important that there are no drafts, therefore, in addition to hoods, it is appropriate to use fans above the beds or air filters.
Growing champignons as a business also requires constant regulation of humidity and air temperature. It is necessary to equip the room with a hygrometer and a thermometer. To increase the humidity, it is enough to spray the beds and the floor, and to lower it, ventilate or turn on the heating.
If the room is large enough, then it can be divided into a zone for growing mycelium and a department for growing champignons, which will significantly increase productivity and, consequently, profit.
Disinfection of the premises is mandatory before starting work. This can be whitewashing with lime mixed with blue vitriol, spraying with a 4% formalin solution, or fumigation. Mushrooms are sensitive to mold and pathogens, so the crop should be checked, and diseased specimens should be put in a separate container and destroyed.

Growing champignons as a business (reviews on how to grow from other gardeners is confirmation of this) is a matter in which it is recommended to use any room, even one that is not quite suitable at first glance. The main thing is to protect it from drafts, heat, ventilate and protect it from pests and mold. Plants will thank you with a high yield.

Compost preparation

The purchase of mycelium and the preparation of a nutrient medium included in the business plan "Cultivation of champignons" are the most important points in it. The highest yield is obtained if applied to compost. But if this is not possible, then cow or bird droppings will do.

Substrate Ingredients:

horse dung;
straw;
urea;
ammonium sulfate;
superphosphate, chalk or alabaster.

To make good compost, everything should be laid in layers. The straw soaked during the day is laid with the bottom layer, then manure, again swollen straw and manure. There should be 6-8 such layers. When laying, each layer must be watered with warm water.

After 3-4 days, all layers must be mixed, urea and superphosphate should be added to them. After another 3-4 days, mix again and add the remaining ingredients, and so 4-5 times, and only in the last batch, gypsum is added to the nutrient medium.

Planting mycelium

After the compost is “ripe”, it is necessary to add the “seeds” of champignons to it in order to get a mycelium. For 1 m 2 of the nutrient medium, there are 500 g of compost mycelium or 400 g of grain spores.

They sow the substrate, for which they make indentations with a finger at a distance of 20-25 cm, the seed is placed in them. If spores are used for sowing, then it is enough to sprinkle the nutrient medium with them.

The air temperature for the incubation of the mycelium should be +20 ... +27 degrees. When, after 10-12 days, the mycelium begins to actively grow, it should be sprinkled with a mixture of peat, earth and limestone in proportions of 5: 4: 1 and periodically sprayed, preventing the nutrient medium from drying out.

Harvesting

The "mushroom" farmer will be able to harvest his first crop in 35-50 days, given that the compost ripening is 20-25 days. Depending on where the maturation takes place and how well the medium has been prepared, the yield can be either very high or mediocre.

Growing champignons as a business, reviews of experienced "mushroom pickers" confirm this, is a very profitable business, since the fruiting cycle can be made year-round.

The air temperature before the ripening of mushrooms should be +22 ... +26 degrees. If it is hotter, then the champignons will climb up very quickly and will have a small hat on a long stem. Such a product will not be sold. At a temperature of +12 degrees, the mycelium will cease to bear fruit. Therefore, as soon as hats appear and a mushroom smell is felt, the temperature must be reduced to +15 ... +16 degrees.

Collect mushrooms carefully so as not to damage their base. To do this, you need to hold the bottom of the legs and the ground with the fingers of one hand, and separate it from the mycelium with the other with a slight turn. It is necessary to remove all fruits, even small ones, because if you cut only large mushrooms, the rest stop growing and begin to rot.

It should be borne in mind that with the right approach, you can collect from 5 kg of champignons from 1 m 2 for several cycles. Therefore, when calculating the scale of the business, you should immediately think about how much space to use for it.

Harvest storage

To preserve the harvest from a large plantation, when it is difficult to manage in one day, you need to think about refrigerators in advance. Their capacity is calculated from the amount of a kilogram of the finished product from 1 m 2. So, in a room of 30 m 2, it will be an average of 150 kg per day.

Picking mushrooms is a delicate process, and it does not tolerate haste. In addition, the harvested crop should be sorted by quality and size.

Before placing the mushrooms in the refrigerator, they should be slightly cooled in a room with an artificially low temperature.

If for some reason the champignon cap is covered with brown or gray spots, and the leg is twisted, then you need to urgently remove the diseased fungus from the mycelium along with its nearby "relatives". The affected area should be sprinkled with table salt. If these measures are not carried out, then you can infect the entire plantation, and you will have to start the business all over again.

When a disease is detected, it is required to find the source and neutralize it. This can be caused by mold, which is easily fixed. It is advisable to burn rotten mushrooms, and then thoroughly disinfect clothes and hands.

In no case should you use chemicals or poisons from pests. After their use, champignons will become hazardous to health and must be destroyed. It is better to lose a mycelium or several than to risk someone's life.

Mushrooms are not too capricious, so it is enough to be careful about the absence of mold and insects in order to get a prosperous and profitable business.

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.