Button Mushroom Fruiting Period Management: Signs Before Fruiting and High-Yield, High-Output Techniques

  I. Control temperature and humidity. In button mushroom cultivation, fruiting begins about 20 days after casing. Keep the temperature at 20-24°C and the relative air humidity at 80%-85%. During this period, water generally should not be sprayed on the compost surface; if it is too wet, aeration is poor and the mycelium struggles to grow into the casing layer, while if it is too dry the mycelium becomes sparse. Maintain suitable temperature and humidity so the mycelium stays white and vigorous. When the mycelium covers the compost surface, spray heavily to make the mycelium lie down; this watering is also called "fruiting water," used to stimulate the formation of fruiting bodies. After that, stop watering for 2-3 days while increasing ventilation. When the mycelium knots into small white dots, begin spraying water and increase humidity.
  II. Increase ventilation. At this point, ventilation should be strengthened, the relative air humidity kept at around 90%, and the temperature controlled at 12-18°C. As the number of mushrooms increases and the fruiting bodies develop, increase the amount of water sprayed. Strengthen ventilation when spraying; do not spray during high temperatures, and do not spray before harvesting.
  III. Increase watering. When the mushrooms grow to the size of a soybean, spray 1-2 heavier rounds of "fruiting water," once a day, to promote the growth of young mushrooms; then stop watering for 2 days; afterward, gradually reduce the amount of water sprayed as the mushrooms grow, keeping them on the verge of the peak flush. Note that when spraying, be frequent, light and fine; spray less on cloudy days and not at all on rainy days. After fruiting, the principle for watering the casing layer is light and frequent spraying: spray more when there are many mushrooms and less when there are few; spray less in the early stage and more in the later stage.
  IV. Harvest and handle gently. During the fruiting stage, harvest every day, picking according to the size the market requires, but before the caps open. When harvesting, twist gently and try not to pull out the compost. Trim off the muddy base of the stem as you pick, to avoid reducing market value. Handle gently, as bruised areas discolor very easily.
  V. Spray lime water. After each flush is harvested, promptly use tweezers to remove the shriveled, yellowed old roots and dead mushrooms left on the bed surface to prevent infection by green mold. Fill the depressions left by harvested mushrooms with soil to keep the compost surface level and clean. After finishing, spray heavily once with 1% lime water, then follow routine management; the second batch of mushrooms appears in about 7-10 days.
  VI. Loosen the soil and spray fertilizer. Generally, 6-9 flushes are harvested. After the third flush is picked, loosen the casing layer and make holes to improve aeration within the compost, and apply topdressing after harvesting and before new pins reach the size of a bean. Common fertilizers mainly include 0.02% yeast powder solution, 0.3% urea, or 0.4% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution, etc.