What is Mushroom Compost?

Back Porch Composter, Go Green by Composting

About Mushroom Compost

If you don’t know what Mushroom compost is, chances are you’re thinking it is decomposed mushrooms. Most of us made this same mistake…once. Then, after learning what it is made of, you understand what a great soil medium it is. Also called mushroom soil, it is the soil medium commercial growers use to grow mushrooms. After they have used it, mushroom farmers have two choices: either toss it out or…. sell it to you at a much-reduced price. You can easily guess their decision. Gardeners highly value mushroom compost, as a great soil conditioner or additive.

Mushroom compost is very specially formulated. The contents include wheat straw, hay, corn cobs, cottonseed hulls, gypsum, and chicken manure. These ingredients are ground up and mixed together. Next, the manufacturers pasteurize it by steaming it. This sterilization process kills bacteria, mold spores, weed seeds, and insects. The resulting soil is spread out on a bed and topped off with a layer of sphagnum peat moss, and some ground limestone.

Commercial mushroom growers sow mushroom spores into the sterile soil. The mushrooms quickly grow in this organic, rich, slow-release soil. After harvesting the mushrooms, growers do not use the soil again. Rather, they package it up and sell it to home gardeners as mushroom compost.

Did You Know? Some of the biggest giant pumpkins, capable of growing to well over one ton, are grown in soil enriched with mushroom compost. Those avid competitive growers know what a valuable soil amendment it is.

Try this compost on your favorite garden plants. You and your plants will just love it!

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