Detailed Explanation of Hanging Cultivation Techniques for Shiitake Mushrooms in Winter

The hanging cultivation technique for shiitake mushrooms makes full use of the effective area of mushroom sheds and mushroom houses. The yellow water secreted by the mycelium on the mushroom logs and blocks can drip down naturally, and spraying, management, and harvesting are all quite convenient. When the temperature is low, a boiler steam heating system can be used, making it easy to regulate temperature and humidity, which is conducive to producing more shiitake mushrooms in winter.

The culture material for filling and inoculating shiitake mushrooms is prepared according to the conventional formula for bag cultivation. Polypropylene or polyethylene plastic bags are selected, with a specification of 17 x 33 cm. Each bag is filled with 0.4 kg of dry material (about 1 kg of wet material), with moderate tightness. Normal-pressure sterilization is adopted, and after cooling to below 30 degrees C, inoculation is carried out under aseptic conditions. The bags are placed in a culture room or mushroom shed and stacked (3 to 5 bags per stack) for mycelial growth. Alternatively, the sterilized culture material can be placed into compression boxes with a specification of 66 x 33 x 5 cm for compression block inoculation and cultivation. After 50 to 65 days of cultivation, the mycelium will have fully colonized the mushroom logs. At this point, ventilation and air exchange should be strengthened to promote color change of the mushroom logs and blocks, facilitating hanging for mushroom production.

For hanging, the mushroom house or mushroom shed should be fumigated with formaldehyde, then some lime powder should be scattered on the ground and walls or pesticides sprayed to prevent diseases and pests, and finally a layer of fine sand should be spread on the ground. Then take a 1.67 m long nylon rope and fold it in half to make a double-strand rope 0.835 m long. Tie 4 dead knots evenly on the rope, then tie one end of two double-strand ropes to the crossbeam inside the mushroom house or mushroom shed, replacing cultivation racks for hanging shiitake mushroom logs or blocks for mushroom production. When the blocks or logs have changed color to a reddish-brown or light brown mycelial membrane, carefully hang the mushroom logs or blocks from top to bottom into the gaps between the dead knots of the double-strand nylon ropes, with a layer spacing of 10 to 15 cm. Wrap a layer of plastic film around the top and edges of the hanging shiitake mushroom logs or blocks to retain heat and moisture, and clamp the joints of the plastic film tightly with clips.

Maintain the temperature inside the mushroom house or mushroom shed at 20 degrees C to 25 degrees C, and the relative humidity at 90% to 95%. Under normal circumstances, budding begins after 15 to 20 days of hanging. From budding to maturity generally takes 10 to 15 days. After harvesting, follow conventional management practices and allow them to continue producing mushrooms normally.