New Techniques for Artificial Cultivation of Morel Mushrooms: The Growing Environment of Morel Mushrooms

As one of the rare and nutritious fungi, morel mushrooms are in relatively high demand in the market. They can be eaten by pregnant women, the elderly, and children alike, so they are also very popular in the field of biological planting and cultivation technology. The artificial cultivation techniques for morel mushrooms are simple and easy to carry out, with low investment ⟦4 <p>As one of the rare and nutritious fungi, morel mushrooms are in relatively high demand in the market. They can be eaten by pregnant women, the elderly, and children alike, so they are also very popular in the field of biological planting and cultivation technology. The artificial cultivation techniques for morel mushrooms are simple and easy to carry out, with low investment, high yields, and they can even be developed into a poverty-alleviation industry to help poor households escape poverty and become prosperous. So, what are the requirements of morel mushrooms for their growing environment? How are they cultivated artificially? Below, the editor will share with fellow netizens.</p><p></p><p><strong>New Techniques for Artificial Cultivation of Morel Mushrooms</strong></p><p>1. Temperature and humidity: Morel mushrooms are a low-temperature, high-humidity type of fungus. They mostly appear after rain from March to May, and occasionally from August to September. Their growing period is long. In addition to requiring relatively low temperatures, they also need a large temperature difference to stimulate the differentiation of the mycelium. The mycelium growth temperature is 21-24°C, the fruiting body formation and development temperature is 4.4-16°C, and the relative air humidity is 65%-85%. For this reason, the cultivation time should be in November-December.</p><p>2. Soil conditions: The soil pH value should be 6.5-7.5. Neutral or slightly alkaline soil is favorable for the growth of morel mushrooms. Morels often grow in limestone or chalk soil, and can grow in humus soil, black or yellow loam, and sandy mixed soil.</p><p>3. Cultivation methods: The cultivation methods for morel mushrooms are mainly indoor de-bagged cultivation, outdoor de-bagged cultivation, and outdoor raw material cultivation. Humidity management: Morel mushrooms like moisture, and the growing environment must maintain humidity. In outdoor cultivation, in winter and especially in early spring, if there is more rain and the temperature is suitable, the mycelium and fruiting bodies grow well. If there is drought in early spring, watering must be done at the right time.</p><p></p><p><strong>The Growing Environment of Morel Mushrooms</strong></p><p>1. Temperature and humidity: Morel mushrooms are a low-temperature, high-humidity type of fungus. They mostly appear after rain from March to May each spring, and occasionally appear from August to September in autumn, but in very small numbers. Morel mushrooms have a long growth period. In addition to requiring relatively low temperatures, they also need a large temperature difference, which can affect the decomposition of the mycelium.</p><p>2. The mycelium growth temperature is 21-24°C; the primordium formation temperature is 16-21°C; the fruiting body formation and development temperature is 4.4-16°C, and the humidity is about 65%-85%. For this reason, the cultivation time should be placed in November-December as much as possible.</p><p>3. Soil: The soil pH requirement is around 6.5-7.5. Neutral or slightly alkaline soil is favorable for the growth of morel mushrooms. Morel mushrooms often grow in limestone or chalk soil. They can grow in humus soil, black and yellow loam, and sandy mixed soil.</p><p></p><p><strong>Which Places Are Suitable for Planting Morel Mushrooms</strong></p><p>1. The main producing areas of wild morel mushrooms are distributed in Henan, Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, Tibet, Xinjiang, Sichuan, Shanxi, Jilin, Jiangsu, Yunnan, Hebei, Beijing and other regions of China. Within two to three years after a mountain fire, the yield is especially high. Therefore, pickers in North America collect morel mushrooms according to mountain fires. However, after the fire is controlled, the number growing in the same area will decrease year after year.</p><p>2. From late spring to early autumn, they grow in mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forests at an altitude of about 2000-3000 m, mostly on broad-leaved forest ground and beside roads, singly or in groups. Some also grow in poplar forests, orchards, grasslands, riverbanks, elm forests, pagoda tree forests, and beside roads and rivers at the edges of the above forests. They grow singly or in patches, and the soil is generally sandy alkaline or slightly alkaline. Generally, more mushrooms emerge from early May to early June. They belong to the cold-loving type of edible (medicinal) fungi.</p><p></p><p><strong>How to Select Morel Mushrooms</strong></p><p>Morel mushrooms should not contain too much water. Particularly heavy ones are often injected with water by unscrupulous vendors. Such morel mushrooms not only lose their nutrients seriously, but are also especially difficult to preserve. Carefully observe the surface of the morel mushrooms; they should be structurally intact and should not smell sour. Do not buy overripe morel mushrooms. Observe the cap: those that have not fully opened, or that have opened without breaking or withering, are the good ones.</p><p></p><p>The varieties of morel mushrooms also differ greatly. At present, producers all require each single product to be stored separately, and they cannot be mixed during processing and production. Therefore, much attention must be paid during cultivation. Morel mushrooms have certain requirements for their growing environment, and are generally cultivated in beautiful environments with green trees and mountain forests. The editor suggests that growers can cooperate with tourist sightseeing areas, so that picking and viewing can go on at the same time, which can generate value-added benefits.</p>