102
The growing bed is covered with a polyethylene plastic sheet to maintain the
desired temperature and relative humidity appropriate for mycelial growth. The
optimum temperature for incubation ranges from 30 to 35 °C with a relative humidity ranging from 75 to 85%. The incubation period takes from 10 to 14 days.
Mushroom primordia or pinheads usually appear on the side and surface of the
growing beds 5 days after spawning. Once pinheads are observed, the plastic sheet
cover should be lifted for a while to introduce fresh air. The temperature should be
maintained at 30 to 32 °C to synchronize fruiting body formation during the fruiting
stage. The surroundings of the beds should be watered to help maintain the desired
temperature.
6.4.1.4 Mushroom Growing Care
In the first 3 days after adding spawn to the straw beds, the beds need to be exposed
to the sun to increase the temperature inside, which stimulates mycelial growth.
Then, the beds are covered with a net and dry straw. Some nutritional supplements
or stimulants such as Bioted, HQ, or HVP 301 can be sprayed onto the beds to
enhance better mushroom growth. The beds can be watered and covered with rice
straw to maintain the temperature and humidity as well as to maximize the yield and
quality of RSM production, as indicated in Table 6.2.
6.4.1.5 Harvesting and Processing
The first fruiting flush occurs about 14 days after incubation and continues for about
5 days. After the fruiting flush, water is sprinkled over the bed and covered again
with the plastic sheet to build up the temperature. Within 7–14 days, the next fruiting flush will appear. The succeeding fruiting flushes often consist of larger, but
fewer fruiting bodies than the first flush. Hand picking is the common method of
harvesting and sorting the mushrooms. This guarantees less damage and better quality. The mushrooms are picked from the growing beds with a rotating motion. The
harvest is sorted based on quality and size. To enhance higher protein content, better
palatability, and longer shelf life, the preferred times for harvesting are during the
button to egg-shaped stages.
6.4.2 Indoor RSM Growing
Indoor mushroom growing requires the same preparation and treatment steps as in
the outdoors. However, the environmental criteria, such as heap temperature
(>70 °C) to sterilize straw, moisture content (60–65%), etc., have to be strictly controlled. Indoor RSM growing uses shelves with two types of bedding, spread
(Fig. 6.6a) and compacted (Fig. 6.6b). The ratio of spawn used is about 200 g m
−2
.
L. V. Thuc et al.
The growing bed is covered with a polyethylene plastic sheet to maintain the
desired temperature and relative humidity appropriate for mycelial growth. The
optimum temperature for incubation ranges from 30 to 35 °C with a relative humidity ranging from 75 to 85%. The incubation period takes from 10 to 14 days.
Mushroom primordia or pinheads usually appear on the side and surface of the
growing beds 5 days after spawning. Once pinheads are observed, the plastic sheet
cover should be lifted for a while to introduce fresh air. The temperature should be
maintained at 30 to 32 °C to synchronize fruiting body formation during the fruiting
stage. The surroundings of the beds should be watered to help maintain the desired
temperature.
6.4.1.4 Mushroom Growing Care
In the first 3 days after adding spawn to the straw beds, the beds need to be exposed
to the sun to increase the temperature inside, which stimulates mycelial growth.
Then, the beds are covered with a net and dry straw. Some nutritional supplements
or stimulants such as Bioted, HQ, or HVP 301 can be sprayed onto the beds to
enhance better mushroom growth. The beds can be watered and covered with rice
straw to maintain the temperature and humidity as well as to maximize the yield and
quality of RSM production, as indicated in Table 6.2.
6.4.1.5 Harvesting and Processing
The first fruiting flush occurs about 14 days after incubation and continues for about
5 days. After the fruiting flush, water is sprinkled over the bed and covered again
with the plastic sheet to build up the temperature. Within 7–14 days, the next fruiting flush will appear. The succeeding fruiting flushes often consist of larger, but
fewer fruiting bodies than the first flush. Hand picking is the common method of
harvesting and sorting the mushrooms. This guarantees less damage and better quality. The mushrooms are picked from the growing beds with a rotating motion. The
harvest is sorted based on quality and size. To enhance higher protein content, better
palatability, and longer shelf life, the preferred times for harvesting are during the
button to egg-shaped stages.
6.4.2 Indoor RSM Growing
Indoor mushroom growing requires the same preparation and treatment steps as in
the outdoors. However, the environmental criteria, such as heap temperature
(>70 °C) to sterilize straw, moisture content (60–65%), etc., have to be strictly controlled. Indoor RSM growing uses shelves with two types of bedding, spread
(Fig. 6.6a) and compacted (Fig. 6.6b). The ratio of spawn used is about 200 g m
−2
.
L. V. Thuc et al.