Water management is key when Enoki mushroom (Flammulina velutipes) fruits; remember this five-character mnemonic

    The development of Enoki mushroom fruiting bodies has high water requirements. Here is an introduction to the "Five-Character Classic" water management method for Enoki mushroom at the fruiting stage:

Enoki mushroom

    1. Maintain.After the Enoki mushroom mycelium reaches the bottom of the bag, immediately open the bag and scratch the surface, rake away the old mycelial skin, and cover with wet newspaper or plastic film to retain moisture and stimulate pinning. If covered with newspaper, spray water in small amounts but frequently (3~4 times a day) to keep the newspaper moist; if covered with plastic film, spray water into the air and onto the ground to keep the air humidity at around 90%.

    2. Lower.When the Enoki mushroom pins grow to 1~2 cm, they enter the growth inhibition period. At this time, humidity should be lowered, and spraying can be reduced or stopped. For 3~5 consecutive days, open the doors and windows at night to let cold air into the room to lower the temperature and disperse moisture, bringing the temperature of the incubation room down below 8°C (4~5°C is best) and the humidity down to around 75%.

    3. Promote.After entering the elongation stage, spray water on the fruiting bodies 4~5 times a day, increasing the amount of water sprayed as the Enoki mushrooms grow, keeping the air humidity at around 90% to promote rapid growth of the Enoki mushroom fruiting bodies. At the same time, ventilate appropriately and use alternating wet and dry conditions to inhibit the increase of the mushroom caps and promote elongation of the mushroom stems.

    4. Replenish.After the first flush of Enoki mushrooms is harvested from the bags, the water content drops by 20%~30%, and after the second flush is harvested it drops by 30%~50%. Therefore, after the first and second flushes are harvested, water should be sprayed into the bags immediately to replenish moisture.

    5. Soak.After the third flush is harvested, the water content of the mushroom column drops below 50%. At this point, the plastic bag can be removed and the mushroom column soaked in a pool of water. When the column has regained the weight it had when the bag was first opened, take it out, let it dry slightly, and put it back into a bag. Alternatively, water can be poured directly into the bag to soak it, and after the column has absorbed enough water, pour out the excess water from the bag. Then rearrange the rehydrated bags on the bed frames, cover with wet newspaper, and manage as usual; in this way, two more flushes of Enoki mushrooms can be harvested.