You Can Grow Your Own Mushrooms

(Page 6 of 6)

November/December 1977
By the Mother Earth News editors 
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Normally beds require watering at least every other day. Sprinkle lightly with a fine mist and then after an hour or so another light sprinkling should be sufficient. Until you get the feel of the amount of water needed, stick a finger into the casing to learn if it is moist all the way through.

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PINHEADS WILL APPEAR

If all goes well you can expect to see pinheads appearing over the surface of the beds approximately 12 days after the casing was added. These pinheads will mature into fully formed mushrooms in about 6 to 8 days. The mushrooms will appear in flushes or blooms every 10 to 14 days and will continue to do so for 60 to 120 days depending upon the temperature of the mushroom house.

Between flushes, the moisture content must remain high and this is accomplished by frequent watering with a fine mist. Mushrooms are over 70 percent water, and this water is taken from the compost and casing. After pinheads appear, and while the mushrooms are undergoing rapid growth, refrain from adding water if possible because water on the caps will cause brown spots to develop, making them appear less appetizing.

WHEN TO PICK

The growth stage at which the mushrooms are picked depends almost entirely on how they are to be used. You may pick mushrooms while they are small buttons, after they have enlarged considerably but before the veil has broken, or still later after the veil has broken and the cap is near its maximum diameter.

When a mushroom is picked, the base of the stem which remains in the casing mixture must also be removed. Failure to do this would provide a substrate for bacterial growth which would reduce the quantity of mushrooms produced. A paring knife works well in removing the small stub of mushroom stem that remains behind in the casing.

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