Shipping Container Mushroom Farms: Everything to Know About Growing Mushrooms in a Shipping Container

It’s no secret that our global food supply is under pressure. Rising temperatures and sea levels are changing old ecosystems, while our growing population will need 70% more food by 2050.

To close that gap, farmers are getting smart with new technologies. Some people are choosing to grow more food at home, too. There’s even evidence that grow-your-own households have healthier diets and produce less food waste.

Shipping container farming is one of the cheapest and most versatile ways to try new farming methods. And mushrooms are one of the most popular crops to grow in containers. 

Why are people growing mushrooms in shipping containers?

Mushrooms are a cost-effective crop with a lot of potential uses—and they grow exceptionally well in container farms.

If you’re growing your own food supply, mushrooms are extremely nutritious. They’re a rare plant source of vitamin D, the “sunshine vitamin” that many adults in the UK lack. They also contribute towards your “5 a day” of fruits and vegetables—and, of course, they taste delicious.

Some farmers have built entire businesses on shipping container mushroom farming. With new scientific discoveries every day, mushrooms can also be used to make sustainable packaging, building materials, vegan leather, and even batteries. Long story short, mushrooms are just one more reason why your farm needs a storage container. 

Why shipping containers are the ideal environment for growing mushrooms

Shipping containers might just be the future of farming. They’re compact, durable, and versatile, which means they can be used for new methods such as vertical farming and hydroponics. They can also be placed virtually anywhere, making them ideal for urban farming. The sealed environment of shipping containers is also perfect for mushroom cultivation, all year round.

There are many reasons why mushrooms thrive in shipping containers, including:

• Climate control. Mushrooms need a controlled temperature and humidity to grow. Because containers have a simple steel structure, it’s relatively easy to install HVAC systems. 
• Darkness. Shipping containers don’t usually have windows or skylights, so you can maintain full darkness inside for the mushrooms to grow.
• Modular design. The rectangular shape of shipping containers makes it easy to stack or connect containers. You can scale up your mushroom farm with a minimal footprint.
• Customisation. As part of a container conversion, you can add shelving, ventilation, heating, or lighting controls to maximise space inside the container and grow mushrooms all year round.
• Pest control. Well-maintained and sealed shipping containers are water-tight and secure. That means they’re safe from pests—protecting your crop and reducing spend on pesticides.
• Sustainability. When you repurpose a shipping container as a mushroom farm, you’re saving it from landfill. You don’t need to use any new construction materials, reducing your carbon footprint even further. 

What mushrooms can I grow in a shipping container?

Mushrooms are famously tough, popping up in habitats all over the globe. They can grow in logs, manure, and even coffee grounds!

So, as you’d expect, you can grow a wide range of mushrooms in a shipping container. Some of the most popular varieties are:

• Oyster mushrooms – fast-growing and can tolerate almost any conditions. They have a high nutritional value and can be harvested more than once a month.
• Shiitake mushrooms – more picky about their growing conditions. However, they have a gourmet flavour—and a high market value to match.
• Lion’s mane mushrooms – increasingly popular as an ingredient in traditional medicines. They need precise environmental controls, so a converted shipping container farm is the perfect place to grow them. 

Benefits of growing mushrooms in a shipping container

Turning a shipping container into a mushroom-growing hub isn’t just smart—it’s packed with advantages. From improving crop consistency to cutting down on resource waste, the benefits of growing mushrooms in a shipping container are both practical and wide-ranging.

Economic benefits

Shipping container farming tends to have lower startup costs than traditional greenhouses. That’s because you’re converting an existing structure, instead of building from scratch. You can also choose to place a shipping container farm near urban markets, reducing your business’ transport costs. 

With the right environmental controls, you can also grow mushrooms year-round. There’s no off-season for container farming.

Sustainable production

Farming mushrooms in a shipping container is a great way to reduce the carbon footprint of your food.

Converting the shipping container saves it from landfill and minimises the land you need to farm. Because you can pretty much place a shipping container anywhere, you can reduce transportation costs and carbon emissions, even for urban markets.

Additionally, farming in shipping containers uses 95% less water than traditional methods, because they offer a sealed ecosystem.

Space efficiency

Shipping containers are extremely space-efficient. You can line each container with shelves to maximise the space inside.

If you need to expand even further, you can stack containers vertically to grow your farm without growing your footprint. Vertical farming like this yields more food per square foot than traditional methods.

