How to manage enoki mushrooms during the flush transition period? Seven key points to remember
1. Clean the substrate surface in time. Harvest when the fruiting body caps reach 1-1.5 cm in diameter and the stipes are 14-15 cm long. After harvesting, promptly remove the leftover mushroom bases and small mushrooms on the substrate surface, remove the hardened old mycelium on individual substrate surfaces, minimize mechanical damage, and protect the original mushroom primordia.
2. Provide proper ventilation and lower the temperature. During the fruiting stage, in order to harvest high-quality enoki mushrooms with small caps, long stipes, light color and tender plumpness, a layer of plastic film is generally laid over the mushroom bags to maintain the humidity needed for enoki mushroom growth and create a microenvironment with a higher carbon dioxide concentration. However, high humidity and high carbon dioxide concentration are not conducive to re-inducing buds. The film can be lifted in the morning and evening for ventilation, so that primordia form as quickly as possible and the flush transition is accelerated.
3. Provide weak scattered light. Enoki mushrooms can form mushroom primordia entirely in a dark environment, but the number formed is far less than in an environment with weak scattered light. Therefore, during the flush transition period, a certain amount of scattered light should be provided. An environment of "three parts sunlight, seven parts shade" can accelerate the differentiation of mushroom primordia and help them form mushroom buds.
4. Regulate the temperature reasonably. The optimum temperature for enoki mushroom primordium formation is 13-15°C. If the temperature is on the high side, increase the amount of water sprayed on the idle ground of the mushroom house and ventilate thoroughly to cool it down. It should be noted that when the temperature is high, the humidity must not be too high, otherwise the mushroom bases will turn black and develop more fuzz, which in turn causes disease. If the temperature is on the low side, spray hot water or heat the mushroom house to avoid delaying the formation of mushroom primordia due to excessive temperature differences, which would affect the growth of mushroom buds and be detrimental to the flush transition.
5. The water content of the growing substrate must be suitable. Only when the water content of the growing substrate reaches 65%-70% can normal growth and a smooth later flush transition be ensured. If the growing substrate is relatively dry, a larger amount of clean water can be added to the bags at one time, and after 2-4 hours the excess water can be poured out, replenishing 50-100 ml per bag.
6. Turn the bags over for fruiting. After the second flush is harvested, the bags should be turned over to fruit from the other end, which can speed up the flush transition and give a yield comparable to the first flush. Note, however, that bags whose mycelium has not fully colonized or that are infected with contaminant fungi are not suitable for turning over for fruiting.
7. Prevent fruiting around the sides. Bag-cultivated enoki mushrooms often show fruiting around the sides, with no or very few mushrooms in the middle. Adding 20% mixed hardwood sawdust to the growing substrate can not only prevent fruiting around the sides but also promote the formation of mushroom primordia.