Mushroom growing

A method of growing mushrooms comprising filling a tray with compost mixed with mushroom spawn, covering the compost with a layer of a casing medium, supporting the tray in a horizontal disposition under growing conditions until the mycelium of the spawn has fully colonized the casing medium which is thereby consolidated, then supporting the tray on one end in a more generally vertical disposition under mushroom growing conditions so that the mushrooms grow from the upright face of the consolidated casing medium, and selectively harvesting the mushrooms by cutting them with a vibratory tool having a cutting edge which vibrates in the direction of advance of the tool and allowing the cut mushrooms to fall into a container.

Apparatus for growing mushrooms comprising a tray for containing compost covered with a layer of casing medium, a substantially T-shaped stanchion against which the tray may be supported in a generally vertical disposition, an upright forming part of the stanchion being of polygonal cross-section, a socket for disposition in the floor of a mushroom growing area which socket is of complementary polygonal cross-section for receiving said upright in rotationally secure manner, and watering means for watering the casing medium layer on the compost in the tray whilst the tray is in said disposition.

Apparatus for growing mushrooms comprising two trays for containing compost covered with a layer of casing medium, hinge means connecting adjacent edges of the trays and adapted to permit said hinged adjacent edges of the trays to be raised to bring the trays to a generally vertical disposition, and watering means to water the layer of casing medium on the compost in each tray whilst the trays are in said disposition, and means for maintaining said trays in said disposition.