Controlled environment

You have complete control over the environment in a shipping container. Light, humidity, temperature—you can adjust all of it in real time to accommodate your crops and the environment outside.

How to set up and use a shipping container mushroom farm

Your shipping container farm might be a high-tech, futuristic space—but setting it up isn’t rocket science. Following our easy steps will have you growing mushrooms in a shipping container in no time. 

Pick the right location

The right site for your shipping container farm will have easy access to water mains and electrical hookups. You’ll also need to prepare the shipping container site so that it’s level, keeping it protected from structural damage as well as damp.

Prepare the container

Before you start growing, your shipping container will need a few key modifications to create the ideal environment for mushrooms.

• Insulate the shipping container walls and ceiling to help control the temperature and humidity.
• Install a ventilation system to regulate air exchange and carbon dioxide levels.
• Install humidity controls, such as a misting system or humidifiers. Most mushrooms are happiest around 80% humidity.
• Consider installing heating or cooling systems to reach the ideal temperature for the mushroom species you plan to grow. That’s usually around 21-24° Celsius (70-75° Fahrenheit).
• Install lighting that will suit your crops. Most mushrooms like low, indirect light. 
• Add shelves to hold mushroom grow bags or trays.

Prepare the substrate

Next, fill the bags or trays with the substrate where your mushrooms will grow. The most traditional substrate is horse manure, but you can also work with straw, wood chips, hay, or coffee grounds.

Whichever substrate you choose, make sure it’s chopped, moistened, and sterilised to remove any contaminants or pests. Then mix the mushroom spawn thoroughly into the substrate.

Set up the fruiting chamber

Congratulations: your shipping container is now known as a “fruiting chamber”. Switch on your lighting, temperature, and humidity controls so that the mushrooms can get to growing. You’ll need to check in regularly to make sure everything is running smoothly.

Harvest the mushrooms

The best time to harvest mushrooms is when they’re fully developed, but not yet flattening out under their own weight. Your first harvest might take 6 months, but most mushrooms can be harvested several times a month after that.

To harvest each mushroom, gently twist or pluck it from the substrate. Clean off any dirt and store in a cool, dry place.

Regularly maintain the container

Your fruiting chamber is a living ecosystem, which means it needs maintenance to stay healthy. Remove old substrate and replace it with fresh substrate and spawn at regular intervals. Keep the chamber clean to avoid mould or pests.

Challenges of growing mushrooms in a shipping container

Setting up a mushroom container farm is relatively cheap and simple. However, there are some challenges you might run into.

• Set-up costs can be high, although container farms are still more affordable than conventional farming methods or greenhouses.
• Specialist knowledge is needed to grow some types of mushroom. You might want to practise on a smaller scale before you invest in a full-size container.
• Sterile conditions are essential for the substrate and fruiting chamber. If you can’t keep the container clean, then your harvest may fail.
• Energy costs can be high, depending on how much lighting, heating, and ventilation your container requires. However, this depends a lot on local conditions.
• Planning permission may be required for your shipping container, depending on local regulations at the site.

The good news is that almost all these problems can be solved with forward planning and experience. Check planning rules in advance, map out your budget, and develop a routine for cleaning and refreshing the farm.

Shipping container mushroom farms in real life

Container mushroom farms are popular with gardeners and self-sufficiency hobbyists. But they can also become thriving businesses.

Take the Mushroom Man, who supplies over 300 kg of mushrooms to local restaurants each week—all grown in shipping containers. Mushroom container farms like his are efficient, sustainable, and often hyper-local.

The future of shipping container mushroom farms

Shipping container farms are popping up all over the place—just like the proverbial mushroom!

The industry is set for even more growth, thanks to technological innovations. AI-powered systems can manage temperature, humidity, and ventilation for the best possible growth conditions. Water and HVAC systems are becoming more efficient over time. Some farms even use robots to pick mushrooms faster. 

The possibilities are almost endless and we’re sure new innovative approaches will continue to transform mushroom farming, making it smarter, more sustainable, and more accessible than ever before. Keep an eye on shipping container farms—they’re just getting started!

The bottom line

You can grow mushrooms in shipping containers, either to eat at home or to build a thriving business. Shipping containers provide an ideal, sealed environment for growing almost any type of mushroom. 

Before you start, it’s important to find the right site, convert your shipping container, and establish sterile processes to protect your crops. Once you’re up and running, mushroom farming can be a lucrative and low-carbon business.