What should be noted when cultivating morel mushrooms?
Morel mushroom is a fungal food with a rather unusual appearance. Unlike shiitake mushrooms, king oyster mushrooms and others, its cap is not smooth at all but uneven and bumpy, and because it looks like a sheep's stomach it is named morel. It contains eight kinds of 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 cultivate it, do you know what to pay attention to during the cultivation 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 favourable for the growth of morel mushrooms. Morel mushrooms grow best at a temperature of 12-15°C, and exceeding the temperature range of 10-18°C will reduce the growth rate of 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 suitable amount of scattered light must be ensured to promote their growth. The growth direction of morel mushrooms will follow the direction of the light, and the intensity of the light will also determine the final degree of colouring 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 rotting. Therefore, during cultivation it is necessary to ensure that there is sufficient and fresh air around them.
4. Ventilation
Experiments show that compared with a space with strong ventilation, a completely enclosed space has a fruiting rate far lower than that of a space with strong ventilation. 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 let in; the wind should be kept as gentle as possible.
5. Weeding
When cultivating morel mushrooms, weeds cannot be dealt with 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 there is no need to weed or loosen the soil. This is because weeding is very likely to damage the mycelium in the soil and affect the growth of 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 lower than 65%, it may cause hollow morel mushrooms that lack water, are dry and light, and are affected 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 suffer from oxygen deficiency and greatly affecting their growth and development.
7. Harvesting
Morel mushrooms do not all mature at the same time. Observe the growth of the morel mushrooms; when the cap is found to have fully spread 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 have not yet matured, which would affect their growth and development.
The above points are the matters to note when cultivating morel mushrooms. 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 to have a certain level of cultivation technique. If you plant blindly without mastering the correct technique, cultivation may fail. That is all for today's introduction; for more exciting related information, stay tuned to Qinnong Network.