Looking for a fun and unusual way to grow your own food? Using an old book as a growing medium for mushrooms is a fantastic way to repurpose materials while cultivating delicious, homegrown fungi. The pages act like a sponge, holding moisture and providing a perfect space for the mycelium to spread. It’s a simple, fun, and rewarding project that brings a little bit of nature into unexpected places!
What You’ll Need
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An old book – Preferably without glossy pages and less than 10 years old.
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Mushroom spawn – Oyster mushrooms work best as they easily colonise paper.
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Spray bottle filled with water – To maintain humidity.
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Large plastic bag or container – To create a humid environment.
At The Gardeners Co. we source our mushroom spawn from Caley Bros (https://www.caleybrothers.co.uk/) a sister duo aiming to share their mushroom growing journey and inspire others to get just as excited about the process through their mushroom growing kits. The spawn we use in this project is made up of a seed mixture and oyster mushroom mycelium.
Step-by-Step Guide to Growing Mushrooms on a Book
1. Prepare Your Book
Choose a book with untreated pages - avoid books with glossy or heavily inked paper, as these may contain chemicals that inhibit mycelium growth.
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Soak the book in boiling water until it cools. This softens the pages and removes unwanted chemicals or contaminants.
2. Add Mushroom Spawn
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Drain the excess water from the book so it remains damp but not dripping.
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Gently open the book and sprinkle mushroom spawn between the pages, ensuring even distribution.
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Close the book and press it together lightly.
3. Create the Perfect Environment
Mushrooms need warmth and humidity to grow, so you’ll need to provide the right conditions:
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Place the inoculated book inside a large plastic bag or a lidded container to maintain moisture and poke a few holes to allow for ventilation (if you get your kit from the Caley Bros, it will come with a bag to use, with an in-built filter to allow the mycelium to breathe).
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Fold the top of the bag over and seal, keeping the moisture in and any contaminants out.
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Store in a warm, dark place at around room temperature for 2-4 weeks.
4. Timings: How Long Will It Take?
The time it takes for the mycelium to colonise the book and produce mushrooms depends on temperature and humidity.
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Warm conditions (18-22°C): Mycelium spreads faster, usually within 2-4 weeks.
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Cooler temperatures (below 15°C): Growth slows down significantly and may take 5-6 weeks or more.
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Dry conditions: If the environment is too dry, the mycelium may struggle to spread. Keeping humidity high is crucial for success.
If you're growing mushrooms in a colder space, consider using a heat mat or keeping the book in a warmer area to speed up colonisation (an airing cupboard would be ideal!).
5. Watch for Growth
Over the next couple of weeks, mycelium should spread across the pages, turning them white and fluffy. This is a good sign that your mushrooms are taking hold!
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If the book dries out, mist it lightly with water.
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If mold appears, remove affected areas and ensure better air circulation.
6. Watch it Fruit
Once the mycelium has fully colonised the book, it’s ready to be bought out into the light!
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Take the book out of the bag and pop onto a tray or plate.
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Put it in a bright, airy location (but out of bright sunlight or direct heat sources)
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Regularly mist your mushrooms using the water spray bottle, ideally 2-3 times per day. Humidity encourages growth, so the aim is to prevent it from drying out.
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Within a couple weeks, you’ll see little mushroom pins emerging, and then growing rapidly. If you look at it closely enough, you might even see it growing in front of your eyes!
7. Enjoy your Harvest!
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Mushrooms are ready to harvest when their caps unfurl.
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Simply twist and pull gently to remove them.
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If storing them, pop them in a paper bag or on a plate in the fridge - avoid plastic bags or tupperware as these can quickly turn your beautiful mushrooms sweaty and soggy.
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Keep misting the book to encourage multiple flushes of mushrooms.
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When your book has finished fruiting, pop it in the compost or the food waste. Mycelium is full of nutrients and excellent for soil health, so adds a real boost to your compost heap!
Fun Mushroom Facts!
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Fungi are fantastic recyclers! The mycelium breaks down cellulose in the paper, turning an old book into a living, edible masterpiece.
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Mushrooms can help the environment. They contain enzymes that can break down a wide variety of pollutants, including pesticides, petroleum products and even plastics, helping to clean up toxins from soil and water.
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Mushrooms are a great meat alternative. Oyster mushrooms have a meaty texture, making them perfect for plant-based dishes.
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Mycelium networks communicate underground. Some call them the "wood wide web" as they help trees share nutrients.
Growing mushrooms on a book is an eye-opening, rewarding way to cultivate fungi while reusing materials. It’s one of our favourite projects as it really inspires everyone to delve into the world of growing mushrooms. Whether you’re a first-time grower or a mushroom enthusiast, this method is sure to bring a bit of magic to your growing space. Give it a go, your bookshelf might just become your next mushroom farm!
For more mushroom projects, check out our guides on How To Grow Mushrooms On Jeans, How To Grow Button Mushrooms, and How To Grow Mushrooms On A Christmas Tree!