By Anna Gibson
Growing your own mushrooms is a delicate process. It requires balancing a lot of factors, including temperature and light. One of the most significant decisions you’ll make is what kind of mushroom fruiting chambers you should use. There are many different kinds, and we’ll do an overview of each below. However, before we go deeper, it might be wise to define mushroom fruiting chambers and how they are used.
What’s a Mushroom Fruiting Chamber?
Fruiting chambers create the ideal conditions for the growth of your mushrooms. They mimic how your mushrooms would grow in the wild. It’s an enclosed space that imitates natural mushroom growth conditions. They’re most successful when they’re monitored and watched closely for CO2, temperature, and humidity fluctuations. They’re versatile enough to be constructed with repurposed mini-greenhouses, modified spaces, and plastic bins. Now that you know what a fruiting chamber is, we’ll dive into the different kinds available.
The SGFC (Shotgun Model)
A shotgun fruiting chamber is nothing more than a good-sized clear tote, covered in holes, and filled with a few inches of wet perlite in the bottom. The holes allow for fresh air and gas exchange, while the perlite serves as a way to maintain humidity. The tote should be clear in order to allow for an adequate amount of natural light to be passed through to your mushrooms.
The Monotube
The monotube fruiting chamber is the most commonly used of all the fruiting chambers. It’s designed for you to fill with a substrate. It’s usually a large plastic tub or container. Monotube chambers generally have holes drilled around the tub's sides for ventilation purposes so oxygen and other gases can pass freely through them. It’s great for beginners because you can “set and forget” without constantly needing to make adjustments. The monotube is an excellent choice if you’re trying to reap the benefits of growing your own mushrooms.
Martha Chamber
For small-scale growers, the Martha is key. It’s made of a synthetic (typically reinforced) plastic shelf, a non-porous cover to retain humidity, and a zip up curtain so you can access the inside. It’s usually bigger than the monotube but not big enough if you grow mushrooms on a large scale. If you need a larger space, the next option might be ideal.
Hydroponics Tent
If you’re a large-scale mushroom grower, use a hydroponic tent. It’s a fruiting chamber with a large capacity, far bigger than the Martha or monotube fruiting chambers. It’s also portable and collapsible. It functions as a mini grow room making it one of the most versatile of the different kinds of mushroom fruiting chambers on the market.
Read more: Garlic Butter Mushroom Pork Chops Recipe
In short, there are many different fruiting chambers available to you. No matter what you pick, they are all excellent, so make the best choice for you and your mushroom growing needs!
