Mushrooms or fungi do not contain chlorophyll; they must feed on plants or animal matter. Some mushrooms feed only on dead matter while others feed on living plants or animals, which they sometimes harm or benefit. Mushrooms need a controlled environment with appropriate humidity, light, temperature, ventilation, air pressure, pH and nutrients. They also need a disease free environment.
There are three different groups of mushroom or fungi.
Saprophytes Those Fungi or Mushrooms that feed on dead plants or animals. Pleurotus Ostreatus, is an example of this group. Saprophytes are useful as they help breakdown dead matter. Parasites Those Fungi or Mushrooms that feed on living plants or animals. Many parasites damage and sometimes kill plants or animals they live on.
Symbiotic fungi Symbiotic fungi grow on living plants, but do not damage them. The fungus and plant help each other. Fly Agaric grows symbiotically with birch or pine trees and its mycelium grows around the tree roots. The tree provides the fungus needed sugar and the fungus gives the tree nutrients it has broken down from dead leaves. This process allows birch trees to survive in poor soil.
Mycelium living buried in soil or substrate, and mushroom (or fruit body) which appears above ground or substrate, are made-up of tiny thread-like tubes called “hyphae.” Mycelium is made of loosely arranged hyphae while mushroom is made of tightly packed hyphae. Hyphae develop from spores that are produced in the gills of a mushroom. Thousands of tiny pollen-like spores are produced in the gills of a mushroom. When the spores are ripe, they are carried away by the wind. The parent mushroom quickly decays. If a spore lands on a suitable surface, it germinates to produce a thread-like hyphae. There are two types of spore, positive (+) and negative (-). A mushroom will only form if hyphae from + and - spores join to form a new hyphae containing both types. If conditions are right (enough food and moisture) this new hyphae grows and forms a tangled mass of threads. Eventually the mass of threads formed a “button” which begins to grow out of the soil or substrate thus creating a mushroom.
Which is the best way to clean fresh mushrooms? Remove any strange particle with a wet cloth or with a light brush; also they can be rinsed in a strainer and then dried with a paper towel. If you submerge them for a long time in water, mushrooms, like sponges, will absorb it.
How should I store my fresh mushrooms? Refrigerate immediately in plastic bags or paper towels. Do not freeze. If the mushrooms are packed in baskets and you wish to give them more duration, use a paper towel or paper bag.
HOMEMADE CONSERVATION OF MUSHROOMS Clean well Boil water in a pot. After the water is boiling, add the mushrooms, salt and lemon juice. The proportion is one tablespoon of salt and the juice of one lemon for each kilo of fresh mushrooms. Let them boil for ten minutes. Take the pot off the stove, drain the hot water, and cool the mushrooms with cold water from the tap. Once they are cool and drained, put them in a plastic bag and freeze them, where they will be preserved indefinitely; or store them in the refrigerator in a glass container, with water, lemon and salt, for approximately 15 days. If you want the mushrooms to be whiter, add more lemon when you cook them.
Here are some practical tips for the storage of Processed Mushroom: After opening the mushrooms, put them in the refrigerator. After opening, the product should be consumed as soon as possible. Do not throw away the pickle that covers the product because it acts as conservative. Do not use metallic or wooden elements to take the product out of its original container. Use dry and clean plastic spoons. Avoid contact of the spoon that is being utilized with saliva. Verify that the top of the container does not present bumps or is inflated. Verify that the pickle does not spill, when the container is turned to make sure the product is completely sealed.
What are the benefits of eating mushrooms? Mushrooms are low in calories (only 27 in 100g of fresh mushrooms), fat, cholesterol and are sodium free. They are rich in vitamins, specially B complex which aids in metabolizing cholesterol.
Are mushrooms harvested during specific seasons? If there is a cool place for cultivation during the whole year and the sowing is planned in an organized manner, you can count on having mushrooms every day. What part of the mushroom is edible and which one is not? The mushroom does not have any waste. Both their button and stem are edible and there is no need to peel them.
