GROWING GOURMET - Anto2ni.it

270 GROWTH PARAMETERS
Figure 248. 7 days after submersion, crop is ready for harvest. This process can be repeated 4-5 times before the
blocks cease production.
Recommended Containers for Fruiting: Polypropylene, high density thermotolerant polyethylene
bags, usually fitted with a microporous filter patch, or stuffed with a cotton plug. Bottle fruitings are
impractical. Tray fruitings a la Button Mushroom culture have been employed with some success in
Europe. However, the advantage of bag culture is that contaminants can be isolated, limiting crosscontamination
of adjoining substrates.
Yield Potentials: 1.5 to 3 lbs. of fresh mushrooms from 6 lbs. of sawdustlchiplbran. Biological efficiency
rating of 100-200% using the methods described herein.
Harvest Hints: Humidity should be constantly fluctuated during fruitbody development and then
lowered to 60% rH for 6-12 hours before the crop is harvested. This causes the cap's leathery, outer
skin to toughen, substantially extending shelf-life. I prefer to pick the mushrooms when the margins
are still inrolled, at a mid-adolescent stage. However, greater yields are realized if the fruitbodies are
allowed to enlarge. For best results, the interests of quality vs. yield must be carefully balanced
throughout the cropping process by the growing room manager.
Although these mushrooms can
withstand a more forceful water spray than Oyster and other
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