A Complete Guide to New Summer Cultivation Methods for Straw Mushrooms

Straw mushrooms are the only high-temperature, fast-growing variety among edible fungi. The cultivation substrate is mainly rice straw and wheat straw. They are delicious and nutritious. The summer cultivation techniques are introduced as follows:

Preparation of mushroom beds. The mushroom beds are set up inside a plastic greenhouse, and the greenhouse is covered with plastic film and straw mats to retain warmth and moisture. The mushroom beds are 1 m wide, with unlimited length, and the spacing between beds is 30 cm, which can serve both as walkways and as water storage ditches. On the beds, sunken mushroom troughs are dug crosswise. The troughs are 30 cm wide and 20 cm deep, with a 20 cm small soil ridge left between troughs. Within the troughs, spray 0.2% dichlorvos and 0.1% carbendazim to sterilise and kill insects.

Straw treatment. Cut the rice straw or wheat straw into 3 cm small pieces, soak them in 2% limewater plus 0.5% compound fertiliser for 24 hours, then remove and drain off excess water before use.

Selecting good spawn. The straw mushroom spawn used should not be older than 18 days. The best spawn is that with vigorous mycelium and brownish-red chlamydospores.

Cultivation method. Evenly spread the cut rice straw or wheat straw pieces in the prepared mushroom troughs. Spread one layer of straw pieces, then one layer of bran and one layer of spawn. The bran amount is 5%, and the spawn amount is 10%. Put slightly more spawn in the topmost layer, then scatter the soil from the small ridges over the surface of the substrate to a height of 10-12 cm, and press the substrate firmly with a wooden board. After the substrate is placed in the beds, set up small arched frames crosswise along the mushroom beds. The arched frames are about 50 cm high and covered with plastic film to retain warmth. The water storage ditches between the beds should be filled with water to keep the relative humidity in the greenhouse no lower than 80% and the temperature no lower than 28°C. After 48 hours, the plastic film on the small arched frames can be opened for ventilation.

Management after fruiting. From spawning to the appearance of mushroom buds generally takes 9-10 days, and 3-4 days after budding they can be harvested.

Management after harvesting. After harvesting, do not spray water. Cover with plastic film for two days to allow the mycelium to recover growth, then continue fruiting management. Before each fruiting flush, spray a 0.1% urea water solution once to promote the growth of straw mushrooms.