Chestnut Button Mushrooms

Mr Fothergills Chestnut Button Marvellous Mushrooms are the desirable, large brown form of the popular and versatile button mushroom. Broad and almost open when picked, they have a thicker cap, and a wonderful delicate texture and delicious meaty flavour.

• The spawn is carried on cereal grains, which are then dried for easier handling.
• The perfect substrate on which to grow button mushrooms is well, rotted horse manure.
• Either purchase pre-packaged manure or if possible obtain fresh manure and add 20% straw.
• Leave manure and straw to rot sufficiently and when composted well it is ready to use.
• You will need approximately 5kg of well, rotted manure for one packet of mushroom spawn.
• Mix the spawn into the manure, place in a plastic bag or crate.
• To cover the manure use multipurpose compost with a 2.5cm layer known as a casing.
• Keep the bag or crate in a cool room, garage, shed, greenhouse, cold frame or cellar at a temperature of 15-20 degrees Celsius.
• Ensure the casing remains moist, but not wet. The first mushrooms could begin to appear in 20-30 days.
• To harvest your mushrooms simply grasp the base of the stem and rock them free from the compost.
• Button mushrooms are at their best when the caps just begin to open.