How do Mushrooms start to grow?

Question

there is an abundance of mushrooms growing in the grass at my work, I didnt see these last summer and I am jsut wondering how they come about..... I know they are a fungus.. so how does it start if not from seed?

The same ? goes for edible mushrooms... how do we cultivate them for mas production?

Answer 1

Mushrooms grow from microscopic spores. The spores are released from the underside of the mushroom's cap, inside the "gills". They will look like a powdery smoke coming off of the mushroom when they are released. The spores are carried on the wind and grow when they land in soil rich in decaying organic matter.

Edible mushrooms are grown commercially by spreading spores on a suitable medium - meadow mushrooms (the classic "mushroom") grow on manure, while others, such as Japanese shiitake mushrooms, grow on logs. People drill holes into the logs, then insert a mixture containing spores into the holes. The mushrooms are then grown in a dark, damp place. They must be grown in the dark so algae won't grow and compete with the mushrooms.

Mushrooms are actually just the visible reproductive structure of the fungus, most of which is hidden underground. The fungus grows as a thread-like "mycelium" which grows into a web throughout the soil. The mycelium web can cover a very large area. Mushrooms will grow up from the mycelium each season, and often you will see an ever-widening "ring" of mushrooms growing from the mycelium, as the mushrooms move outward from the areas of soil where they have depleted the nutrients. People used to think fairies danced around the rings, so they are called "fairy rings".

Answer 2

mushrooms are fungi.  They are fertilized as spores, but then they are dormant until they are blown around (wind) and land in a suitable living condition.  Lots of moisture is beneficial to fungi.  The thing about fungi is they can grow very fast.  I forget what it's called, but there is a process that a fungus goes through (especially club fungi because they are big and need it) where it absorbs a ton of water and overnight can grow more than twice its original height.  This is why one morning you might not see a mushroom, and the next morning you see a large one right there.

As for edible mushrooms, I'm sure they are just grown (spores are put down) in favorable conditions and sanitized and picked.

oh yeah and where I said "fungi" that is just the plural of "fungus" (like octopus and octopi).

Hope this helps.

Edit:

There are other types of fungi.  Mushrooms are club fungi.  Club fungi are the classic type, but athlete's foot is a fungi and there are no mushroom looking things.  Yeast is a fungi, but never grows from being microscopic microscopic state.

Fungi are diverse.  Mold is a fungi.  Remember what I said about spores being dormant until a favorable condition is found?  Well, yes, spores land on food and grow.  The mold develops because the fungus grows.  (That's sure fun to think about :D.)

Spores are blowing around everywhere around you right now.  That's why mushrooms seem to grow anywhere.

Another Edit:  What mooncalf said about the dark is unnecessary.  The reason mushrooms seem to grow overnight is that the ground is moist from the dew.  The lighting does not have a direct effect, because these are not plants that photosynthesize and are not animals that see and prefer light or dark.  The only thing (sun)light does is dry the ground, so that could have some effect.

Answer 3

By feeding them sh*t and keeping them in the dark :)

Answer 4

Generally they come from an old tree that has now started to decay ( the roots ) . They do no harm to  the grass.

Answer 5

Mushrooms are a fungus.  They grow from spores.