Plant factories
In short
This is a modular fruiting setup made of three insulated smart mushroom cabins, each with PLC control of humidity, temperature, CO₂ and light. It fits a specialty mushroom grower selling to restaurants, farmers' markets and grocers in a cold climate who wants to add capacity in steps and run different species in separate rooms.
Typical buyer: Specialty mushroom grower
Cover image is illustrative.
System at a glance
- Footprint
- Approx. 150 m² pad for three cabins plus service aisle
- Species
- Oyster, shiitake, golden ear
- Stage covered
- Fruiting; incubation handled separately
- Oyster cycle
- Typically 2–3 weeks from block placement to first harvest
- Shiitake cycle
- Typically several flushes over 2–4 months per block
- Climate control
- PLC-controlled humidity, temperature, CO₂ and light per cabin
- Power supply
- 208/240 V or 480 V options for North American sites
- Design ambient
- Insulation and heating sized for local winter lows
Challenge
What the buyer needs to solve
Specialty mushrooms sell well to chefs and grocers across Canada and the northern US, but each species fruits best under different conditions. Small growers often start in a converted room or tent, where winter cold, dry indoor air and poor fresh-air exchange cause uneven flushes, small caps and contamination.
What the grower needs
- Separate climates: oyster, shiitake and golden ear need different humidity, temperature and CO₂ ranges.
- Cold-weather performance: stable conditions when outdoor temperatures drop well below freezing.
- Modular growth: capacity that can grow one unit at a time as sales increase.
- Hygiene: surfaces and layouts that are easy to clean between cycles.
Solution
How the system is designed
The design uses three cabins as dedicated fruiting rooms. Substrate blocks are produced or bought in pre-colonized, so the cabins focus on the stage where climate control matters most.
Cabin roles
- Oyster cabin: a 40 ft container smart mushroom cabin with high fresh-air exchange and humidity control for fast-cycling oyster varieties.
- Shiitake and golden ear cabin: a smart mushroom cabin for golden ear and shiitake with drip irrigation, modular shelving and settings tuned for these slower, higher-value species.
- Trial and expansion cabin: a vertical modular mushroom chamber for new species trials or extra oyster capacity, with vertical racks for high block density.
Controls and cold-climate details
- PLC control: each cabin regulates humidity, temperature, CO₂ and lighting on its own program, with remote alarms.
- Insulation and heating: panels and heating are sized for the local winter design temperature, and the fresh-air intake is tempered to avoid cold drafts on the blocks.
- Water: humidifiers and drip lines run on filtered water to prevent nozzle scaling.
Incubation, substrate preparation and sterilization stay outside this scope, though we can discuss them. Tell us your species and weekly volume to get a cabin plan.
Example configuration
| Item | Specification | Qty |
|---|---|---|
| 40 ft container smart mushroom cabin | Insulated shell, PLC climate control, humidification, fresh-air system, shelving | 1 (oyster) |
| Smart mushroom cabin, golden ear and shiitake | Modular unit, ABS cover, drip irrigation, motor and pump, PLC | 1 |
| Vertical modular mushroom chamber | Vertical racks, drip irrigation, PLC control | 1 (trials and expansion) |
| Cold-climate heating and air tempering | Sized for local winter design temperature | 1 per cabin |
| Water filtration for humidifiers | Sediment and softening pre-treatment | 1 set |
| Spare parts kit | Humidifier parts, sensors, fans, pump | 1 kit |
Design targets
- Designed to hold separate climate programs for each species
- Built for stable fruiting conditions through northern winters
- Modular capacity that grows one cabin at a time
- Remote alarms for humidity, temperature and CO₂
Timeline
How the project runs
Mushroom cabin projects typically take 3–5 months from first contact to the first fruiting cycle.
- Inquiry & consultation: We discuss your species, block source, weekly volume and site conditions.
- Proposal & quotation: We propose cabin types, shelving layout and a quotation.
- R&D confirmation: Engineers confirm voltage, heating capacity and control programs for each species.
- Contract: We sign the contract with scope and delivery terms.
- Production & QC: Cabins are built and run through climate control tests before shipping.
- Third-party lab testing: Electrical components are checked by a third-party lab for your market's requirements.
- Shipping & logistics: Sea freight to Vancouver, Montreal or a US port, then trucking to the farm.
- After-sales support: We support setup and commissioning and help fine-tune climate programs during the first cycles.
Equipment
Products in this solution
Plant factories
ABS-Covered Mushroom Cabin with Drip Irrigation
Plant factories
Vertical Modular Mushroom Growing Chamber
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can't find your answer? Our engineers reply within one business day.
Ask a questionCan one cabin grow several species?
It can, but results are usually better with one species per cabin. Oyster mushrooms want high fresh air and lower CO₂, while shiitake and golden ear prefer different temperature and humidity patterns. Separate cabins also limit the spread of contamination. That is why this design assigns each cabin a clear role.
Do the cabins handle incubation too?
The cabins can run incubation programs, but this design uses them for fruiting, where climate control has the most effect on yield and quality. Most growers incubate blocks in a simpler dark room or buy pre-colonized blocks. We can discuss adding an incubation cabin if your volume grows.
Will the cabins meet North American electrical requirements?
We build controls for the voltage and frequency at your site and can have components checked by a third-party lab. Local codes may require on-site inspection or a specific certification mark, so ask your electrician or inspector early. We provide wiring diagrams and component data to support that process.
Get a quotation
Plan a project like this
Share your site, crop and target output, and we'll adapt this design to it.
- Itemized quotation in USD with lead time
- Layout drawings for custom systems
- Factory inspection or video call on request
- Export packing and shipping documents
Prefer email? inquiry@marsverticalfarm.com