How do you prepare mushrooms to eat them? In infinite ways, for an extensive variety of food and with a minimum of time and effort. • The fresh mushroom (raw) as such is edible and it is very delicious in a variety of salads. • The fresh mushroom can be cooked in water with salt and lemon for later consumption. • They can also be lightly fried over a low heat to add them later to any recipe or simply add mushrooms to anything you're cooking, frying, baking, sauteeing, steaming etc. The possibilities are endless!
Can open mushrooms be eaten? Of course! The mushrooms that have been harvested have a membrane (veil) attached to their sprout. This opens due to a small loss of humidity, increasing their flavor. Due to this, consumers prefer them open for their culinary preparations.
Are there many varieties of edible mushrooms? Yes. There are at a hundred varieties of edible and tasty mushrooms. The most commercial variety is known as the "white mushroom". The white mushroom comes from the Agaricus bisporus species. Almost 90% of mushroom consumption is of this species. The Portobell and Crimini variety and the Shiitake and Oyster (pleurotus) species are other desirable and popular mushrooms.
How long does it take to grow mushrooms? At our facility it takes about 50 days from compost start to begin of harvest and approximately 80 days from start to finish of a crop.
Where do you grow your mushrooms ? We grow our mushrooms indoors.
How many square meters on your farm? Does it take a lot of land to grow mushrooms?
It depends on the size of your buildings and how high you can stack the growing fruiting bags.
What are mushrooms grown in? Many individuals believe that mushrooms are grown in manure. This is not entirely correct, they are grown in well composted organic materials and fruited on the surface of rice paddy straw. Compost recipes vary widely, but our's is comprised primarily of rice paddy straw, some corn stalks by-products, rice bran and lots of water, which is then aerobically composted and turned repeatedly over the course of 6 days.
What is the shelf life of mushrooms? Generally, mushrooms have a 9 day shelf life from date of packaging. There are many factors that affect the shelf life of mushrooms including, temperature, moisture, and time. Mushrooms should be kept at 34°-36° F. Also, you should only wash mushrooms right before use.
Do you sell mushroom compost? Yes, we sell mushroom compost. You can purchase compost at our facility advance order please, between 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Can I purchase mushrooms at your facility? Yes, we sell mushrooms at our facility. We sell mushrooms in packets ( 1/4 kg to 5 kg). Availability of our products may be limited due to production levels and/or our primary customer's demands. Our office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Can I purchase mushroom spawn? Yes, we sell mushroom spawn, we only carry oyster mushroom spawn because of high demand in foreign customers. Our mushroom spawn pack in plastic bag because bottles are so fragile and heavy. To minimize the cost of shipping.
Can you send mushroom spawn via mail courier? Yes, we can mail it to your place, but the shipping cost will be charged to the customers. Please check your government guidelines in your country (for foreign orders only).
How come you do not use bottles spawn? Bottles spawn are the basic mushroom technology. Mushroom spawn in plastic are the new technology, it prevents breakage, less weight for shipping and more spawn to use.
How much is your mushroom spawn? Mushroom spawn in plastic cost Php 100.00 pesos double the quantity of catsup bottle.
How much is your fruiting bag size 7"x14"? It is not advisable to sell fruiting bags outside the country or outside of Luzon Island because it is bulky and the cost of shipment is expensive. Farm gate price of fruiting bag is Php 40.00 pesos.
What is the difference between single mouth and double mouth fruiting bag? Single mouth meaning single side where mushroom sprout and develops. While double mouth or both sides is preferably because of commercial quantity produce mushroom it doubles the yield of mushroom harvest.
PLEASE ADD MORE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS WEBSITES, AND THANK YOU FOR VISITING MY SITE. IF YOU ALREADY KNOW THE BASIC MUSHROOM CULTURE I ENCOURAGE YOU TO LEVEL UP THERE ARE AT LEAST NEW TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPS. "ALWAYS MAKE A HALF FULL WATER OF YOUR CUP, FILLED CUP CAN NOT ACCOMMODATE MORE WATER".
OUR COMPOSTING METHOD IS ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE AND FRIENDLY. WE USE STEAM PASTEURISATION METHOD AND DO NOT USE ANY FUNGICIDE AND INSECTICIDE.