How to cultivate wild mushrooms? Mastering these technical points is key

Wild mushrooms are a superior domesticated species promoted for cultivation in our county in recent years, with a unique flavor and rich nutrition.

I. Preparation, mixing and fermentation of the growing medium

1. Preparation of the growing medium

The main ingredients of the growing medium are wheat straw (or cottonseed hulls) and cow dung, which must be dry and fresh, without mold. Supplementary materials include urea, wheat bran, gypsum, superphosphate, lime, etc.

2. Formula of the growing medium (per 100 sq m)

Dry cow dung 1500 kg, superphosphate 25 kg, gypsum 25 kg, wheat straw (or cottonseed hulls) 1000 kg or 1500 kg, urea 10 kg, lime 10 kg.

3. Fermentation of the growing medium

① Pre-piling: water the straw material and soak it so that it absorbs water and becomes thoroughly wet; build the pile after two days of piling.

② Building the pile: scatter a little lime on clean ground, then spread a 20 cm thick layer of straw material, mix the crushed cow dung, urea, superphosphate and other supplementary materials and spread them over the straw material at a thickness of about 5 cm, and repeat this to build a pile about 2 m wide and 1.5 m high, then cover with plastic film to keep warm and retain moisture for fermentation.

③ Turning the pile: on the 6th day after building the pile, when the temperature inside the pile reaches 60-70°C, turn the pile for the first time, add lime, and adjust the moisture inside the pile. Turn the pile 4-5 times in sequence; if pests appear, carry out pest control treatment, until the growing medium is decomposed and reaches the cultivation quality standard. At this point the growing medium has a moisture content of 60%-70%; when the material is squeezed in the hand, water can be seen but does not drip out; the pH value is 7.7-8, and there is no foul odor.

II. Sowing

1. Preparation before sowing

Before sowing, thoroughly disinfect the bed frames, the floor and walls of the mushroom house with lime water or 6% liquid alkali water.

2. Putting the growing medium onto the beds

Put the growing medium onto the beds at a thickness of 10-15 cm, level the bed surface, and at the same time, before sowing, spray about 50 g of mushroom tonic per 0.1 sq m of bed surface (each packet mixed with 100 kg of water) to increase yield.

3. Sowing

When the material temperature stabilizes below 28°C and no longer rises, and the air temperature is below 30°C, sow by broadcasting, dibbling or drilling at a rate of 750 ml/0.25 sq m. Sow evenly, pat level and cover the growing medium well, and ensure humidity.

III. Management of mycelial growth in the material layer

1. Ventilation and air exchange

If the climate is relatively dry, focus on moisture retention within 2-3 days after sowing, that is, close the windows or ventilate only slightly; after the 7th day, once the mycelium has grown onto the material layer, ventilation can be gradually increased. If the bed surface is too dry, water can be sprayed indirectly to promote the growth of mycelium on the material surface.

2. Loosening the material for fermentation

After the mycelium has grown for 10 days, if growth is slow because the material is too wet or ventilation conditions are poor, use a two-toothed rake, insert it from the bed surface down to the bed bottom, and loosen the material layer 1-2 times to improve ventilation conditions and promote downward growth of the mycelium.

3. Pest and disease control

Eliminate pests and diseases in time before casing soil is applied, to improve the quality and yield of the mushrooms.

IV. Casing soil

1. Selection of casing soil

Loam soil with an organic matter content above 1.5% is best for casing soil.

2. Timing and thickness of casing soil

When most of the mycelium has extended to the bed bottom, it is the suitable time for casing soil. First apply coarse soil 2.5-3 cm, and after about 10 days, apply fine soil 10 cm.

3. Water regulation of the casing soil layer

Generally, water regulation begins 1-2 days after applying the coarse soil, with 3 consecutive waterings. In terms of water quantity, use light amounts at both ends and heavier amounts in the middle: on the 1st day, regulate with 3.5-4 kg/sq m. On the 2nd day, regulate with 5 kg/sq m; on the 3rd day, regulate with 3-3.5 kg/cubic m, with a moisture content of 18%-20%. After 2-3 days of fine soil application, regulate with 5 kg/sq m. When the mycelium grows to the surface of the fine soil, strengthen ventilation, then apply a second layer of semi-dry, semi-moist fine soil, regulate with 2.5 kg/sq m, and spray lightly and frequently.

V. Management during the fruiting period

1. Water management

Water management during the fruiting period should be adjusted according to the mushrooms, and at the same time flexibly controlled according to the dry and wet conditions of the growing medium and soil layer, weather changes, etc. Generally, when the mushroom fruiting bodies are the size of a soybean, regulate with one heavy watering. Do not regulate water when entering the fruiting peak. When fruiting is about to end, appropriately supplement water to the bed surface according to the dryness and wetness of the soil layer; do not regulate water during the low tide of fruiting; during the period when the bed surface is kept without water, spray air water to increase relative humidity, which is beneficial to the development of the fruiting bodies.

2. Ventilation and air exchange

During the fruiting period, ventilation and air exchange should be combined with moisture retention. Especially in the early stage, when the temperature is high, there is much fruiting, and respiration is vigorous, ventilation of the mushroom house should be strengthened to lower the room temperature, maintain suitable temperature and humidity, and ensure normal growth of the mushrooms.

3. Removing old roots and dead mushrooms

After picking the mushrooms, promptly remove dead mushrooms, old roots, etc., and promptly fill the empty holes with moist fine soil to ensure normal growth of the mycelium and the next batch of fruiting.

4. Spraying mushroom tonic

During the fruiting period, when the fruiting bodies of each flush of mushrooms are from the size of a rice grain to the size of a soybean, spray mushroom tonic 1-2 times together with watering, at a rate of 50 g/sq m, to promote their metabolism and increase yield.

5. Preventing death of mushrooms from high temperature

During the fruiting period, if the temperature in the mushroom house stays above 22°C for several consecutive days, the young mushrooms will die; strengthen ventilation to improve the vitality of the mushrooms and reduce mushroom death.

VI. Harvesting

Wild mushrooms should be harvested in time before the caps open, according to the mushroom shape, temperature and nutrients, to ensure the quality of the mushrooms.