Welcome to my expert guide on profitable oyster mushroom cultivation, created by technologist Larisa Teslenkova.
Here you'll find practical tips and remote consulting to support both new and experienced growers.
My name is Larisa Teslenkova.
I'm a teacher by training and a mushroom technologist by experience, with over 8 years of hands-on work in oyster mushroom production.
All the articles on this site are written by me and based solely on my own practice, research, and observations.
This is a place for clear, trustworthy information—no fluff, just real-world insight in simple, accessible language.
All the photos you see in my articles are real cases from my clients—shared with their permission—because nothing teaches better than real-life problems.
I live in Ukraine. My hometown of Kherson is now under continuous shelling by Russian troops.
Therefore, my husband and I were forced to leave the city, and now live in another region of Ukraine.
When I started, all I had were two empty buildings from a former tractor depot—and no experience in mushroom growing.
I planned to buy ready-made blocks and simply grow mushrooms, but a consultant I trusted convinced me to build a 10-ton pasteurization tunnel instead, saying that 350 square meters (about 3,770 square feet) wasn’t enough for a serious business.
Now, with much more experience, I know that’s not true. You can build a successful business in any space—as long as your expectations match your investment.
That decision (to build a tunnel) turned out to be costly and overwhelming. The true cost of the equipment was far beyond what I'd expected, and I had to take out a loan to finish the setup.
Eventually, I built a working enterprise producing 100 tons of substrate per month and growing up to 4 tons of oyster mushrooms monthly.
I ran the business for 8 years, until 2014, when I sold it due to personal and political reasons.
Since then, I’ve focused on helping other growers. I write honestly about the real costs and challenges of this business, and I support my clients in avoiding the mistakes I once made.
My experience covers:
▶️various substrate treatment methods (hot water, lime soaking, tunnel pasteurization, and steam chambers)
▶️climate control during incubation and fruiting
▶️designing different types of ventilation systems depending on local climate and budget.
I have helped fix many bugs at the lowest cost for clients.
I know what to do in difficult situations.
With years of hands-on experience, I now offer remote consulting services focused on oyster mushroom cultivation, troubleshooting, and process optimization. Consultations are conducted via WhatsApp and Google Docs — convenient tools for working with clients around the world.
✅Tailored support for both beginners and experienced growers.
✅Practical guidance on substrate processing, climate control, and ventilation setup.
✅Efficient problem-solving with a focus on low-cost improvements.
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"Larisa, you brought so much clarity into mushroom farming for me. It was a pleasure to learn from you. I wish you strong health and long life. Thank you again for your consultations." - Vladimir, Samarkand, Uzbekistan
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Dive into my articles and videos for practical tips on growing oyster mushrooms:
