Oyster mushroom cultivation
Substrate preparation
How to grow a good crop of oyster mushrooms at home? It all starts with the preparation of mycelium and substrate, nutrient medium. A good basis for the substrate in the case of the growth of oyster mushrooms is straw, a corn stalk, seed husks, larch chips. The main condition for choosing a material is that it should be of high quality, dry, and should not spread mold. First, the substrate is treated with steam or boiling water, kill bacteria and soften. Then it is allowed to dry: it is impossible to prevent the oyster mycelium from over-wetting with an overly wet medium. Proper moisture allows the material to be springy, but not to let out water droplets. It is best to grind the substrate for oyster mushroom to small particles, so it is better to absorb moisture.
Dilution of oyster mushroom requires careful attention to the primary material, mycelium needs to be bought from reliable sources, it is advisable to take small batches for sample. The package should contain information about the variety and strain of the fungus. Overheated material will not be suitable for growing crops, then the oyster mushroom will not grow. To the touch packaging with mycelium should not be hotter than 20 °. It should not be visible green or<a "vS1WA7Nz3sf6" href = "# 58888617 ″ title =" Click to continue, Couponz »> black dots
The cultivation of mycelium begins with its cooling to 3 °; it can be put in the refrigerator, but not in the freezer. It is advisable not to let the packets lie for a long time, but to drop them off immediately after cooling. Mash the material and make sure that the temperature of the substrate matches the desired one; do not shock the culture with a drop in cold and heat. Observe the sterile conditions, the landing place of the mycelium and the place where future mushrooms will grow should be in different parts of the room. This is to prevent infection. Be sure to work at all stages only in gloves, replacing them with each new procedure.
Growing stages
The technology of growing mushrooms involves several species. With the extensive method, the product is grown in natural environment, the costs are minimal. The intensive method involves great hassle, as good artificial conditions must be created. Oyster mushroom cultivation is possible with respect to the features of both methods, but each of them has its drawbacks. For natural growing need suitable seasonal conditions and a plot of land.
In the case of artificial production, the downside is the cost of the event due to the need to create appropriate conditions for climate, humidity and light. Oyster mushroom seeds are another problem, as they are often of poor quality or spoiled. You need to buy them on the recommendation or in proven places.
Growing oyster mushrooms at home consists of a number of processes. First of all, processing of the material for the substrate is carried out, scalded with boiling water or steam, flows under a press if necessary. The place where the substrate will be stored is processed to sterility, like all working surfaces with materials. After that, the mycelium is carefully transferred to the nutrient mixture. This is the most crucial moment during which no extra particles, for example, mold or dirt, should get into the substrate. It is desirable that the room for the cultivation of oyster mushrooms was small and without ventilation. Culture should grow in a dark, tightly closed place without active air circulation.
Mixing the mycelium with the substrate should be in the proportion of about 4% of the material and 96% of the nutrient medium. The mixture under sterile conditions is prepared and packaged in plastic bags. For industrial conditions, a large container of 15–20 kg is suitable; for home production, small-sized packages will be required so that they better keep a uniform temperature. On the bags you need to make small incisions, it is through them that the oyster mushrooms grow. Depending on the type of cuts, you can get mushrooms of the desired shape.
How to grow ready mix? It is necessary to expand the bags in such a way that air comes from all sides, and the temperature can be regulated: it should not be above 25 °. It is good to grow oyster mushrooms when the temperature inside each bag is kept at around 27-28 °. From heat stroke, the rudiments die. During the whole process, there is no active ventilation in the place where the mushrooms are grown, so that the air is saturated with moisture and carbon dioxide.
For the process to be successful and oyster mushroom mushrooms have grown, every day you need to wipe all surfaces with a damp cloth with bleach.
These simple rules should be observed if oyster mushrooms are grown on sawdust. The incubation period is approximately 22-24 days, then the most interesting long-awaited process begins - the growth of mushrooms. Similarly, if oyster mushrooms are grown in a greenhouse, the principle is the same.
Growing oyster mushrooms as a business (video)
Fruiting
If the initial cultivation has passed correctly, the oyster mushroom mushrooms will begin to grow actively. Blocks with fruit bearing must be placed vertically so that they do not touch. The first batch of oyster mushrooms will ripen to 2 months. During this time, you need to try to ensure that the air humidity is up to 95%. Without special humidifiers can not do. At this stage, there are secrets of how to prepare the conditions for the desired color of the mushroom cap. The higher you raise the temperature, the brighter the caps will be. Many have preferences for the color and taste of oyster mushrooms: this can be adjusted when grown.
Also, the color is affected by the level of illumination: they darken in the sun, take on a pleasant brown-ocher appearance. Install a bulb of 5 W per 1 m². So that the mushrooms do not become watery, do not fill them with water, it is advisable to irrigate the mycelium dry. During the growing process, watering is allowed, but water should be no higher than 20 ° and it should be poured onto the mushrooms from top to bottom so that it runs down the cap. There are no recommendations for irrigation, everything is determined individually. The main thing is not to let the oyster mushroom get wet and air the air in the room. These mushrooms do not like dampness and deteriorate from excessive moisture.
Productivity depends on many factors. Water greatly affects the final product. In order to prevent the orange goblet plates, it is necessary not to fill the mushrooms with liquid at all stages of cultivation. Dilution of mushrooms in a residential area is dangerous to health, as during the ripening of the fruit, a huge amount of spores are released, they are powerful allergens. Even for a healthy person, such an amount can be critical.
After the first harvest, you should not relax. The next few more, in a couple of weeks new mushrooms will grow with the timely preparation of the material. After you have taken the harvest, you need to cut off the remaining legs and shovel the mycelium. All parts affected by mold, carefully sorted and discarded without a trace. Substrate with mold can be useful as an organic fertilizer.
Harvesting
If you did everything right, then your oyster mushrooms will bear fruit for another 5 or 6 months. The first series of harvest will be the most fruitful. In the last months you need to pay special attention to ventilation, as intensive cultivation will attract insects, fungi flies.
The process of growing mushrooms is incredibly time consuming, but if you master the technology, you can do a business on the production of this product. For many people, the cost of growing will be disproportionately profitable, so before you get involved in this business, you should think. Oyster mushrooms for themselves are chosen by those who love this product very much in food and do not trust sellers. You never know which chemicals were used and under what conditions the mushrooms were produced. And, of course, when we grow food with our own hands, it seems much tastier.
Oyster mushroom cultivation (video)
Gallery: Oyster mushroom cultivation (15 photos)
