Growing your shiitake mushrooms

🌐 🇫🇷 FR · 🇬🇧 EN · 🇩🇪 DE

With this kit, you can grow ultra-fresh mushrooms at home. 
It consists of shiitake, a variety originating from the Far East. Mushrooms are grown from mycelium, the spore filaments. They are a source of minerals and vitamins. They can be eaten fresh or dried, cooked as you like.

Characteristics of shiitake

Benefits:

• Reduces the risk of cancer thanks to vitamin D production
• Stimulates the immune system and metabolism (B vitamins)
• Contributes to a feeling of fullness thanks to its high fibre content
• Made up of nearly 90% water, mushrooms are very low in calories

Growing principles and conditions

Growing mushrooms takes place in 2 stages:

• The incubation phase (mycelium development);
• The fruiting phase (mushroom development).

Three growing parameters are important:

• Temperature
• Humidity
• Light

Control the temperature
Keep the temperature below 25°C.
From May onwards, avoid placing the growing tray in the greenhouse. Ideally, use a wine cellar or a basement.
Avoid direct sunlight.
Place a heating mat under the setup if temperatures fall below 10°C

Control the humidity:
The humidity level must be between 75 and 90%
Place a saucer under the growing tray and keep it moist by regularly adding water, and place a saucer on the growing tray.

Control the light:
The incubation phase takes place in complete darkness.
Use a saucer from the growing tray as a lid and place it on the growing container.  
The fruiting phase takes place in indirect sunlight. 
Avoid placing the growing tray near a window.

Growing steps

1) Cleaning the equipment

Disinfect the trays, the dome and the saucers with vinegar or alcohol, then rinse with hot water. This helps prevent the introduction of pathogenic species.

2) Preparing the growing medium

• Wash your hands with soap.
• Add 750 ml of water to the pellets and mix until the water is absorbed.
• Place the substrate (the wet pellets) in the growing tray.
• Add the mycelium by mixing it with the substrate.
• Place the growing tray on the 1st saucer filled with water.
• Position the 2nd saucer on the tray.

• Place the growing system in a room where the temperature matches, if possible, the optimal temperature for the mushroom being grown.

In autumn, winter and spring, if you have a greenhouse, the setup can be placed at the level of the vertical growing tower tanks. In summer, it is preferable to place it in a cool room, such as a cellar or a basement.

Use the mycelium within 3 months of receiving the parcel for optimal yield.

3) Start of growth: incubation phase

The incubation period lasts between 15 and 20 days in most cases. It allows the mycelium to develop on its substrate and ends when it is fully inoculated (as shown in the following photo).

• Monitor the temperature (below 25°C).
• Keep the saucer located under the tray filled with water

The incubation phase lasts longer if the growing conditions are not optimal, especially depending on the temperature. During this phase, avoid spraying water on the mycelium. The substrate is kept moist thanks to the saucer located under the growing tray.  

4) Fruiting phase (3 – 4 weeks)

This step takes place when the mycelium is fully inoculated, that is, when the substrate has become completely white. If this is not the case, wait a few days before moving to this new phase. If mould has appeared or green mycelium has developed, remove the impurities using a spoon previously sterilized with alcohol.

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Avoid the proliferation of fungus gnats

The fungus gnat, also called a sciarid, is an insect that lives, feeds and lays its eggs in soil. The larvae of these flies feed on the organic matter present in potting soil, but also on mycelium. These flies particularly like warm and humid places. Mushroom growing trays therefore represent a perfect environment for fungus gnats, which come there to lay their eggs.

To prevent flies from arriving, it is necessary to change the water in the saucers regularly and avoid letting it stagnate for too long.
To control fungus gnats, it is also possible to place sticky strips near the growing tray.

Remember to wash your hands before each operation. If possible, check every day that small green spots do not appear. If this is the case, remove the mould as quickly as possible to prevent it from spreading on the substrate and the mycelium.

a) Fruiting conditions

• Remove the upper saucer and place the dome on the tray.
• Fill the saucer located under the system with water.
• Let the substrate age in indirect daylight until the mycelium starts to turn brown, as shown in the photo below. The substrate hardens during this phase. 
• Mushrooms should appear within 3 weeks after setting up the device.

b) Applying the thermal and water shock

• If no mushroom has appeared 3 weeks after placing the dome on the tray, it is possible to apply the thermal shock.
  *Put the saucer back in place of the dome on the growing tray.
• Flood the substrate from above.
• Place the growing tray in the refrigerator for 48 hours.

c) Fruiting conditions
Once the 48 hours have passed:

• Take the growing tray out of the refrigerator and put the dome back on the tray.
• Fill the saucer located under the tray with water.
• If possible, lower the room temperature so that it matches the optimal shiitake fruiting temperature.
• Make sure that the system is not exposed to direct light.
• Humidify regularly using the sprayer.
  Shiitake generally develop within 2 or 3 days after being taken out of the refrigerator

5) Harvesting your mushrooms (3 weeks after the incubation phase)

To harvest the mushrooms, gently twist the stem and then remove it. Make sure it is completely removed because residues can encourage mould development.

Rehydrating the substrate

• After the first harvest, it is possible to reuse the substrate to produce a second flush of mushrooms, potentially more abundant:
• Wash your hands thoroughly before any handling.
• Immerse the substrate by adding water up to the rim of the tray.
• Place the growing tray in the refrigerator for 2 days. The substrate absorbs the water.
• Once this time has passed, take the growing tray out of the refrigerator.

• Fill the saucer located under the tray with water and place the dome on the growing tray.

• Put the growing tray back in its place, making sure it is not in direct contact with light.
• Spray the substrate once a day.