Story: Growing Exotic Mushrooms
Episode: 2
Presenter: Trevor Cochrane
Air Date: 12th August

Trevor shares some of the most interesting things you can grow without a garden - the humble mushroom, taken up to an exotic and wildly different level from what we’re used to!

• Exotic fungi come in all shapes and sizes, and some of which are used more commonly in various soups and dishes. One of the most interesting might be the Lion’s Mane mushroom. It looks like a pile of string growing out of a wall!
• This mushroom is believed to be exceptionally good for brain health, stimulating the growth of two special compounds that can stimulate the growth of brain cells. Its extracts have been shown to reduce symptoms of memory loss in mice, as well as neuronal damage caused by Alzheimer disease.
• The easiest and most familiar fungi in any collection might be the Oyster mushrooms. There are quite a few different colours of this mushroom available, from pink and yellow, which grow well into spring and early summer, and the grey ones, which fare better in cooler periods.
• Mushroom growing is easier than it sounds, seeing as it comes in kits. They are marked where to cut the plastic to allow the mushroom fruit to burst, then mist them daily to keep them moist. They will produce about three crops over a 3-5 week period and deliver more than the average household could normally consume in a week!