Six Essentials and Six Precautions for Spring Management of Shiitake Mushrooms

    Spring is the peak season for shiitake mushroom fruiting because temperatures rise. The weather is changeable at this time, and if management is improper, the yield and quality of shiitake mushrooms will be greatly affected. Therefore, shiitake mushrooms in spring must be carefully managed, following the "six essentials and six precautions."

Shiitake mushroom

    1. Water spraying management should depend on the weather, to prevent mold. On sunny days, spray water when the surface of the shiitake mushroom logs is slightly dry; humidity must not be too high, so as to avoid mold causing log rot. Generally, after harvesting shiitake mushrooms in the morning, use a sprayer to spray water on the surface of the shiitake mushroom logs, let them air for 30 minutes, and then cover with plastic film. Note: do not spray on cloudy and rainy days, do not spray before harvesting, and do not spray when the logs are moist.

    2. Covering the mushroom bed with film should be flexible, to prevent oxygen deficiency. Every day while harvesting shiitake mushrooms, pay attention to uncovering the film for ventilation, and cover the film after harvesting. When the temperature is above 20°C, uncover both ends of the film at the same time for ventilation; on muggy days and rainy days, uncover it completely. When the shiitake mushroom logs are soaked in water and returned to the mushroom bed, if they happen to encounter low temperatures or a cold wave, cover the film tightly to keep warm for 3 days; when the temperature is above 25°C, uncover the film for ventilation 2-3 times every day.

    3. Alternate wetting and drying should be moderate, to prevent loss of control. After each flush of shiitake mushrooms is harvested, uncover the film for ventilation for 8-10 hours, then spray water on sunny days, and cover the film tightly during the day to restore the vigor of the mycelium; after 12 midnight, ventilate again for 1 hour to promote the formation of mushroom buds, for 3-4 consecutive days.

    4. Mycelium cleaning should be timely, to prevent contamination. After each batch of shiitake mushrooms is harvested, use a small knife to remove the parts of the shiitake mushroom logs where mold has grown, arrange them well on the mushroom bed, let them ventilate, and cover with film after they are slightly dry.

    5. Replenishing the logs with liquid should be in the proper amount, to prevent excessive moisture. After growing mushrooms through both autumn and winter, the logs have consumed a large amount of nutrients and water, so soaking the logs in water and supplementing fertilizer is a key step in spring management. However, they must not be too wet, so as to avoid moldy rot of the logs and rotting of the shiitake mushrooms.

    6. Harvesting and processing should be timely, to prevent the caps from opening. If shiitake mushrooms are harvested too late, the caps tend to open; generally harvest when the partial veil has broken but the cap has not fully expanded, forming a "gong rim." Shiitake mushrooms harvested on the same day should be processed on the same day.