{"id":20016,"date":"2019-06-04T20:18:32","date_gmt":"2019-06-04T20:18:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/smallfarmsprogram.flywheelsites.com\/?page_id=20016"},"modified":"2026-05-11T10:16:56","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T14:16:56","slug":"indoor-production","status":"publish","type":"resources","link":"https:\/\/smallfarms.cornell.edu\/es\/recursos\/indoor-production\/","title":{"rendered":"Indoor Production"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Indoors: Economics of Growing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Most specialty mushrooms are best cultivated in controlled environment agriculture (CEA) scenarios. In contrast to CEA systems used for greens and herbs, mushrooms can be produced in locations with minimal infrastructure and capital to start and sustain production. Mushroom production can be adapted to abandoned and underutilized farm infrastructure including barns, outbuildings, high tunnels, and storage facilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an urban environment, basements, shipping containers, and warehouse spaces can be easily retrofitted for production. This positions mushrooms to be a system that is accessible to both rural and urban farms and those farmers with limited capital for start-up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A CEA mushroom system has several advantages, including 1) consistent temperatures (65 to 75 F) can be maintained; 2) automation and monitoring can manage relative humidity, air flow, and lighting; 3) production per square foot can be predicted and altered by modifying the climate; and 4) sanitation can be managed to reduce cross contamination and food safety risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result of these opportunities, active mushroom growers report better profit potential for indoor production as compared to outdoors. They provided estimates of $1 to $3 per square foot net income, representing a potential $43,560 to $130,680 income per acre. These values are being verified in our research, through simulated production trials at Cornell and in partnership with active growers who are collected data.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mushroom<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Indoor growing requires several chambers that moderate temperature, humidity, light, and air flow to maintain an environment ideal for one or more mushroom species. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The spaces used to grow mushrooms can be as small as a closet to a retrofitted room, garage, or basement, to a modified warehouse or a building specifically designed for mushroom growing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After substrates are inoculated<\/strong> with spawn (see \u00abSpecialty Mushrooms\u00bb page), the material must first be incubated<\/strong> for the first 4 – 8 weeks in a place with consistent temperatures ideally in the 65 – 70 F range. During this stage of growth, the mycelium grows through the substrate and takes hold, drawing energy and nutrition from it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once this stage is complete, fruiting<\/strong> can occur, usually by moving the container to another space and changing temperature, humidity, light, and air flow. As the chart below shows, each species has its own needs for successful cultivating through the fruiting stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

Five Video series on Growing Oyster Mushrooms Indoors<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

YouTube Link for the entire playlist: https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=WY8Vw0rC2Us&list=PLeB3pvIz7iiHrhVjR02W1T7_9oMBL7-B2<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n