A Detailed Explanation of the Latest Key Points for Growing Morel Mushrooms
The morel mushroom is a fungal food with a rather unusual appearance. Unlike shiitake and king oyster mushrooms, its cap is not smooth at all but bumpy and uneven, and because it looks like a sheep's stomach it was named the morel mushroom. It contains eight amino acids that cannot be manufactured artificially, so it is of great help in meeting the human body's health needs. Its nutritional value is no less than that of shiitake mushrooms, and may even exceed it. So if you are planning to grow them, do you know what needs attention during the growing process? Let's take a look below!
1. Temperature
The fruiting period of morel mushrooms is roughly from February to March each year. In spring, the temperature difference between day and night is relatively large, which is very favorable for the growth of morel mushrooms. Morel mushrooms grow best at a temperature of 12-15 degrees; exceeding the temperature range of 10-18 degrees will reduce the growth rate of the morel fruiting bodies.
2. Light
Appropriate light helps promote the formation of morel fruiting bodies. Light is relatively important in the growth process of morel mushrooms; during the growth of the fruiting bodies, a proper amount of scattered light must be ensured to promote their growth. The direction of morel growth will follow the direction of the light, and the intensity of the light will also determine the final degree of coloration of the morel mushrooms.
3. Air
Like all crops, morel mushrooms cannot do without oxygen for good growth and development. Too much carbon dioxide in the air will reduce the growth rate of morel mushrooms, prevent them from growing normally, cause deformed growth, and even lead to rotting. Therefore, during cultivation it is necessary to ensure that there is enough fresh air around them.
4. Ventilation
Experiments show that compared with a highly ventilated space, a completely closed space has a fruiting rate far lower than that of the highly ventilated space. From this it can be concluded that reasonable ventilation is the prerequisite for ensuring that morel mushrooms fruit. Even in weather with relatively low temperatures, at least one hour of ventilation time must be ensured. However, it should be noted that strong winds and fierce winds must not be allowed through; keep the wind as gentle as possible.
5. Weeding
When growing morel mushrooms, weeds cannot be handled in the same way as for other vegetables; the weeds in the seedbed must not be removed. Morel mushrooms can grow together with weeds and do not need weeding or loosening of the soil. This is because weeding is very likely to damage the mycelium in the soil and affect the growth of the morel mushrooms. Moreover, weeds can appropriately shade the fruiting bodies and promote growth.
⟧6. Humidity
Suitable humidity is very important for the growth of morel mushrooms. If the relative humidity in the air is below 65%, it may cause hollow morel mushrooms that lack water, are dry and light, and are poor in quality. Also, the relative humidity must not exceed 85%; excessive humidity will reduce the oxygen content in the air, causing the fruiting bodies to lack oxygen and greatly affecting their growth and development.
7. Harvesting
Morel mushrooms do not all mature at the same time. By observing the growth of the morel mushrooms, once the cap has fully stretched out and roughly taken on the shape of a sheep's stomach, they can be harvested. When picking, be careful not to damage the surrounding morel mushrooms that are not yet mature, as this would affect their growth and development.
The points above are the key things to note when growing morel mushrooms. The morel mushroom is a relatively rare fungal food, so its market price and economic benefits are also relatively high. There is still a certain prospect for cultivation, but everyone still needs a certain level of growing skill; if you plant blindly without mastering the correct techniques, you may fail. That is all for today's introduction. For more exciting related information, stay with Qinong Net.