Spent mushroom compost is an excellent soil amendment.
Mushroom compost is the organic bed where edible mushrooms grow. This compost must be sterile to grow food-grade mushrooms and cannot be used with another spore inoculation. The mushroom grower must start a new harvest with fresh compost. The leftover or spent compost is used as a soil amendment in landscaping and gardens. Often, when mushroom compost is mentioned, what is really meant is spent mushroom compost.
Compost Materials
All kinds of organic material -- such as horse stable straw, soybean, cottonseed or canola meal, hay, poultry manure, potash, ground corn cobs, gypsum, cocoa shells, peat moss, lime and leftover grapes from wineries -- can be used in mushroom compost. Compost for mushrooms is an exact mixture formulated by each individual mushroom farm or home gardener. When shopping for spent mushroom compost, call ahead to be sure of the precise recipe.
Composting Time
Mushroom compost for growing mushrooms is heated for three weeks or longer. The American Mushroom Institute asserts the piles are carefully supervised to make sure they heat to 160 degrees. One week before mushroom spawn is added, the compost is pasteurized at 140 degrees with steam to insure no pathogens are present to infect the mushrooms intended for restaurants and your table.
Mushroom Spawn Added
Mushroom spores, or spawn, are incorporated into the compost creating mycelium roots that grow mature mushrooms. According to Oregon State University Extension Service, commercial mushrooms can be harvested three to four times before the compost is "spent." After all mushrooms are harvested, the whole growing area is sterilized again. The used compost is set out for at least 30 days to additionally compost before being sold to the public.
Spent Mushroom Compost
Although the finished product looks like high quality top soil, this is a soil-less garden amendment. Gardeners use it for mulch and as a slow-release fertilizer. Gardeners in dry areas apply it for its excellent water retention. Pesticides are usually not used on mushrooms, but ask about fungicide practices if you are concerned about organic gardening.
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