Mushroom Compost

Cap'n Bones · May 12, 2007

Has anyone on here ever tried Mushroom Compost?
I normally use cow manure and a mix of miracle grow potting soil when planting my pepper plants, however this season I used the mushroom compost instead of the manure. So far I'm seeing excellent results with the plants growth rate, over 5 inches in less than three weeks, and they seem to be all around a more sturdy/healthy plant than I've had over the past few years. The flowers also seem to be larger than I've had before, so my hope is that maybe the pods will also be larger.
Maybe it's just a freak of nature, but my guess is that the mushroom compost must have something to do with it.

setzuanfire · May 12, 2007

We've been using mushroom compost in our potting mixes for a while now. It has a great consistency (friable) and doesn't have any weed seeds or the salts that usually come with composted manures. Great stuff!
b

imaguitargod · May 12, 2007

No, but I've used mushrooms. :twisted:

I've actually taken failed grain balls of the fungus and broken it up, placed it in the ground, and a week later planted a plant over it. They thing got vary large, very fast.

POTAWIE · May 13, 2007

imaguitargod said:
No, but I've used mushrooms. :

I've actually taken failed grain balls of the fungus and broken it up, placed it in the ground, and a week later planted a plant over it. They thing got vary large, very fast.

I used to do the same when I grew mushrooms(gourmet mostly)

.

I use mushroom compost most every year and its good quality stuff as long as they don't use heavy pesticides.

Here's some cool looking Enokitake mushrooms I grew a few years ago.

imaguitargod · May 13, 2007

POTAWIE said:
Here's some cool looking Enokitake mushrooms I grew a few years ago.

WOW! Nice fungus.

Cap'n Bones · May 17, 2007

WoooHooo!! Spread between 3 different plants, I have 7 pods about 1/2 inch long. These were just flowers last Saturday! This mushroom compost is like viagra for the soil!

LUCKYDOG · May 18, 2007

Where did you find mushroom compost?

kas · May 18, 2007

Today I found mushrooms growing in my compost does that count :?:

Pam · May 18, 2007

LUCKYDOG said:
Where did you find mushroom compost?

Most big box stores carry it. I see it at Lowe's all the time.

LUCKYDOG · May 18, 2007

Thanks Pam -- I'll have to check there or Home Depot....

POTAWIE · May 18, 2007

I get mine from a local mushroom farm. They used to give it away for free years ago.

imaguitargod · May 18, 2007

kas said:
Today I found mushrooms growing in my compost does that count

No, but that's a good sign. Mushroom's are one of nature's great composters.

Cap'n Bones · May 18, 2007

Pam said:
Most big box stores carry it. I see it at Lowe's all the time.

Yep! Exactly. I bought it at Home Depot. I don't remember what I paid for the 25lb bag, but I do remember that it cost twice as much as the same size bag of poop, however, WELL worth the extra few bucks. The website on the bag is smithgarden.com..I didn't see the mushroom compost on their site.