Content
Oyster mushrooms are a healthy and tasty product that is used to prepare various dishes. These mushrooms grow in forests in the middle lane, however, if a number of indicators are provided, they are also obtained at home. There are several ways to grow oyster mushrooms in your basement. The choice of the appropriate method depends on the size of the room and the availability of the required materials.
Features of oyster mushrooms
Oyster mushrooms are white or gray mushrooms growing in separate groups on dead wood. The sizes of mushroom caps are 5-25 cm. If the necessary conditions are provided, the fruiting of mycelium lasts for a year.
Oyster mushrooms contain protein, vitamins C and B group, calcium, iron and phosphorus. Their calorie content is 33 kcal per 100 g of product. Compared to champignons, they are considered more useful due to their rich composition.
The use of oyster mushrooms helps to increase immunity and suppress cancer cells. They are also known for their antioxidant and antibacterial properties. These mushrooms are useful for anemia, high stomach acidity and high blood pressure.
Oyster mushrooms should be consumed with caution, since in increased quantities they cause a hypersensitive reaction of the body.
Germination conditions
Oyster mushrooms grow under certain conditions:
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Constant temperature ranging from 17 to 28 ° C. Permissible temperature fluctuations are no more than 1-2 ° C. With more significant changes, the mycelium may die.
- Humidity over 50%. The optimum moisture content for mushroom growth is 70-90%.
- Illumination. At a certain stage, the mycelium requires access to light. Therefore, in the basement, you need to equip a lighting system.
- Ventilation.
Access to fresh air is provided by a ventilation system or by ventilating the basement.
Preparatory stage
A basement or cellar is suitable for growing oyster mushrooms. At the preparatory stage, mushroom mycelium and substrate are purchased or made independently. The premises must be prepared, disinfected and, if necessary, installed equipment.
Choosing a growing method
In the basement, growing oyster mushrooms in the basement takes place in one of the following ways:
- in bags;
- on stumps;
- other materials at hand.
The most convenient cultivation method is to use sacks. It is best to choose strong plastic bags 40x60 cm or 50x100 cm in size. Sacks with mushrooms are placed in rows or on racks, in a small room they are hung.
Under natural conditions, oyster mushrooms germinate on stumps. In the basement, mushrooms grow on not too old wood. If the stump is dry, then it is previously soaked for a week in a bucket of water.
You can also place the substrate in a 5 liter plastic bottle or other suitable container.
Getting mycelium
The planting material for growing mushrooms is mycelium. It can be purchased from factories that breed oyster mushrooms on an industrial scale. These companies obtain mycelium from the spores in the laboratory.
If you have pieces of oyster mushrooms, you can get the mycelium yourself.First, they are disinfected by treatment in hydrogen peroxide. Then the mushroom is placed over a flame in a test tube containing a nutrient medium (oat or potato agar).
The mycelium is stored for 2-3 weeks in a dark basement at a temperature of 24 ° C, after which you can start planting it.
The following types of oyster mushrooms can be grown in the basement:
- ordinary (grows naturally on stumps, has white flesh);
- pink (characterized by rapid growth and thermophilicity);
- oyster (a valuable type of mushroom with lilac, blue or brown pulp);
- strains NK-35, 420, K-12, P-20, etc. (such mushrooms are obtained artificially and are distinguished by high productivity).
Substrate preparation
Oyster mushrooms germinate on a substrate, which is purchased ready-made or made independently. The following materials act as a substrate for mushrooms:
- barley or wheat straw;
- sunflower husk;
- shredded corn stalks and ears;
- sawdust.
The substrate is crushed into fractions no more than 5 cm in size.Then the base is disinfected to avoid the spread of mold and harmful microorganisms:
- The crushed materials are placed in a metal container and filled with water in a 1: 2 ratio.
- The mass is put on fire and boiled for 2 hours.
- The water is drained, and the substrate is cooled and squeezed.
Basement arrangement
To breed oyster mushrooms, you need to prepare a basement. This room must meet the following requirements:
- the ability to maintain the required temperature;
- stable moisture readings;
- disinfection of all surfaces;
- the presence of light sources;
- ventilation.
Before planting oyster mushrooms in the basement, a number of preparatory work is carried out:
- the floor of the room must be concreted to reduce the likelihood of mold spreading on mushrooms;
- the walls and ceiling should be whitewashed with lime;
- immediately before growing mushrooms, the room is sprayed with bleach and left for 2 days;
- after processing, the room is ventilated for several days.
To grow mushrooms in the basement and maintain a constant temperature, it is recommended to install a heater. If necessary, you can increase the humidity by spraying the walls and floor with water.
Lighting is provided by daylight fluorescent devices. Each unit is equipped with 40 W lamps.
Growing order
The growing process includes three main stages. First, the mushroom blocks are formed, which contain the substrate and the mycelium. Then oyster mushrooms go through the stages of incubation and active fruiting. At each of these stages, the necessary conditions are provided.
Formation of mushroom blocks
The first step in the process of how to grow mushrooms is block formation. Mushroom blocks are a kind of beds on which oyster mushrooms germinate. When planting in bags, they are sequentially filled with substrate and mycelium. In this case, the upper and lower layers are the substrate.
In the prepared bags, small cuts are made every 10 cm, through which mushrooms will germinate. If plastic bottles are used, then planting oyster mushrooms is done in the same way. Holes must be made in the container.
To get a good harvest on the stumps, you first need to make holes 6 cm deep and 10 cm in diameter in them. Then the mycelium of the mushrooms is placed there and the stump is covered with a sawn wooden disk. The stumps are covered with foil and left in the basement.
Incubation period
During the first 10-14 days, mycelium grows. During the incubation period, the necessary growing conditions are provided:
- temperature 20-24 ° С, but not more than 28 ° С;
- humidity 90-95;
- lack of additional ventilation, which contributes to the accumulation of carbon dioxide;
- lack of lighting.
On the second day, white spots form on the substrate, which indicates the development of mycelium. At the end of the incubation period, the mushroom block turns white. Within 5 days, the conditions necessary for the further growth of oyster mushrooms are provided.
A period of active growth
Active fruiting begins under the following conditions:
- temperature 17-20 ° C;
- humidity 85-90%;
- illumination of the order of 100 lx / sq. m. within 12 hours.
Air circulation must be ensured, which will eliminate excess carbon dioxide. When growing oyster mushrooms in bags, additional cuts are made to ensure the germination of the mushrooms.
Harvesting
The first oyster mushroom harvest is harvested one and a half months after planting. The mushrooms are carefully cut at the base so as not to damage the caps and the mushroom picker. To extend their shelf life, oyster mushrooms are removed at once by the whole family.
The second wave of fruiting begins in a week after the first harvest. During this period, 70% fewer mushrooms are harvested compared to the first wave. After a few more days, the mushrooms germinate again, but the yield of the block is significantly reduced.
Oyster mushrooms are stored in the refrigerator, where they are placed immediately after cutting. It is not recommended to soak mushrooms; it is enough to wash them under running water. Fresh oyster mushrooms are stored in the refrigerator for 5 days.
Mushrooms can be placed in plastic containers or wrapped in paper. Then the shelf life is extended to 3 weeks.
In a frozen state, oyster mushrooms are stored for 10 months. For storage in this way, the mushrooms do not need to be washed; it is enough to remove the dirt by cutting off the fabric.
Conclusion
Growing oyster mushrooms can be a hobby or a lucrative business. These mushrooms are rich in nutrients and, when consumed in moderation, have a positive effect on human health.
Oyster mushrooms are grown in a basement, which must be carefully prepared. To get a good harvest, you need to provide a number of indicators: temperature, humidity and light.
