GROWING GOURMET - Anto2ni.it

164
GROWING GOURMET MUSHROOMS ON ENRICHED SAWDUST
moistened to 60-65%. This formula makes 160-
180 bags weighing 5.5 lbs. Directly after
make-up the bags are loaded into the autoclave
for sterilization. Should the mixture sit for
more than a few hours, fermentation reactions
begin. Once bacteria and molds flourish, the
mixture is rendered unsuitable.
If alder is unavailable, I strongly encourage
substituting other rapidly decomposing hardwoods,
such as cottonwood, poplar, willow,
sweetgum, and similar wood types from riparian
ecosystems.Although oak is the wood most
widely used in the cultivation of Shiitake,
Maitake, and Enokitake, its inherent, slower
rate of decomposition sets back fruiting sched-
ules compared to the above mentioned
hardwoods. Sycamore, mahogany, ironwood,
the fruit trees, and other denser woods require a
Figure 134. The mixture featured in Figures 130-133
created 180 6 lb. bags of the fruiting formula. Once
mixed and wetted, this mixture must be immediately
loaded into the autoclave and sterilized.
longer gestation period, although subsequent
fruitings may benefit from the increased wood
density. * Here, a little experimentation on the
part of the cultivator could have far-reaching,
profound results. Mini-trials matching the
strain with the wood type must be conducted
before expanding into commercial cultivation.
By laying out the sawdust first in a 10 x 10
foot square, the chips can be thrown evenly
upon the sawdust, and topped by broadcasting
rice bran evenly over the top. This mass is
mixed thoroughly together by whatever means
available (flat shovel, cement or soil mixer,
tractor). A mixer of less than acubic yard in capacity
is probably not more efficient than one
person mixing these three ingredients by hand
with a shovel. Pockets of discoloration, mold,
or "clumps" should be avoided during the making
up of this composition. The more
competitors at make-up mean the more that are
likely to survive the "sterilization" cycle.
Mixing the above components by hand becomes
functionally impractical beyond 300
bags per day. At this level of production and
above, automated mixing machines and bag
fillers, adapted from the packaging and nursery
industry, are far more efficient in terms of both
time and, in most cases, money invested.
Testing For
Moisture Content
Wetting the substrate to its proper moisture
content is critical to creating a habitat that encourages
mycelial growth while retarding
over-riding issue, then
many of these denserhardwoods, such as the oaks,
may produce better-quality fruitings over the long
term than those from the rapidly decomposing
hardwoods. However, I have found Enokitake, Oyster,
Reishi, Lion's Mane and Shiitake to give rise to faster
fruitings of equally superior quality on alder, poplar
and cottonwood.
* If speed of production is not the
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