From Balcony to Bounty: How You Can Start Growing Mushrooms at Home — With Tips from a Farmer Earning Rs 12 Lakh a Month
Imagine waking up to the earthy aroma of mushrooms blooming just a few feet away from your kitchen — not in some distant forest, but in your own home. It may sound like a dreamy Pinterest fantasy, but for Jithu Thomas, a mushroom farmer from Ernakulam, it’s a full-blown reality. And with a bit of patience and the right know-how, he believes it could be yours too.
Now earning over Rs 12 lakh a month through mushroom cultivation, Jithu’s story started humbly — not in a big field or lab, but with a mother-son duo experimenting with mushroom seeds in a quiet corner of their home. What began as a passion project with his mother, Leena, has now grown into Leena’s Mushroom Farm — a thriving 1200-square-foot operation producing between 150 to 200 kg of mushrooms daily.
And what’s the magic mushroom that made it all happen? Not the trippy kind, thankfully — but the humble oyster mushroom, which Jithu swears by as the perfect starting point for beginners.
Whether you’re looking to grow your own food, start a side hustle, or just try something fun (and fungal), here’s a beginner’s guide from the man who turned spores into success.
Step 1: Choose Quality Seeds – Your Fungal Foundation
Just like a good story starts with the right plot, your mushroom journey begins with the right spawn — that’s farmer-speak for mushroom seeds. Jithu emphasizes this as the most crucial step.
“You can either buy from experienced cultivators or order online,” he advises, “but make sure it’s from a trusted source.”
The reason? Your mushrooms are only as healthy as the seeds you plant. Inferior quality seeds can mean patchy growth, poor yields, or worse — no mushrooms at all.
Step 2: Start Small — Your Balcony is Big Enough
Think you need acres of land to be a mushroom farmer? Think again. Jithu recommends starting with a small space — even a corridor or balcony will do.
“You don’t need a fancy setup to begin. Use what you have and learn how the mushrooms respond,” he says.
The goal is to dip your toes (or spores) into the world of mushroom farming without being overwhelmed. Plus, starting small keeps your losses minimal if something goes wrong — and in farming, things will go wrong.
Step 3: Treat the First 6 Months Like an Internship
Jithu’s advice for the first six months? Patience, learning, and observation.
“This period is for experimenting and getting used to the crop,” he explains. “Understand the conditions, notice the patterns, and find your rhythm.”
It’s a test phase — kind of like dating your mushrooms. You’re figuring out what works and what doesn’t before committing to something more serious.
Step 4: Respect the Crop’s Fragility — Mushrooms Are Sensitive Little Beings
Yes, mushrooms grow fast — oyster mushrooms can be ready to harvest in just 3 to 5 weeks. But they’re also fussy.
“The crop is very sensitive. A slight change in temperature or an unnoticed pest can wipe out your entire batch,” Jithu warns.
That means you’ve got to monitor your setup — think of yourself as a mushroom babysitter. Keep the temperature and humidity stable, ensure proper hygiene, and act fast if you spot anything off.
Step 5: Stay Consistent — The Secret Ingredient
Consistency is what separates a casual experimenter from a full-fledged mushroom grower.
“You have to follow the process every day,” Jithu insists. “There’s no shortcut. Regular monitoring, cleaning, and adjusting are part of the job.”
Leena’s Mushroom Farm faced its share of challenges — floods, a global pandemic, fluctuating markets. But by sticking to a scientific approach and planning ahead, they didn’t just survive — they thrived.
Ready to Grow?
If you’ve ever thought mushroom farming was a mysterious, complicated venture, Jithu Thomas is here to bust that myth, one oyster mushroom at a time. His story — from sowing seeds with his mom to creating a successful enterprise — is a powerful reminder that with care, consistency, and a touch of curiosity, you can cultivate more than just a crop. You can grow a whole new way of life.
So next time you’re sipping coffee on your balcony, look around. That little corner could be the start of your very own mushroom journey.
And who knows? With a little patience and a sprinkle of spore magic, you might just turn your home into a mini mushroom empire.