Are you unhappy about high prices for grocery mushrooms? Why not become more self-sufficient and grow your own Champignons, Portobellos, Oyster or Shitake mushrooms! Only Porcinis cannot yet be cultivated in the garden.
Finished cultures
Prepared cultures are the easiest way to cultivate mushrooms. It is particularly suitable for beginners, or mushroom friends, who would like to try cultivation. The finished mushroom cultures consist of a substrate block of sawdust and some additives - all in all for approx. 10 - 30 dollars.
Follow the Instructions!
Don't worry, it's easier than you think! Usually, the substrate block simply has to be cut or cut open. Sometimes, however, it can also be removed completely from the bag. For some mushroom types, the soil has to be mixed in. Through contact with oxygen, the fungus growth is stimulated. The block is set up at 10 to 20° C in the house or garden. It is important to moisten it regularly. The bale should not dry out. Don't place it in full sun! The first mushrooms can often be harvested after only four weeks. Sometimes, however, it takes up to 12 weeks. Depending on how large the substrate volume is, up to three further harvests can follow.
Mushroom Brood
Mushroom spawn is available in different forms, depending on whether you want to grow it on wood, straw or various substrate mixtures. The so-called grain brood is very popular. The mushroom netting is spun around grain or millet grains. These organic nutrients are the food basis of mycelium. The advantage of the grain brood is that it can be mixed very well under substrates. In addition, the culture can be easily packed in cans or bags. Grain spawn is particularly popular for professional mushroom cultivation and the inoculation of strains. The substrate brood uses fermented, marbled straw flour, straw chaff or simply sawdust instead of grains.
Generally, straw bales or soaked straw pellets are larded with it. The mass is simply broken up, for example into nut-sized pieces, which must, however, be streaked with mycelium.
Mushroom brood should be used quickly after purchase or delivery. However, at temperatures between 2 and 12° C it can be kept for several weeks or months. The lower the temperature, the longer the shelf life. It is important that bacteria or mold spores do not come to the brood at any time. Therefore, it is safest to always wear disposable gloves when handling the fungal brood. If infected with any pathogens, the entire brood can die.
Straw Bales
Mushroom cultivation on straw bales is best suited for oyster mushrooms and brown caps. It is also suitable for rose mushrooms and lime mushrooms. This type of cultivation does not work with other mushrooms. A rod or grain brood is used.
A pressed, untreated straw bale is used for this mushroom cultivation. Wheat straw or barley straw is the most suitable. The bale must not be too old, maximum one year, not older. It is important that nothing is damp and there is no mould. For the beginner, the size of 50x50x100 cm is completely sufficient.
The best time to start breeding is in April or May. The bale is soaked for two days in a rain barrel, an old bathtub or another sufficiently large and suitable container. Clear tap water is used. Then the bale has to drain for a whole day. It must not be too wet. More preparation is not necessary. Now the rod or grain brood can be spread.
- Drill holes in the bales with a planting wood, distance about 20 cm
- Put the brood in the holes, at least 15 cm deep
- Close the holes again
Once the entire bale has been provided with larvae, it is covered with a foil. The film increases the humidity and provides the mycelium with ideal growing conditions. It is even better to wrap the whole bale with foil. Lack of oxygen promotes mycelium growth. However, watering is a bit laborious.
Optimal growth conditions for the mycelium offer temperatures between 20 and 25° C, with constant humidity
After 5 to 6 weeks the bale is penetrated by the mycelium. The straw must now always be kept moist, but never too wet. If everything goes according to plan, a fine web will appear after about 3 weeks. Already three weeks later can be harvested for the first time.
Usually, there are 2 to 3 further harvests, always at intervals of 3 to 4 weeks, but this also depends on the weather. Thus, about 6 kg of mushrooms can be harvested from one bale. After that, the straw is exhausted and can no longer provide food for the mycelium.
Mushrooms Harvest on the Balcony
If you don't have a garden, you can grow mushrooms on the balcony. You can use pots filled with straw pellets. The pellets must also be moistened in a larger container and swell until they fall apart. Then water is added and stirred until a pulp is formed. The substrate brood is evenly distributed in this.
The mass is distributed in pots or other vessels which must have a water outlet at the bottom and which are sealed with foil. They are left standing for 6 to 10 days, preferably not too light, rather shady. During this time the mixture ferments. Make sure that the mixture is moist but not wet. Excess water must be able to drain off. Do not use a coaster. After four to six weeks you can harvest for the first time.
Mushrooms are not only low in calories and fat but are rich in B vitamins, as well as other nutrients that can improve our skin and help us feel less tired, according to health experts.
Happy Growing : )
.
<><><><><>
.
