Based on the current sorry state of my garage, it’s obvious that indoor space is quite, quite a premium. So when I was thinking on how to start an indoor mushroom grow, top of mind was how to make the most of limited space without compromising on yield or quality.

Whether you’re working with a cozy apartment corner, small greenhouse, or compact grow tent, the key to high throughput mushroom production lies in innovative techniques and space-efficient setups. In this post, we’ll dive into the world of vertical farming, stackable shelves, and other clever methods designed to maximize how much you can fit into the space that you have.

Vertical Farming

Vertical farming isn’t just for commercial vegetable production. It’s a game-changer for indoor mushroom growers as well. It’s a proven technique applied to everything from skyscrapers to grocery store shelves. When we run out of room on the ground, we go up!

Consider installing tiered shelving units or creating a custom rack system where you can place your mushroom grow blocks or bags.

We can draw inspiration from commercial operations, like this vertical hanging setup.

Lighting and Air Circulation

There are important considerations when going vertical, mainly light and air circulation. Try to ensure even lighting to all your fruiting bodies and that each level receives enough air circulation.

The OttoENV LED GrowLight includes an integrated sensor to monitor environmental variables.

LED lights are ideal for their low heat output and can be mounted under each shelf to provide your mushrooms with the light it needs.

You’ll have to figure it out for your own grow but strategic placement of fans can help maintain consistent airflow across all levels. This is important to prevent humidity pockets that could lead to contamination.

The Power of Stackable Shelves

Stackable shelves are fantastic for growers looking to make the most of their growing area. We find that plastic ones will pretty much last forever in high humidity environments compared to metal units, however metal shelves with rust-inhibiting coatings like a good ol’ powder-coat or galvanization will conceivably last quite a while too. Obviously stainless steel will always do the trick if you’re down for the cost!

Metal wire shelving is great for segmenting your grow space vertically

Try These Yet?

• Hanging your grow bags

• Shelving units

• Initiate fruiting from side rather than top

• Modular growing units

Hodgin’s Harvest’s unique modular packaging allows you to stack the grow blocks without needing a shelf.

Automation

While automation doesn’t necessarily give you more space, it will most likely allow you to produce more and higher quality mushrooms with the space that you have. Automated systems for humidity control, fresh air exchange, and lighting can significantly reduce the manual labor involveed in mushroom cultivation.

Smart sensors and timers ensure that your crop is in an ideal environment, 24-7. This frees you up to focus on other aspects of your grow, such as monitoring for pests and contamination or planning your next grow rotation.

This huge Pink Oyster specimen was grown without any human labor using OttoENV

OttoENV’s automated grow system is a fantastic option for both beginners looking to dip their toes into mushroom cultvation and experienced growers looking to increase or automate their yields.

Early prototype of the OttoENV GrowSet grow controller