The Sunday Mail
It was a few months ago that we looked at how one can grow Oyster mushroom, which is fairly simple as compared to growing white button mushroom.
Growing white button mushroom requires more patience as it will take a minimum of 10 weeks to get the first flash of the crop.
Mushroom cultivation is a worthwhile venture which has good returns, particularly in the button mushroom.
A standard 250g punnet of button mushroom can be sold for as much as $3 with a yield averaging 4-6kg for every 50kg of compost.
The returns are quite good.
The nutritional benefits of mushroom are equally good, that is if you decide to grow them strictly for consumption.
The fungus is low in saturated fat, sodium and cholesterol, all the things the doctor has advised we stay away from.
It is a good source of protein, dietary fibre, vitamin C, folate, iron, zinc, and many other minerals.
Of notable importance is the substance called retene which has been proved to have some antagonistic effect on tumours.
It will take 5 weeks to prepare the compost before it can be ready for spawning.
Use horse manure or chicken, turkey, rabbit, sheep or goat.
To begin with, wet the manure with water to run-off point.
Mix an equal volume of manure to grass (elephant grass or straw) which has also been soaked in water for a day.
When mixing the manure and grass add gypsum (hydrous calcium sulphate) at a rate of 9kg for every 500kg of compost.
Build the compost on a hard surface in a shade, then cover it with sack which you keep moistened.
Turn the compost heap when it reaches a temperature of 70ºC, sprinkling water on dry or white portions.
Turn the compost two to three times more until you can’t detect an ammonia odour. Once the compost is ready leave it to rest for another week, followed by mixing the compost with spawn at a rate of 946ml for every 1,4 square metres.
Loosely translated that’s 500-750g for 100kg of compost.
Place the spawned compost into wooden trays which must be positioned in a temperature controlled room.
A day later press the compost using a brick or piece of wood leaving a gap of 5cm at the top each tray.
In 2-3 weeks the compost should be covered with white webs of mushroom mycelium.
During the first weeks increase the temperature to 18-21ºC, keeping the compost moist by misting twice a day, but do not pour water on the mycelium.
To stimulate fruiting, apply a layer 3-4cm moistened, sterilised, sieved loamy soil or peat and reduce the temperature to 12ºC.
Maintain the moisture levels by placing wet newspapers and mist them twice a day. In 10 days time remove the newspapers and mist twice a day as well.
White heads should begin to emerge, developing into mushrooms in about a week. At cool temperatures (10-13°C) the crop develops slowly whilst at 18-21°C development is quicker.
An opportunity to adjust supply levels depending on demand.
After the first flash the mushrooms will emerge in flashes every 10-13 days for 3-6 months until the compost is exhausted.
Post-harvest handling is important as this is a perishable crop.
Keep the harvested crop cool and it can last many days.
For further details contact the author by email: [email protected]
